We're back from a very wonderful trip to Flagstaff and Sedona environs. What is there to say about driving to northern AZ except that it's a fantastic destination. Perhaps one should add that there's never enough time to do everything that you want to do. Thought I'd outline our trip and add some additional thoughts/comments.

• Smooth, on-time flight on US Air. That by itself is something given the FUBARS of the new PHX management.
• Easy airport transition to the new PHX car rental center. Get on the road quickly headed in the right direction on I-17 this time
• Arrive in Sedona shortly past noon after a picturesque drive up I-17. Make our 1st stop ever in the tourist section of town ( I wanted to buy a 1 year Red Rocks pass ). Realize that I've not missed anything not stopping here on previous trips.
• Take a biplane ride over the canyons. Gives my wife her 1st look at Sedona & the canyons we'll be hiking in. The heat causes turbulance & both of us are a bit queasy by landing, but absolutely glad we did it ( I'd eat the enchilada after the plane ride next time ). Staying in Flagstaff, so we get to drive Oak Canyon every day. ^
• Hike Secret Canyon trail Thursday. Even with temps at 90 + there's enough shade & breeze running up the canyon to keep your cool. Wifey is pooped out as it's over 10 miles RT. Not a lot of hikers, so we've got great solitude.
• Hike West Fork trail on Friday. Another 90 + day, but the shade & water in the stream make for a great day. Absolutely spectacular at trail's end where the stream continues on between narrow canyon walls. Take my shoes off & wade up the canyon in total solitude -- well, I do bump into a snake swimming by me. Lots of people on the trail, but few trek all the way in.
• Hike Fay Arch trail. Yes it's 92 on the trail & almost no one on the trail. Bypass going to the arch & head straight up the rock slide & along the sandstone ledge where we scoot up the 60 degree slope & spend the entire day relaxing on a ledge wrapped in shade & a vista view of the canyon while the air conditioning ( the wind ) keeps us cool & cozy. I was a little leary of snakes on the rocks, especially on the rock slide.
• On our last day, we head to Humphrys Peak & hike Kachina trail. Temp here is about 69 to 72. A great trail with Aspen & pine forests and great views as you work your way to the S-SE. My wife feels a little altitude effect as her NJ flatlander lungs are not quite up to a 9000 foot ordeal, but she still loves it.
• I shoot some 800 plus photos over 5 days. Don't let the numbers mislead you. With digital, you shoot lots of shots and exposures & sort them out in Photoshop when you get home, leaving you a managable batch of nice photos.

So we work in quite a bit of hiking in a few days ( I estimate almost 30 miles ). But there's so many things we want to see and do but we run out of time. Canyon de Chelly, Petrified Forrest, Jerome, Prescott, Shultz Pass & all sorts of other places are now on our to-do list for future trips.

The Marriott Residence Inn is a great place to stay, & folks at the hotel & elsewhere give us some great brochures & ideas for some of the above places as well as all sorts of other Indian sites.

We get into Flagstaff & get a better feel for the town. One night, folks are all packed into the town plaza watching Snow White where the movie is projected onto a wall like the old drive ins. It takes some getting used to the less luminous street lights and store signs when you're looking for street names, but we loved Flagstaff at night.

I check out FlyinMike's dining list using the phone book. Try to find Las Mananitas but it seems the place is gone ( replaced by the Matterhorn?). We have an OK meal at San Fellipes, but love the cantina feel ( and the cheap drinks -- though my wife learns the effect of altitude & alcohol ). Also dine at Mama Luisa's. A nice meal with a botella de vino at a decent price. Got an eyeball on Salsa Brava, Miz Zip's, Cottage Place, & Jacksons Grill for future visits. We're also getting adept at navigating Flagstaff from the Marriott via the back way to 180 instead of via 66. We also do lunch in Sedona the first day at Oaxcas, decent Mexican, no more no less.

Bump into some ladies who hike the area regularly. They reccomend a couple of hiking guide books by the Mangums, a local couple who have written about Sedona and Flagstaff hikes as well as some excellent topo maps by Emmit Banks Cartography for these areas. We find them at an outdoors outfitter on San Francisco street in Flagstaff.

So once again thanks to all for their suggestions. We're looking forward to our next visit in the fall.

Barry