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| Hiking | 5.00 Miles |
2,100 AEG |
| | Hiking | 5.00 Miles | 4 Hrs | | 1.25 mph |
| 2,100 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | Totally unprepared for what I was getting into my wife and I descended upon Sedona. Having no idea what I was going to do until I saw them - the Red Rocks. Wow I exclaimed to my wife who was in town for a Crystals class - I know what I am going to do. After some baby hikes around Bell Rock, Cathedral Rock and Munds Wagon Pass I decided to give the Bear a go.
I started from the trailhead with no idea where or what I was getting myself into - about 2/3rds of the way up to the first summit I happened upon 2 older gents doing some trail maintenance. I stopped and chatted and asked if i was near the top - after wiping the tears from their eyes they proceeded to inform me that I hadn't even breached the first summit yet. I naively asked well then how many summits before I get to the top? After informing me of the fact that I would spend a significant amount of time going down rather than up I would reach the top @ the third summit. OK I think - just how hard can it be? I continue on up to the first summit - great views! I then begin to head towards the second summit - being a novice I probably was thinking OK there could be a few more cairns but so far no problem = the snow was kinda dicey in spots but no ice.
1/2 way up to the second summit I sit down and rest for a bit and take in the views - pretty soon I hear some laughter and I turn to see 2 young ladies heading down the trail - one of the stopped and patted me on the shoulder and said "It's OK not everyone makes it to the top!" Now with my pride bruised I am determined - I push off and head towards the second summit. No problems so far and the views keep getting better and better. I make it about 1/2 way up the face of the third summit when I hit what I am thinking will turn me back - a section of sheer ice - I turn around, walk 15 paces and say screw it - I can do this - Nike sneaks and all. I carefully maneuver past the icy section and then continue to the top - about 100-150 yards from the top I hit a section where the path got quite narrow - sorta scary but more fun that scary - I work past that and was rewarded with the final summit - AWESOME!! I shared the top with several others who were just about to leave. I marveled at the trees that had been struck by lighting and looked like giant over sized burnt matchsticks. I called my wife and told her I was on top of the world - to this day I was amazed that I got cell coverage.
All in all an awesome hike and my buddy and I returned to do it in 2009. |
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| Out of all the things I've lost I miss my mind the most..... |
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Route Editor
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