So, we left the snow (a day early, mind you) of the North Rim, and headed down to warmer temperatures....Flagstaff! Not really "that" much warmer, I know, but warm enough. I have been really surprised at how much I've actually enjoyed Arizona...I like the vibe and feel of this state. It might surprise everyone to know that I'm actually a native Arizonian, but my family headed to Texas when I was young, so I never really considered "home", but perhaps on some sort of deeper level it is. Anyway, I really like Flagstaff, and within 30 miles you have 3 national monuments, and within 60 or so miles, you've got 3 national parks! Needless to say, it's been a great week for our Junior Rangers, who have now chocked up badge numbers 11, 12 and 13!
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Stopping for refreshments...you can't see the snow, but if you were to in the back of the truck, it was full of snow. |
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The view driving around the north rim to the southern areas of the canyon....it was a spectacular drive! |
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The first of the national monuments we visited near Flagstaff was Sunset Crater National Monument, a volcano that erupted around 1000 years ago. |
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This is one of the many small red cinders around the park. |
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Here you can see the lava flow (this is actually the lava flow trail). |
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Here's a view of the actual crater...called Sunset Crater because the top was colored like the sunset. |
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Here's a view of the beautiful San Fransisco Peaks from within the park. |
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Located just north of Sunset Crater, is yet another National Monument, Wupatki National Monument. Here's a view of the Painted Desert (another national park in the area). |
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More of the Painted Desert....it's a shame, I remember going here as a kid, but I don't think we'll get to visit it this year :( |
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Here's the largest of ruins located in Wupatki National Monument, just behind the visitor center. |
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According to the NPS, this pueblo had something like 100 or so people living in it around 1100. |
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I loved the architecture, and how good the structure still looked after all these years. |
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This was the "ball park", essentially archeologists have discovered that the Wupatki played some sort of game, and this was the field (when it wasn't flooded from fall rains). |
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