We took a trip in May to Flagstaff, Grand Canyon, Canyon de Chelly, & Painted Desert/Petrified Forest.

We stayed a couple of days in Flagstaff, exploring Walnut Canyon...several cliff dwellings to be explored. You can actually hike down and walk through the ruins.

Cliff dwellings in Walnut Canyon, near Flagstaff.

Sunset Crater, which blew about the time native amerians occupied ruins nearby.

Ancient ball court

Wupatki Ruins

Our next stop was the Grand Canyon, where we met up with our hiking club for a "nice" hike

The watch tower at Desert View, on the southeast end of the rim.

That's me in front of a cabin that my family stayed at 50+ years ago...it's still here! We're both antiques!

The trailhead for Indian Gardens. 9 miles r.t., 3000 ft down, 3000 ft back up. Eeeeeew!

We start down the trail with gusto.

Looking towards our goal, down in Indian Gardens.

We made it to Indian Gardens. Trees, a stream, and time to rest/eat lunch.

One of the many Grand Canyon vistas.

We finished our Grand Canyon experience with a great dinner at the El Tovar Lodge.

Located in Northeastern Arizona at the center of the Navajo Reservation, Canyon deChelly.

Spider Rock from above. We took the south rim drive, which has many observation spots.

This was our transportation...a 1952 Dusenberg 6-wheel drive troop transporter. We covered over 52 miles on the all day tour, conducted by Navajo guide. Mummy Cave ruins in the background.

Indian ponies roam the canyon. About 80 Navajo families live in the canyon..during the summer, they come down & garden/farm raise horses, in winter they go to the top to attend jobs or work on their crafts.

White House ruins.

Spider Rock is a sacred place to the Navajo people.

We head for Mummy Cave.

Our transporter has thrown a tie rod.

Our guide has found the missing bolt.

Near Winslow, the Homolovi Ruins.

Hard to see, but a very active pueblo at one time.

These pottery shards are all over the park. You can pick them up, but souvenir taking is forbidden.

We ended our trip exploring the Painted Desert/Petrified Forest Nat'l Park

The Painted Desert Inn started as a tourist attraction, and was restored by the CCC into its current state.

Murals by Navajo painter Fred Kabotie adorn the inn.

An intact petrified tree.

This is wood??

A quick hike up to Wasson Peak...it was busy up there.

We made it to the top!

Hiked Aravaipa Canyon in March with HH Hiking Club...stream runs all year long, and it was a nice riparian area...saw blue herons, lots of wildlife.

We made over 60 stream crossings...soggy feet, for sure.

The way seems to be blocked....

The view of Tucson from Cardiac Gap in the Catalinas.

We stop for lunch at "the gap"

Darrell ascended Picacho Peak with the HH Hiking Club