The International Space Station (ISS) flies overhead every day. Not all passes are visible because some occur during the day and others occur while the ISS is in the Earth’s shadow. The most interesting passes are those that occur low to the horizon and then enter the Earth shadow.
ISS flying above the San Francisco Peaks in northern Arizona.
During the evening of 21 April, the ISS rose in the northwest just below the constellation Cassiopeia then moved above the San Francisco Peaks. Finally, as it moved to the northeast it faded in brightness as it entered Earth’s shadow.
After a few days of overcast skies and snow the weather has finally improved. With sunny skies and light winds, Friday was a good day to do some back country skiing. Our original destination was near Forest Road 794 at about 8000 feet elevation. We were disappointed to find that even at these elevations much of the snow pack was lost a few weeks ago during the warm winter storm that brought rain to the area. So we went with our backup plan and drove up Snowbowl Road to the base of the ski area. We skied across the lower slopes to the Humphreys Peak Trail and began our climb — eventually leaving the trail and traveling through the trees to some great ski terrain.
Looking downhill across untracked powder at the WWII bomber wreck site.
Our first stop was the area known as “Flying Dutchman.” Enough snow had fallen in the past few weeks to finally cover most (but not all) of the rocks. We followed an uphill track and eventually caught up to some acquaintances that we had not seen in a few years. After a few minutes of chatting, they headed downhill while we continued up to the site of the WWII bomber wreck — located just below tree line. The snow was very good — but still a few rocks were poking up through the snow (or lurking just below!) to catch and damage ski bases.
Tracks through the deep powder in Flying Dutchman.
We skied down across the bomber site and then into the trees returning to the top of Flying Dutchman. This is always a lot of fun as it is moderately-pitched, wide-open terrain with plenty of vertical descent from top to bottom. And, yes, we hit a few more rocks.
Powder skiing!
Finally, back into the trees and down the narrow Humphreys Trail — which can feel a bit like a bobsled run when it gets hard and icy. But today the snow was good.
Several days of snow have come to an end and the skies cleared just before sunset to allow the low sun to bring a fantastic glow to the Kachina Peaks. A few lingering clouds add to the dramatic effect.
It’s fall and the leaves are starting to show their autumn colors in the high country. One of the many great places to view the aspen is the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks. In previous years, we would ride our mountain bikes from Schultz Tank up the Waterline Road and into the Inner Basin. But the Waterline Road is still undergoing reconstruction for the immense damage it incurred as a result of the Schultz Fire and subsequent flooding.
An alternative route is to drive to Lockett Meadow. The road to the meadow has been under construction this summer but just reopened earlier in September. So we grabbed the mountain bikes and drove to the Lockett Meadow trailhead. Because of the surrounding Kachina Peaks Wilderness, the Waterline Road and Lockett Meadow are the only routes into the Inner Basin for bicycles. Hikers have more options.
Pump station located in the Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks.
A few years ago the upper portions of the Inner Basin trail underwent some re-routing and the trail now twists and turns through a near surreal stand of aspen as it ascends from the meadow to the Waterline Road and then into the Inner Basin. The landscape has been described as a Monet-like scene when the leaves turn colors in the fall.
Inner Basin of the San Francisco Peaks with Humphreys Peak in the distance.
Once in the Inner Basin — and that’s no easy task as the trail and access road are steep — the view opens up and you are surrounded by the many summits of the San Francisco Peaks. And still higher we went up the access roads to Flagstaff Springs. The last quarter-mile of this road is rocky and steep and — we walked. This is one of the many springs in the basin that are tapped by the City of Flagstaff and piped downhill as part of the city’s drinking water.
Descending the Inner Basin trail in the aspen forest.
The season for this route is short because in the summer it rains most days and can be a bit chilly. And the winter both comes early and stays late at these elevations. So, this is the season: mid-September through mid-October. Enjoy it while you can.
Living near the mountains and at a high elevation in Flagstaff has its benefits. One of them is the opportunity to capture amazing images of the San Francisco Peaks as the seasons and weather change.
Recent snowfalls provided two very different views of the Peaks. First we have the peaks obscured by clouds. A laminar wave cloud floats above the peaks while other clouds cloak the summits. Skiers and hikers at the top of the mountain are hidden in the clouds and fog only to drop out of the bottom of the cloud as they descend.
Wave clouds above the San Francisco Peaks.
Another image captures the final moments of sunset as the snow turns red across the peaks. These colors might only last for a minute or two before quickly fading away.
Sunset colors on the San Francisco Peaks.
The price we pay for these incredible views? Long winters, cold temperatures, and roads that don’t seem to get plowed quickly enough — or at all.
