Arriving in Sedona, AZ April 6-7, 2024

Saturday, April 6, 2024

We booked our trip on Thursday, 4/4/24 and two days later, we were leaving for Sedona, AZ. Kind of a spur of the moment trip in terms of planning. Victor had just finished "executing" spring camp and I just finished the school plan and budget for next year. Better planned people may have done better, but this worked for us at this moment. We booked our flights through Alaska Airlines and our hotel and rental car through Priceline. 

When we got to SFO, we saw Tai Schoeman (principal at Gianinni MS) and his family and woah, we were all going to Arizona! Their itinerary was different but we'd be in Sedona at the same time for one day. That was cool 

When we arrived at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, we followed the directions to the rental car office. The spot was not where Hertz, Budget, Avis, Enterprise or any of the other rental car companies were. You had to take a special elevator and walk to a special spot where the shuttle was waiting for you. Then the shuttle got on the freeway and took us to the NU rental spot. Wasn't expecting that at all. By this time, it was  we just wanted to get our car and drive the two hours from Phoenix to Sedona. The line was four groups long in front of us. Our turn came and we purchased the extra insurance. Somehow, the young person without really pushing it on us, convinced me to do it. She showed me a stack of papers of other renters who had issues with rocks cracking windows and other situations. Got our GMC Denali and drove away. One hour and 40 minutes and we arrived in Sedona. It was dark, but I could picture it since I was here just last year. 

Checked in to the Hilton Vacation Club on the Ridge Sedona. Happy to unload and just hit the sack. 

Sunday, April 7, 2024

 Woke up the next morning and wanted an early start. Elated to be in this majestic space where everywhere you look is AWEsome. We stepped out of our room and took a pic of the landscape. And it was CoLD! Knit hat and scarf! Brrrr....

 The staff person at the Hilton registration desk told me his favorite hike was West Fork in Oak Creek- it's in a National Forest Park. We we went! $12/day for parking and when we left the park, we paid $8 more to get a week's pass into the other National Forest Parks too. 

I thought our hike would be 3.5 miles in and 3.5 miles out. I knew that there's a possibility of getting wet because you had to cross the creek 13 times on the trail. I didn't want to get wet because it was cold. But was willing to take the risk for a great hike. 

We started the hike with a group of seven "seniors". They were super equipped with Gortex boots and hiking poles. A couple of them had Tour Du Mont Blanc vests on. We find out through some chatting along the hike that they are seasoned hikers and bikers. I hope to be as active and agile as them in 10 years!

                                        

This is Katie. She seems to be the leader of the group. One of the TMB. She told us about Marathon Expeditions and Backroads which are two travels groups that take people on active adventures. 

By this point, Victor and I had crossed the creek about five times. There was this rock across the creek that Victor wanted a picture on. I walked over first, but the rock was too high and I couldn't get myself up there on my own. So Victor went across the creek, jumped onto the rock and I got a picture of him there!

 We crossed the creek 13 times going to the end of the trail and then 13 times back. We started off at about 8AM and finished the hike at about 1PM. I really wasn't expecting it to be that long, but that's what happens when you're:

• trying to enjoy the view
• meeting and talking to people on the trail
• trying not to get your shoes wet, but end up in the water anyway
• taking tons of pictures up, around, and about you

We ate lunch at Sedona Creekside and it was yummy. We had roasted beets salad (with strawberries, blueberries pomegranates, cranberries) and an ahi tuna nachos. All of it was super yummy. The ingredients were definitely local. All fresh!

We finished off the day stopping at Little Horse Trailhead and watched the sunset rays shine upon these rocks. We didn't know this, but this was going to be the best sunset that we saw in Sedona.