DOE MOUNTAIN
Before we left for our hike we explored the resort. We wore hiking pants. We worked up a sweat finding all the pools and spas and changed back into shorts.
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| On the ascent at Doe Mountain |
Before we left for our hike we explored the resort. We wore hiking pants. We worked up a sweat finding all the pools and spas and changed back into shorts.
Janet picked the Doe Mountain trail about 5 miles outside of town. It's a moderate hike but big on views. The trailhead is on the north side of the flat topped mesa. A series of switchbacks clamoring over rocks and a sometimes disappearing trail leads to an incredible panoramic view of the surrounding Red Rocks Country's area. Janet had downloaded the AllTrails map of the Doe Mountain Trail and it helped us get back on course a couple of times. If you download the map you can use it on your iPhone without need for service.
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| DOE MOUNTAIN |
When we finally climbed to the top we had lunch on the north rim of the mesa before heading to the south side to see distant landmarks like Chimney Rock and closer points of interest like a cul-de-sac with some massive homes threatening to climb up the mountain itself.
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| SOUTH VIEW FROM DOE MOUNTAIN |
WHAT ARE WE MISSING?
It was a short drive from our resort to Doe Mountain but we passed several evidently much more popular trailheads along the way. For at least a quarter mile in either direction the shoulders were choked with cars. Doe Mountain's trailhead was very quiet in comparison. Learned later it is something called the Boyton Pass Vortex. What may you ask is a vortex? Why, it's believed by some as a "special spot on the Earth where energy either is entering the planet or projecting out of the Earth's plane".
HUH? I lifted that last bit from a blog about Sedona vortexes or vortices.
Evidently vortices are found throughout the world and have a spiritual cleansing transformative effect on visitors and if you decide to wade through the crowds you will probably encounter people meditating or yoga, or "energy cleansings".
Timid about going into this whole thing alone there are several tours offering advice and guidance including this one called:
SEDONA ANGELIC / UFO AND VORTEX TOURS I'm sure you'll get a rise out of that one!
BACK TO DOE MOUNTAIN
At Doe Mountain's trailhead there was a pay station for daily and
weekly passes, at $5.00 per day and $15.00 per week. We have an Interagency America The Beautiful (senior) pass that we paid $80 for at Shenandoah last summer. We left the pass on the dashboard and thankfully no ticket on our return. Actually the NPS website confirms this.at
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| ATOP DOE MTN. |
REWARD
There's no hiking without a beer involved and our reward was the Oak Creek Brewery in Sedona proper. We were able to park at the Los Abrigados Resort in town, another Diamond Resort in Sedona. We had tried but failed to get a room here. Seeing the area we were thankful because of all the traffic and commotion downtown our visit to Sedona would have been completely different.
From the resort it was a very short walk to the Tlaquepaque Arts & Shopping Village. We scored a couple of seats at the bar and had Imperial sized (20 oz) beers for $8.00 each. Janet had their Hefeweizen and I had their Snake Bite IPA. Both were good. We munched on meaty chicken wings for $17.00. We always order chicken wing sauce on the side, and they only had one type of hot sauce.
MORE REWARDS
Stopped at the Bashas’ again
for tequila, limes and popcorn, and headed to the Mesa hot tub back at the resort in the hopes of
catching the sunset. There is an open infinity pool area obviously designed for
this, but the winter sun set further off behind the buildings, but at least we watched the mesas glow from the waning light of the day.
It was a great first day.
Thanks for reading.
Love Janet and greg
© 2021
By Greg Dunaj
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