Huckaby Hike

Been awhile since I last updated the blog as we have been busy trying to cram in some actives before we leave Camp Verde and Sedona’s Red Rocks.  The weather has certainly turned the last 10 days of our stay.  Verde and Sedona are at an elevation of between 3-4000 ft which means days in the low teens and nights of just below freezing.  Up in Flagstaff, elevation 6000 ft, they have been getting lots of snow.  Guess the ski lifts will be opening soon.  Been burning lots of propane keeping the furnace running so we can stay cosy in the trailer.  We have also had lots of cloudy days with rain.  Will be nice to head down to Phoenix on Dec 1 where the temps are 5-10 degrees C warmer on average. 

Cool, clouds and rain.  The clouds hang low in the valley, obscuring the tops of the hills on each side of the Verde Valley.  

On Monday, Nov 21, after we informed Sedona Pines of our decision to pull out of the Time Share we went to a movie.  Saw “The Accountant” which was pretty good and has sequel opportunities.  The admission to the Matinee was $7.50 and they gave me a .50 cent discount for being over 60.  The benefits of grey hair.  

Tuesday we went on the Huckaby Hike which is 5.6 miles and is rated as a moderate hike.   I'm not sure if its possible but, after the rain, the colours seem to pop even more than before.  The trail took us along the back side of a resort and up along the canyon wall before descending to the canyon floor to Oak Creek.  Lots of variety in the plant life.  

Lichen growing on the rocks.  
Looks like someone was tagging the rocks with the smallest 
cans of spray paint.  

This flat rock provided a nice table top for our lunch at the end of the trail.  

Those poor souls that live in Sedona have to wake up to this view everyday.  Wonder if it ever gets old.  There are about 12,000 people that call Sedona home however they entertain about 5 million visitors every year.  Obviously the locals thrive on the service industry.  

Most of the land that is developed was homesteaded over 100 years ago.  Now the remaining land is owned by the National Parks Service so further development is restricted.  Any new construction involves tearing down existing buildings so needless to say real estate doesn't stay on the market long, is very pricey and often when a property sells the new owners simply tear down the existing house and build to their own specs.   There are also height restrictions of 2 stories if I remember correctly so no skyscrapers obliterating the view.   

After the hike we headed to Uptown Sedona which is filled with all sorts of unique and not so unique shops and restaurants however the traffic was bumper to bumper.  Thanksgiving is less than a week away and tourists are pouring in.  We decided to head home and come back early the next morning so we could beat the crowds get a parking spot