The Cinders

August 8th, 2001

Trip Leader: Tom Epperson

           Our group Met at Denny’s on Bell and I-17 and promptly left at the prescribed time of 8:00 (well…a few minutes later than that). In attendance were, Tom, Kris, Savanah and Amanda Epperson, Gary Brown, Phil and Marilyn LaRussa, Ed and Lonnie Weinstien and Ron, Patrick and Rylee Finger. On Departing I discovered that my radio was not working. So the trip to Flagstaff was unusually quiet.

A few hours or so Even without lead communication we all made it to the Exxon north of Flag on SR87 where we all topped off our tanks and I fixed my radio in preparation for a day of fun on the Cinders hills. Rain had fallen the day before so the road was less dusty than I had expected but still nasty enough to choke anyone with an open window (or Jeep).

We stopped as we entered the Cinder valley to take in the view and air down. The sky was clear and the air was a cool 82 degrees with a slight breeze. A distinct contrast to the 96 and climbing temperatures we had left three hours before. Across the valley we watched as a plume of dust rose where a dune buggy scampered effortlessly up the side of one of the cinder cones. With our tires at proper pressure and the motivation of the dune buggy fresh in our heads, we too headed for the top of the extinct volcano.

Gary crosses the valley

Taking a more subdued Approach than our agile predecessor we clawed our way to the top and came upon the magnificent panorama. Sunset Crate sets just to the west in all it’s splendor and framed by the San Francisco Peaks. Off to the north is the Painted Desert and the Navaho Nation. To the East a view of the high desert and to the south nestled in the pines is the town of Flagstaff. We spent several moments getting “tuned-in” to the environment before diving off the peak to a shady spot for lunch.

View from the top

Lunch was both nourishing and entertaining as we sat, ate and watched, several ATVs attempt the longest, steepest part of the mountain with surprising results. As they made their runs at the hill you could swear that they were going to come tumbling right back down. After lunch we too made a few runs to the top of an adjacent hill. We then made our way into the cinder play hills where all had a chance at testing our driver and vehicles abilities. A few hours or so of this was enough to tire us out and it was decided that we had a good day and it was time to hit the road for home.  Kris, the girls and I had come prepared to camp for the night so we led the group back to civilization where we filled our tires, said our good-byes and headed our separate ways.  I appreciate the company of all that attended, I thoroughly had an enjoyable time.

Lunchtime backdrop

Phil descends a play hill

Ron buries it

 

The Weinsteins led Gary Brown and The Fingers to Fossil Creek near Strawberry
on the way home.  Here are some images Ron Finger captured on that trip.

Fossil Creek

Infamous Fossil Creek "swimming hole"

 

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