5 Years!!

On March 1st, ADB and I celebrated our 5th year wedding anniversary! Has it been five years already!?! To celebrate, ADB and I decided to vacation in Sedona, Arizona. Well, actually, ADB planned the trip as a surprise, but couldn't keep the secret and so told me where we were going. I was so excited. I have never been to Arizona or seen the Grand Canyon!

Sedona is in the northern part of Arizona about 2 hours north of Phoenix. Beautiful landscape. It is known as the Red Rock Country. Amazing! We spent most of our time hiking the different trails to the Red Rocks and up the Red Rocks. Here are some photos:

This one is called Bell Rock. We hiked 3/4 of the way to the top. After a certain point, we couldn't find a trail and didn't want to risk our lives free climbing.

At the top (or what we called the top) of Bell Rock. Aren't the rocks in the background amazing. They just jet up from the ground in these huge formations.

This is the view from on top of Cathedral Rock. We hiked around the bottom of the one right. It was called Courthouse Butte.

Another view the other way.

One day, we drove to the Grand Canyon. It was about a 2 hour drive. The drive was amazing. You drive about 10 miles north of Sedona (where it was about 70 degrees) and you start to see all these pine trees and snow. Yup, we were driving up in elevation. We went from 4000 ft. in Sedona to 8000 ft. We drove through Flagstaff, AZ where people go skiing. It had about a 100 inch base when we went through.

The Grand Canyon was mesmerizing. Such depth and width. If we ever go back again, we want to hike down to the bottom. With the binoculars, you could see paths and even a ranch at the bottom called Phantom Ranch. We even were able to see the Colorado River. Yeah for binoculars.

Right off the trail at the top of the Grand Canyon there were some elk just resting in the snow. Three of them to be specific. My dream was to see a moose, but the elk will have to do. Those things were huge. Yes, that is snow at the Grand Canyon. ADB and I were talking on our way back to Sedona about what a shock it would be to walk up to the Grand Canyon as an early explorer. Or, what if after walking or riding my horse a ways, they stopped a few yards short of the Grand Canyon and decided to turn around. You can't really see it unless you are near the edge. I hope that didn't happen to any of the early explorers because if it did it would be such a bummer. There was extreme greatness within just a few more feet.

We aren't really known for taking a lot of pictures, but on this trip we took over a hundred. So needless to say, there are lots more I could share, but I hope I gave you a good glimpse. If you ever get the chance....go to Sedona!! ADB and I thought about moving there and driving the pink Jeeps that go all over the red rock country (these jeeps are made to go where I don't think any automobile has ever gone before), but pinks not our color.