We got up bright and early so we could fit everything in to our day and get the dogs out before it got too hot. We got to the trailhead at 8:45am and it seemed as though we had the trail to ourselves. After we got quite a ways back in the canyon we let the girls off leash as we hadn’t seen anyone at all on the trail. About 30 seconds later a couple came back down the trail. We started to put Sparkie on leash but the people said there was no on else ahead on the trail and that we’d have it to ourselves so we let the girls stay off leash.
The canyon was very pretty and so serene in the early morning hours.
A short while later a group of eight people passed us. They were very nice and we talked a bit as they went by. They loved the dogs and petted them a lot which of course Slugger loved. I mentioned to Mike that I had really enjoyed the little bit of rock climbing we had done the other day and wished that I was healthy enough to really do some real rock climbing – although not up the huge rock wall faces we were seeing. Mike told me I’d need to do a lot of upper body work to be able to be a rock climber. Hmmm, I never was very good at pull ups. Oh well, enough day dreaming.
A while later we had trouble telling where the trail went as it just kind of ended and there were HUGE boulders ahead of us that looked like they had fallen recently (sometime in the past 50 years). But we looked ahead and saw the group that had passed us earlier climbing up the rocks ahead. (We ended up climbing up to where you see the people and then about 1/2 up the large rock you see above them!)
We really had trouble believing that was the trail as this trail was supposed to be EASY. These people were climbing up a tall rock mountain. Mike said we shouldn’t go up as it was very treacherous. But I really wanted to see the arch. It seems like we always have to turn around before we get to the “goal.” So against Mike’s better judgment I convinced him that we could do this.
Oh my goodness. The girls were just like little billy goats. Up and down the rocks they went while the rest of us are climbing on our hands and knees trying to make it up the side of the rock mountain without falling. They say be careful what you wish for – yup, that’s for sure. I now was getting my wish to be a rock climber!
At one point we were right next to a shear drop off cliff. I was so afraid that Sparkie would go running around and not realize this was a cliff. Even though Sparkie seemed to be handling herself well my heart was beating to beat the band. This really was scary! So Sparkie had to go back on leash for a while. Putting Sparkie on leash was actually dangerous too as if either Slugger or Sparkie were to fall at all then Mike would be a goner as well. It actually was very dangerous and I was wondering what I had gotten us into. As I stopped to look back to make sure Mike and the dogs were doing fine my breath was taken away by the scenery. It was out of this world. There are not enough words to explain what we were seeing. And cameras just can’t capture what the eye can see. It was just too enormous to capture with a camera. I had put the camera in Mike’s pack for the climb as I needed both hands totally free to help with the climb. But I had to get the camera out as this was just too pretty.
By the way, we started at the bottom down where the trees are. The whole trail was flat until we got to the climb. So you can get an idea of how steep the mountain climb was. I couldn’t take any pictures on the climb as it was just too dangerous.
After we had gone quite a ways the group of eight was coming back toward us. We asked them if they saw the arch and they said no. They said there was no way to go any further and that about another hundred feet ahead was a nice ledge ahead where you could sit and have a nice lunch break but there was no way to continue on from there.
We all joked about having to live up there as we weren’t sure there was any way we could make it back down. At least we’d have good scenery the rest of our lives! We turned around and once we passed the cliff we let Sparkie off leash. It was still very steep but Sparkie has no trouble with steep. Our biggest fear was that Slugger would see a lizard and pull Mike off the rock wall. At one point on the way down Slugger did lunge at something (presumably a lizard) and Mike had to drop the leash immediately or risk going head first down the hill. Here is Mike and Slugger (can you find him James?) coming back down the rocks.
When we all got to the bottom of the rock and back on real land we discussed where the real trail may be. We decided to walk up the wash a ways. Sure enough pretty soon we came across another trail. This had to be it we thought. We all went along that trail for a while. The group of eight was much faster than we were since I’m a real slow poke so they got quite a bit ahead of us. A while later they came back toward us saying this trail just led to another rock wall and didn’t look like a trail was there. So once again we turned around.
As we were going back we passed some more people. I always talk to people we pass and I asked one of the gals if she had done this trail before. She said no but inquired as to know why I asked. I told her we were trying to find the arch. She said that while she’d never been here before the lady that was their leader was actually a trail guide. Wow, what luck! So we asked her about the arch and she explained to us that the trail for that was a turnoff very near the trailhead! Arg! I had noticed that trail but it didn’t look like the main trail so we didn’t take it. Ha ha.!
So back down we went. We met up with the group of eight again and we explained to them where the arch trail was. So off we all went again. Once again they got ahead of us and one more time they came heading back toward us saying they only found another rock climb. But I was sure this was the way so I convinced every one to push on.
So here we all went again climbing the face of a rock. We had gotten about ¾ the way up and none of us could see anything that looked like an arch. Five of the eight decided to turn around. Mike and the other three were discussing that there couldn’t possibly be anything there as all we could see was a rock wall. But I wasn’t going to leave without seeing the arch after all we’d been through already. Suddenly one of the guys said he could see an arch. It was the weirdest thing. It was so decieving. Quite an illusion. It looked a little bit like the shape of an arch but you couldn’t see through so this couldn’t be it – but then suddenly we saw a bird fly between the rocks. This was IT! So we called down to the others and told them we found it.
We all continued along and yes, we made it! Oh it was so worth all the climbing we had done all day. Due to the way it was arranged it was very difficult to get pictures but it was amazing! What a rush! I’ll try to show and explain to you what we saw. As you look at the arch from below you can see an arch shape but it doesn’t look open.
However, the rock wall that you see under/behind the arch shape is actually set back a few feet so there is actually an opening. By the way, this is the only arch in all of the rocks in this area.
Here is what we saw from the other side of the arch looking out in one direction.
There is a ledge on top of the arch and supposedly another steep climb to get to the top but we figured I had done more than enough climbing as it was. You can see the ledge in this picture – it’s just above the small plant line that you see about three quarters the way up the picture.
From under the arch you could look up and see between the rock wall and the arch. As you can see there is only about 10 feet between the two.
We took a break up there and gave the dogs some water and just enjoyed the view. Mike sat on the bench and enjoyed the view with Slugger.
Wazzu found a little “cave” area between the arch and the wall and she dug a tiny bit to get down to some cool dirt and made herself a nice little area to rest.
Sparkie spent the time climbing over rocks this way and that way. I was hoping this would show how steep it was but it’s so hard to capture that on camera – at least it is for me. Anyway, Sparkie just never stopped.
While relaxing we noticed six different groups start up the arch trail. But each group gave up about 1/3 the way up as you just can’t see the arch since it is so deceiving and it really looks like a dead end.
As we were heading down I saw two gals coming up. I waved at them from above and they waved back. We met them about half way. They asked what my dog’s name was and I said “Wazzu.” One gal immediately screamed and said to Wazzu “oh what a great dog, you must be a Cougar.” Turns out the gal was from Wenatchee and had gone to WSU. Wazzu was giving the gal lots of kisses. She said she was sure it was because Wazzu could tell she was a Cougar too. After talking a bit we convinced them that they needed to go to the top to see the arch. They were so happy we told them about it as they couldn’t see it and were about to turn around. Always glad to help a fellow Wazzu alum!
As we continued down I came across this beautiful flowering cactus.
And these very pretty flowers.
When all was said and done our hike that should have taken about a hour round trip ended up taking us three and a half hours. But what a hike it was. Definitely the highlight of our time in Sedona.
On the way back down the main trail, Slugger got tired. When he gets hot and tired he just plops down with no warning. This isn’t the best picture but here is Slugger plopped down in the shade.
When this happens we all just have to wait until he is ready to move as if we try to pick him up he plays jello man – you know all limbs are just limp. He’s so funny. But he really surprised us on this hike. He absolutely loves rock climbing. On a normal walk he either pulls like he is in a pulling competition or he stops in his tracks smelling something so Mike has to pull him to get him to move. But on this trip he was focused and determined. There was no pulling by either one of them at all. He was really concentrating and moving right along the whole time. We’ve truly never seen him so determined and happy – and he was a really good little climber too. He’s not as nimble as Sparkie but he has big muscles that help pull him right up the steepest of spots.
Now remember, this was supposed to be our warm up hike! HA! So we headed toward Oak Creek Canyon to do our “main” hike. While we were driving we got a phone call saying that my computer was ready to be picked up in Phoenix – but they are only open until 5pm and it’s at least a two hour drive one way on a Friday afternoon. So we didn’t really have much choice – we had to pick up the computer as we are leaving in the morning to go north – the opposite direction from Phoenix.
So we took a short drive up Oak Creek Canyon and stopped to do a short 30 minute hike. It wasn’t all that scenic but we did end up at the creek. This portion of the creek had a lot of green plants growing up out of the water.
The dogs thought this was land and tried to walk on it but of course just fell into the water. It didn’t bother Sparkie and Slugger too much but it was very hard on Wazzu and she got all sad and discouraged.
Mike found a place where he and the dogs could make it across the creek but I didn’t have the balance to make it so I just stayed put and watched them play.
On the way back Slugger had a point when he didn’t navigate quite right and fell into the creek.
They were having a lot of fun but we couldn’t dawdle as Mike had to get going to make it to Phoenix in time.
Even though the day got cut short, we had an absolute blast. Can you believe I actually got to mountain climb! How cool is that!! And our three little billy goats are completely tuckered out!
Sparkie did so much climbing she thought she deserved SIX dog pillows. A princess can never have too many pillows, that’s for sure!!
Debbie
4/6/07
PS Here are a few more pictures for you.
First is just a cute picture of Sparkie by the creek.
This is a view looking up from between the rock wall and the arch.
This is the view looking out and down from behind the arch.
On the right you can see the arch and on the left you can see the rock wall behind the arch with the sun shining directly on it.
And finally, one last view from the top of the rock we climbed.
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