Yesterday we arrived in beautiful FLAGSTAFF, ARIZONA, climbing another 2,000 feet from Prescott to an altitude of 6,909 FEET. The town is bustling, and holds a small town charm and rich history that would rival most famous western towns. It has been, and remains, a major travel and trade route for both east-west and north-south travel. Today we visited and hiked the very impressive and exhilarating ISLAND TRAIL LOOP at WALNUT CANYON NATIONAL MONUMENT. President Woodrow Wilson proclaimed the canyon a National Monument, or otherwise stated, American icon on November 13, 1915. The canyon is located at 6,690 foot elevation, with 273 steps down into the steep canyon, 190 stair steps along the canyon edge trail, only to take 273 steep steps back up and out of the canyon. The HOPI PEOPLE, who inhabited the area until the early 1900’s, lived halfway up the nearly vertical canyon walls, in adobe structures built into the natural rock alcoves. The native people called this area WUPATUPQA, meaning “long canyon.” It was incredible to think that the Hopi people could actually make homes in the areas they chose, much less even get to these nearly impossible alcoves high up within the canyon walls. I was left in amazement of their lifestyle and resilience!!!!!
Full-time RV'rs, retired and ready to make a difference
