Driving up to Flagstaff

A quick set of pictures to get us to our starting summer destination.  Any time we have the chance to hang out in Flagstaff for a couple weeks, we'll take it.  Especially when it's getting warm at lower elevations and Flagstaff temperatures are so so lovely.

But first, a couple Tucson adventures.

I climbed Wrightson from a different starting point for a longer loop, another solid training day:

Big ole cactus flowers, and I've learned to take pictures when I see them because they tend to be fleeting occurrences:

Another day of elevation, up Blackett's in Sabino Canyon for a view of the Thimble:

A going-away shot from flowering saguaros, including a beautifully crested one:

We have been admiring the solar-covered canal next to I-10 toward Phoenix.  It's good for the water (less evaporation) and the solar (cooler panels = higher efficiency).  I hope this test case leads to more like it.  This time by I finally got a photo:

Circle K recently started adding EV chargers to some of their stations, and we especially like the one at Anthem.  We could never get away with staying hooked up at the Electrify America stations at Walmart:

Finally in cooler air at the Rivian charger in Flagstaff, yay!

John and Andrew had previously explored the "Slabs" on Mount Elden, and I was finally curious enough to know if I might be able to make it up?  They promised me I could, especially with a minor rope belay for some of the trickier parts.  Andrew took a few pictures on the way up (thanks Andrew!)

Squid continually scampered ahead of us, turning around to ask what was taking so long?

Except for me leaning over, this picture makes it seem not steep, but I promise that it's quite steep.

Another break to recover, and I just noticed that it appears like my right foot is holding up the rock:

Success!  Just no summit photo.

We did a sprint orienteering event around the NAU campus, and our friend who works there gave us a little tour of the stadium afterward, super cool:

Andrew and his band Tremuloid had a gig that night, so we did a rare evening outing to see him plus our friends Moonie and Keifer:

We always enjoy our time in Flag!