Wayne McCormick
Broker/Owner
Realty Executives of Flagstaff
Packing and moving is a daunting task. To prevent overwhelm, start packing early. To make packing easier, follow these few simple techniques.
Using proper packing materials pays off in the long run. You can purchase sturdy boxes, specialty boxes and packing materials at local moving or shipping companies. Some wholesale companies and large stores will have free boxes available after a shipment. Wadded up newspaper, old pillows and blankets make inexpensive padding materials.
The following tools and materials will make your packing go more smoothly:
Wrap items individually and always place a layer of crushed paper in the bottom of the carton for cushioning. Fill empty spaces with additional crushed paper.
Make sure cartons are firmly packed with heavier items on the bottom and lighter ones on top.
Put heavy items in small boxes so that they are easier to carry.
Pack one room at a time numbering and labeling each box on the top and side with a description of its contents and which room the box belongs in. Label boxes containing breakable or sentimental items as “Fragile.” Keep a detailed list of what items are packed in each box to make unpacking easier.
Plan ahead for what you'll need the first day after your move. Packing a separate bag with your toiletries, a change of clothes, etc., will avoid unnecessary scrambling or a run to the local store. Also pack a box of necessities such as toilet paper, towel, soap, dish cloth, broom and dust pan, trash bags, telephone, etc.
Empty all drawers of breakable or spillable items.
Pack all breakable items with lots of padding: line the bottom of the box with crushed newspaper. Mark boxes “Fragile” so they are handled with care.
To prevent unnecessary damage, put all furniture knobs, feet, screws, etc., in a container that you can keep with you so the parts won't get lost.
Do not pack flammable goods or heat sensitive items like candles, audio and video tapes, computer disks, propane tanks, aerosol cans, oil based paints and certain cleaning fluids.
For boxes going into storage, pack items together according to the seasons in which you will use them. Mark the boxes accordingly.
When packing the truck, make sure the items you'll need first are loaded in last (e.g., kids toys, kitchen items, bathroom items, telephone and radio) so you can find them easily.
Use common sense when loading your truck by keeping in mind the size, sturdiness and weight of your boxes.
Nobody likes to clean or repair gutters. However, there are a few ways to make the job easier. First, for clogged downspouts, try using barbecue tongs to reach in and pull the leaves out. This doesn't always work, but considering the alternative of using a hose to flush out the clog and getting wet and covered with gutter goop, it’s worth a try.
Second, to repair loose gutter nails try replacing them with extra-long lag screws. The lag screws tend to be stronger, hold better and can easily be installed with a cordless drill equipped with a nut driver bit.
Concrete always cracks. For most cracks less than 1/4" , applying concrete caulk is a good way to make repairs. Just clean the crack out with a high-pressure hose nozzle, let it dry and then apply the caulk into the crack. For larger cracks, substitute concrete patch for caulk.
Large cracks or small, repair is necessary because water that seeps into cracks will soften the ground underneath and cause more cracking. The situation worsens if the water freezes.
With all the wet weather that spring brings, wooden windows and doors can't help but swell and stick. To repair a sticky door or window, first mark where it is sticking, next remove the door or window by taking out its hinge pins, prop it up securely, then use a hand plane to carefully remove any excess material that is causing the sticking. Power planes will also work, but they tend to remove too much wood. When the wood shrinks back during the drier, warmer days of summer, the gap will be too wide.
For sliding windows, the trim around them is often the cause of sticking. Trim must be removed and reinstalled to allow for more movement. To do this, carefully remove the trim with a flat bar and pull the nails out backwards, that is, grasp the nail point with pliers and pull. If the trim was installed properly with finishing nails, you should be able to do this without damaging the wood. When reinstalling, keep the fit snug but not as tight as it was. If you reinstall the trim too loosely, the windows will rattle when the wood shrinks again.
To keep windows and doors from sticking in the first place, make sure that they are sealed with a good coat of paint, including the tops and bottoms. But don’t paint the channels where windows need to slide. Instead, use a light coat of linseed oil as a sealer.
The problem with water stains is that painting over them will not make them go away unless you use a primer-sealer first. When looking for a sealer, follow these basic guidelines: First, oil-based sealers usually work better than water-based ones. Second, choose a sealer that has a high amount of solids, which are the pigments and other elements that do the actual covering of the stain. Paint, hardware and home centers carry primer-sealers, sometimes called sealer-primers.
Another tip for using an oil-based sealer is to use disposable brushes and rollers. Cleaning up after using oil-based products can be messy and often requires that you spend more on paint thinner than your brushes and rollers are worth.
It used to be that the only way to do a good paint job over rust was to get out the naval jelly or wire brush and remove the rust first. Thankfully, paint additives are now available to help paint stick to rust while also neutralizing the rust and stopping corrosion from continuing under the paint.
Left untreated, rust will eventually cause fixtures to lock up. Prevent this by keeping fixtures well lubricated. One of the most common mistakes people make is trying to lubricate outdoor fixtures with light oil or silicon from spray cans. Because these oils are so light, they often evaporate and/or dilute existing lubrication thereby making the problem worse. For fixtures like gate hinges and latches, use heavy grease. It will not evaporate and its high viscosity is the best thing for heavy-duty parts. Most auto parts stores have heavy grease.
The 2-mile traverse from Snowbowl Road to Bismarck Lake is level and scenic
By Randy Wilson
Most bike rides at 9,000 feet will literally take your breath away -- there's not much extended level terrain at that elevation.
But on the newest section of the Arizona Trail that traverses upper Hart Prairie, the only breathtaking experience is the scenery -- the ride is flat and smooth. This two-mile segment between Snowbowl Road and Bismarck Lake opened only last month. But as I've seen the last two weekends, it has already been discovered by cyclists and hikers of all ages.
My guess is that when the next editions of local guidebooks and trail maps come out, this route will rise to the top of the list of must-do family outings, especially in fall.
Scores of volunteers worked with the Forest Service over the course of four weekends stretching back to May to get this trail section into shape. They've dug out the lava-field rocks that make bushwhacking across the prairie a real ankle-twister and put in retaining walls where the trail crosses washes. They've also snaked the trail gently through several aspen groves rather than clear-cut a straight path from one end to the other.
Most importantly for novice cyclists and hikers who want to enjoy the views without risking a cardiovascular event, the trail-builders have held pretty much to the 9,000-foot contour line. My guess is that the new section gains and loses no more than 100 feet along its entire two miles.
Start at Aspen Corner
The starting point for a level ride is the pulloff parking area at what is known as Aspen Corner on Snowbowl Road -- that's the wide curve with split rail fencing about a mile below the Snowbowl parking lots. The Forest Service posts the pullout as No Parking starting around Dec. 1 or whenever heavy snowfall occurs, so readers who want to use this access point have just one month left until next spring.
From the parking area, follow an old dirt road downhill for a quarter-mile before it crosses the Arizona Trail -- there are tree markers on each side of the road. If you keep descending and come out onto the prairie above Alfa Fia Tank, you've gone too far.
Take the Arizona Trail to the right through the trees until it breaks out onto the prairie in about 200 yards (The left trail is unfinished and ends in about a half-mile in a tangle of blow-downs.). From here, the trail heads north on a gentle uphill grade with views extending well beyond Kendrick Peak nearly to the Grand Canyon.
The first sign you'll encounter says Loop Trail, and it refers to the new Aspen Loop trail that swings down from the Humphreys Traihead parking lot about a half-mile above. That parking lot and the Aspen Loop will be the winter access points to this trail section for snowmobilers and cross-country skiers once Snowbowl Road is closed to parking.
Continue on the main trail as it winds through several washes until coming to the first grove of mixed aspen and conifers in about a mile. The trail winds down through the grove before continuing north across the prairie.
In another half-mile of easy climbing, you'll come to another, larger grove of aspen that fell prey to the fierce winds that rocked the peaks several weeks ago. The blowdowns were extensive, but Forest Service crews and volunteers have cleared a path.
Aspen grove a high point
This grove turns out to be the highest elevation on this trail segment and it is a great spot for a picnic. The trail continues north for about another half-mile before reaching the junction with the unfinished trail segment coming up from Bismarck Lake -- a sign provides direction. The trail to the lake is rockier but perfectly passable for cyclists and hikers of all abilities.
The lake is a magnet for wildlife of all kinds and is a favorite with elk hunters in fall. It is nearly dry this time of year, but on Saturday I could hear the honking of migratory geese circling in the distance.
The lake is a good turnaround point for what becomes a 4-mile round trip. On Saturday, I dropped down off the trail onto Hart Prairie Road, then rode south until I came to an old ranch road that heads up the prairie to Alfa Fia Tank and my parked vehicle.
Eventually, this segment and other sections of the Arizona Trail will be part of a Loop Trail that circumnavigates the San Francisco Peaks. Look for volunteer trail construction opportunities in the Daily Sun's Outdoors calendar starting next spring.
If you go ...
Arizona Trail on upper Hart Prairie
2 miles one-way
Elevation: 9,000 feet
Nearly level, outstanding views
Parking at Aspen Corner on Snowbowl Road and the Bismarck Lake trailhead.
Alternate access from Humphrey Trail/Snowbowl parking lot via the new Aspen Loop trail.
By Jack Welch
I really didn't learn to swim until the age of 45. I wanted to participate in the Lake St. Louis Triathlon and since the water component of that activity was too far to allow for a dog-paddle effort, I took swimming lessons at the YMCA. I did improve, but only marginally, and on the day of the event I arrived at the race site poorly prepared for a lake swim. Without pool lines to guide me I quickly realized swimming straight was going to be a problem. A major problem.
By downgrading the value of visual cues, I was able to turn a half-mile swim into an hour-and-a-half tour of every boat dock along the eastern shore of the lake. Making the situation worse was the ever-increasing sound of barking dogs as I floundered in the water just beyond their reach. Because of the continuing uproar, everybody knew where I had been, but nobody -- including myself -- seemed to know where I was going. Soon small children were tossing flotation devices in my direction and, much to my chagrin, a mother duck, followed closely by a bevy of ugly ducklings, quacked their way past me and my unique version of the Australian crawl. Because of this woeful experience, I was able to add swimming to my list of competitive shortcomings.
So, without much encouragement from me -- but with lots of deserved support from the Flagstaff community -- the new Aquaplex has opened its doors and has quickly established itself as a prime swimming and recreation center. Less apparent has been its emergence as a hub for bicycle activities. Located just south of the new railroad overpass on the corner of Fourth Street and Huntington Drive, many high-value bicycle routes, trails and forest access points are within easy reach of its front entrance.
Consider this. By riding only four miles (one way) to the Campbell Mesa Trailhead -- south on Fourth, east on Soliere, south on County Club Drive, east on Old Walnut Canyon Road -- you can be mountain biking on any of the five loops that now exist on that mesa.
Using the same route, but turning north instead of south once you reach County Club Drive, you can ride the new concrete barrier-protected FUTS over Highway 40 and the railroad tracks to the Highway 89/County Club Drive intersection. Return to the Aquaplex from that location by using the new tunnel under Route 66 and the paved FUTS that runs west toward downtown Flagstaff.
Or, for a larger adventure, use the new tunnel under Highway 89 at Country Club Drive to access the Mount Elden interface trails. Of future value will be the completion of the paved FUTS on the north side of Highway 89 that is currently under construction and will soon allow trail access from the Flagstaff Mall to the city limits near Townsend-Winona Road.
Another interesting route from the Aquaplex will be available when the road construction on West Huntington is finished. Once completed you'll be able to ride to Enterprise, where the paved FUTS/Arizona Trail is located on the west side of that road. By riding south on that pathway (toward Sam's, you'll be able to access the Rio de Flag FUTS near the Waste Water Treatment Plant. And once the road and trail connection is made from Enterprise across Route 66 up to the Ponderosa Parkway, a rider will be able to access the McMillan Mesa trail system to reach the Kelly Crossing bridge over Cedar that leads into Buffalo Park. Currently, you can also access the Enterprise north/south trail by using the paved FUTS that runs west along Route 66 from Fourth Street.
But, you can plot your own ride routes from the Aquaplex by using the old FUTS map -- Flagstaff High Country Trails -- which is still useful if you remember many of its "proposed" routes are now finished. A new, updated map showing the FUTS and bicycle lanes is due to be published next spring. And before I finish this column, I must acknowledge the excellent work done by ADOT and the city on the nearly finished paved urban trail system around the Flagstaff Mall. What once was a nightmare area to ride a bike has been transformed into a useful and very enjoyable bicycle route. On behalf of the Flagstaff bicycle community, I wish to thank all those responsible for a job well done.
By Randy Wilson, Daily Sun Editor
Why ride the roads when you can take the trail?
It meant not having to travel on dangerous Fort Valley Road and was more scenic, too.
Now, the tables are turned: The trail link between Coconino Estates and Cheshire has been severed for several years pending the resolution of an easement dispute, while Fort Valley Road is now served by an excellent bike path separated from the roadway.
Over the years, I’ve branched out from the FUTS system as my mountain biking prowess has progressed from nil to novice. Here are a few of my favorite parallel tracks.
Schultz Creek Trail vs. Schultz Pass Road: This may be everybody’s favorite parallel trail, especially if you’ve ever ridden the washboard roadbed and eaten dust behind several pickups. Motorbikes were banned several years ago, and most of the eroded creek banks and side ruts have filled back in. The trail surface has also been smoothed out by rock-removal crews, and that has meant an even larger volume of weekend riders. But the experience of riding the Schultz Creek Trail for four miles on a cool summer morning, both up and back, is unsurpassed, especially compared to the dusty ride on the nearby rode. Find the trailhead at the intersection of Elden Lookout Road and Schultz Pass Road.
Little Elden Springs Trail vs. Forest Road 556: For those cyclists who have come up the Schultz Creek Trail and want to continue eastward to Doney Park and Highway 89, this is the trail that avoids dusty and sometimes congested FR556 for several miles. It starts at Schultz Tank and descends gently for three miles until intersecting the road near Elden Springs Horse Camp.
Rocky Ridge Trail vs. Elden Lookout Trail: Until this trail was “improved” (read: smoothed out) several years ago, I didn’t even think of trying it on my mountain bike. And besides, Elden Lookout Road is paved for the first two miles and not that crowded with vehicles. But since the improvement, I’ve given it several tries, each time having to dismount more times than I’d like to admit. But because the views from the ridge are so stunning, even walking my bike over the rough spots is hardly a bother. The trail runs for four miles from the intersection of Elden Lookout and Schultz Pass roads before crossing the former and becoming the Upper Oldham Trail, which is a more difficult track that climbs up to the Sunset Trail.
Hart Prairie Road vs. Highway 180: This substitutes one road for another, but if you have time and don’t mind several serious hills, this 11-mile route beats dodging Grand Canyon-bound camper vans any day. For a change of scenery on the way back, cross the highway and come back on Forest Road 171 to the west. You can get to it by taking Forest Road 193 near Crowley Pit.
Old Munds Highway vs. Interstate 17: This is the ultimate no-brainer in parallel tracks for those wanting to bike between Flagstaff and Kachina Village. The old road branches off Highway 89A just south of Fort Tuthill, crosses beneath the interstate via tunnel, then offers a rolling, paved track all the way to Mountainaire and Kachina. A fun family day trip.
By Randy Wilson, Daily Sun Editor
The story in the Daily Sun said the city of Flagstaff was about to purchase a 16.6-acre parcel called “Hoffman Tank” for $1 million to preserve as a wildlife corridor.
The name rang a bell, and sure enough, there on the Emmitt Barks Flagstaff Trails Map was a “Hoffman Tank” right alongside one of my favorite bike routes to Fisher Point.
So on Memorial Day, after standing stiffly for an hour at graveside services at Citizens Cemetery, I was ready for a bike ride to check out the newest city property.
What piqued my interest was that, although I had ridden through this sector on the map many times, I don’t recall ever having seen the tank. Usually such features are heavily trampled and surrounded by elk and cattle tracks. Had I been going to fast to notice? Or was there a different Hoffman Tank?
From the cemetery, I intercepted the FUTS trail along the Rio de Flag starting at Lone Tree Road. This is a scenic, one-mile ride in a limestone canyon that seems in a different world, considering how close it is to homes and businesses just above the rim.
But soon enough, the trail collided with the real world in the form of the bridge at Interstate 40, then the Rio de Flag sewage treatment plant and its holding ponds.
But on this Memorial Day, the wind was brisk and the odor was minimal. I was soon heading south in the Broad, lush Rio de Flag valley south of I-40. The trail to Fisher Point hugs the western bank, flanking a fenced grazing allotment and with great views of the Peaks for cyclists with rear view mirrors.
In about a mile from the treatment plant, the trail arrives at a fork and, on the map, Hoffman Tank. I dismounted and began searching for clues of a watering hole. Sure enough, elk tracks coming down a slope led to a small mound that, on closer inspection, was ringed by a downed barbed-wire fence. Just beyond the fence, the tracks plunged down an embankment and into the dry mud of … Hoffman Tank.
During early spring and monsoon, I am sure the tank is a magnet for thirsty wildlife – assuming they prefer fresh water to the treated effluent of the nearby Rio de Flag. It also provides more cover than the Rio de Flag – the tank is ringed on three sides by trees.
As a cyclist for whom the destination usually takes precedence over the journey. I now know to slow down at the trail fork near Hoffman Tank in hopes of seeing elk and deer. I can also appreciate the wisdom of the city’s purchase – were the Hoffman Tank parcel to be taken out of public hands, it would close off easy access from the west to the lower Rio de Flag to both cyclists and wildlife.
Granted, cyclists could zig-zag down the steep limestone cliffs. As for elk, they would need to find a new tank – and they don’t have a handy map to help them.
Flagstaff, Arizona is an international popular destination as a training location for runner's in preparation for athletes competing in Olympic Games. Canadian triathlete Simon Whitfield, Gold Medal Winner at the 2000 Olympic in Sydney has used the Center for High Altitude Training at NAU in preparation for 2008 games. During Mr. Whitfield's stay in Flagstaff in February he noted a luxury many locals have known about for years... "Ten minutes out on the Urban Trail and you're in the middle of no-where in some Alpine Meadow", "that's good for your soul," Whitfield said.
Flagstaff is now getting attention nationally because of its running trails. Trail Runner Magazine named Flagstaff one of the "Top 7 Trail Towns" in the U.S. and Canada while Runner's World is featuring Flagstaff as a destination running spot in its "On the Road" feature. Both stories can be found in the magazines' September issues. In the Trail Runner article it states "you want to train in a town that will take your breath away - both with it's gorgeous views and lack of oxygen". "Trails leaving right from town plug into a lattice of loops on public lands, long and short, all in the shadow of the fantastically abrupt, snow-capped San Francisco Peaks", the article reads. The story mentions four trails in Flagstaff and another near Sedona.
The Tunnel Trail and the 'tunnel of color' in Weatherford Canyon can start from the same parking spot.
By Randy Wilson
It's going to be busy this Saturday up at Schultz Pass. The annual Soulstice Run uses Schultz Tank for overflow parking and the leaf-peepers will be out in force.
So here's a hint: Avoid the congestion and try the Kachina Trail from the Snowbowl side of the Peaks. But that means you would miss out on two of the highlights of any fall foliage season in Flagstaff: The Waterline Road (aka, the Tunnel Trail) and Weatherford Canyon (aka, the Tunnel of Color).
Fortunately, each can be accessed from a side road off Schultz Pass, avoiding the hassle of parking at Schultz Tank. In fact, we use the same parking spot for both trips.
The road is marked on maps as FR 146, and it is about 250 yards east of Schultz Tank on the left. The road heads uphill for about a quarter-mile before crossing a gas pipeline corridor. Then, in about 200 yards, a rock campfire circle will appear on the left, with parking for about four or five cars. Signs marking the Kachina Peaks Wilderness boundary are just behind the campfire ring (no bicycles allowed).
For Weatherford Canyon hikers, this is an alternative trailhead to Schultz Tank. The trail starts just beyond the wilderness signs, and it enters the bottom of Weatherford Canyon in less than a mile. The doghair aspens (dating back to the monster winter snows of 1967-68) were in full color this past Sunday afternoon, making for one of the most spectacular displays on the Peaks.
Hikers can follow the trail up the canyon for a mile to where it intersects with the Weatherford Trail. But for those mainly interested in color, I recommend stopping after about a half-mile, then turning around. The view coming downhill through the tunnel is even better than going up.
Back at the parking spot, cyclists can continue up FR 146 for another half-mile, where they will encounter the gate marking the start of the city's controlled access to the Waterline Road. The road, which is closed to private vehicles, rises gently for nearly 10 miles to the Inner Basin, with stunning groves of golden aspens this past week starting at about the 4- or 5-mile mark.
We usually go only as far as the rock tunnel at about the 2.5-mile mark -- the views of Doney Park are impressive and it is a walkable distance for those without bikes.
A bonus for those with a willing driver is the one-way downhill ride on the Schultz Creek Trail -- just have the driver who loses the coin toss meet the cyclists at the trailhead near Elden Lookout Road. This Saturday might prove congested, however, so better to wait until Sunday if the weather holds up.
As for the Tunnel Trail trip, cyclists can use the road despite the locked gate. But they should be aware that city crews use the road during weekdays to travel to the Inner Basin wellfields. That means no barreling downhill around blind curves -- unless you want to wind up on the front grill of a city maintenance vehicle (or over the side of a very steep cliff).
If you go...
Stay on Schultz Pass Road for 250 yards past Schultz Tank until reaching FR 146 on the left. Head up the road for a quarter-mile, crossing the natural gas corridor, then park about 200 yard farther in a small campfire site on the left. The trail to Weatherford Canyon starts at the back of the campfire site.
To reach the Tunnel Trail (also known as Waterline Road), continue up the road for another half-mile to a locked gate. No private vehicles are allowed, but hikers and cyclists are welcome. A rock tunnel is 2.5 miles beyond the gate, and large groves of aspens crowd the road in about 4 or 5 miles. The Inner Basin, which was in full color last weekend, is 10 miles from the gate.
Where: From Flagstaff, take U.S. 180 northwest about 30 miles. Turn west onto the dirt road at Mile Marker 247 and follow it 0.3 mile to the parking area at the trailhead.
When: Spring, summer and fall are best.
Admission: Free
Facilities: None
Length: Two-mile round trip
Difficulty: It’s a fairly easy hike, but scrambling around within the basin can be tough.
Elevation Change: About 150 feet.
Highlights: The central section of the mountain is a geologic wonderland, an earthly landscape of orange, black, ocher and gray tuff, eroded into strange shapes and unlikely hoodoos, somewhat reminiscent of Bryce Canyon in Utah.
Insider Tip: The large, well shaded area at the center of the inner basin is an ideal spot for a picnic lunch.
Where: From Flagstaff, drive about 16 miles northwest on U.S. 180. Between mile markers 232 and 233, about a mile north of the Flagstaff Nordic Center, turn west on Forest Road 193 and proceed about three miles to Forest Road 171. Bear right and proceed two miles to Forest Road 190. Bear right again and proceed about half a mile to the trailhead parking area.
When: Spring, summer and fall are the best times to hike
Facilities: Restroom
Admission: Free
Difficulty: Strenuous
Length: Eight-mile round trip
Other uses: Equestrians permitted. Dogs on leashes OK.
Where: From Flagstaff, take U.S. 180 northwest about three miles to Schultz Pass Road. Turn north and proceed 5.2 miles to the signed turnoff to the Sunset Trail. The parking area is about 0.1 mile south of Schultz Pass Road. Only the first three-quarters of a mile of Schultz Pass Road is paved, but the remainder is easily passable with a high-clearance vehicle.
When: Summer, fall and spring are best
Admission: Free
Facilities: None
Length: 5.5-mile loop
Difficulty: Moderately strenuous. Although the gradient of the trail is fairly mild, it’s easy to get winded at this elevation.
Elevation Change: 900 feet
Highlights: For desert dwellers, there’s nothing more glorious that a high-country stroll through ponderosa pine, spruce and aspen. Throw in views of the San Francisco Peaks and easy, post-trek access to the bistros of Flagstaff, and you’ve got an unbeatable summertime adventure.
Insider Tip: For a far more challenging hike, take the Sunset Trail at its junction with the Brookbank Trail and continue about 2.5 miles to the Elden Lookout Trail.
Hike tours the volcanic fields
Where: From Flagstaff, drive east on Interstate 40. Take exit 201 and go north on Country Club Drive about a half a mile to U.S. 89. Turn right and proceed about four miles to Silver Saddle Road. Turn east and go about half a mile to the parking area, which is on the north side of the road.
When: Year-round
Facilities: None
Admission: None
Difficulty: Fairly easy
Length: 2.4-mile round trip to overlook and back, about a 3-mile loop to summit and a return the back way.
Elk Ridge in Williams is a family-friendly ski, snowboard and tubing recreation area.
The rope tow was about to shut down late Friday afternoon and skiers and snowboarders of all ages scrambled to get in their last runs as the sinking sun sent beams of light across blue-white snow.
Welcome to Elk Ridge. A mere 30 miles west of Flagstaff on Interstate 40, this little gem of a mountain resort offers a full array of snowplay activities, rentals, lessons and a cozy day lodge.
The lodge is newly remodeled and includes a warming fireplace and the White Stag Cafe, which offers comfort food and views of the slopes out the windows.
Elk Ridge covers about 30 acres of skiable runs. All seven runs are groomed and visible from the lodge area.
Some runs have vertical drops of 600 feet, with a beginner's slope offering a gentle, 30-degree descent and a chance to practice skills.
Elk Ridge offers a wonderful alternative to crowded slopes and long lift lines, with a variety of terrain and friendly people.
The Elk Ridge season is December through April.
IF YOU GO
WHAT:
Elk Ridge Ski and Outdoor Recreation Area
Operating in cooperation with the National Forest Service, in the Kaibab National Forest
Season total for snow, 68 inches
WHERE:
Drive south from downtown Williams about 2.5 miles, continuing when it becomes Perkinsville Road.
Take a right on Ski Run Road (Forest Service Road 106), 1.5 miles up the hill to Elk Ridge. Sign on the right. Chains or 4WD may be required during heavy snows.
WHEN:
Open Friday through Monday, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Half-day rates begin at 1:30 p.m.
White Stag Cafe, open 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
FEES:
Tubing: Two new runs available.
All day, 13 and older, $10; All day, 4 to 12 years, $7; under 3 free with paid adult.
Skiing, snowboarding: Poma Lift and a rope tow.
$20 all-day lift ticket.
Family and group rates available.
Rental available for tubes, downhill and cross-country skis, poles, boots and boards.
For information about rental packages and lessons, visit www.elkridgeski.com.
If you go...
Park off Highway 180 at the northern, gated end of Hart Prairie Road (FR 151). If you go past the Chapel of the Holy Dove, you've gone too far.
(Clarification: Many maps dub the staging area across from the chapel as the Walker Lake rest area. This is because the parking lot does serve as a good place to unload snowmobiles and access Hart Prairie Road across the highway. But the actual Walker Lake is 2 miles to the east of Highway 180.)
Ski or snowshoe up Hart Prairie Road to the intersection with FR 418. Go left for 200 yards, then take a snowmobile trail on the left for about a half-mile to the outer base of the crater and the trail sign. Leave your skis here and walk up the final 200 yards.
At the rim, walk briefly downhill, then to the left. You'll come to a steep chute with a nice runout onto the lakebed.
Fitness coach Steve Ilg recommends a north-facing slope in a scenic meadow just north of the Cheshire subdivision. Here are his directions:
Park at the first Wing Mountain turnoff road (gate locked): FR222
Ski or snowshoe a half-mile to first cattleguard
Go left (southeast)... down a hill on FR 923OF. Upon entering a barbed wire gate (be sure to close it!), veer right instead of following the road.
Noodle west toward Wing Mountain following a drainage system for less than a quarter mile and you'll see the big, beautiful meadow before you. Sledding is optimal on the north-facing south slope, although the entire southwest hill system is great!
With the Arizona Snowbowl and Snowbowl Road closed to sledding, the Forest Service has created three formal snowplay areas along Highway 180.
By DAILY SUN STAFF
Cari Hennikson, 10, gripped the tote string tightly of the new sled she got for her birthday and looked down the snowy slope of Crowley Pit, calculating the best time to maneuver into the stream of rowdy snowplay enthusiasts.
Cari, with her younger brother, Kyle and her father, ‘Tor, were up from the Valley on a Sunday snow- play trip. They weren’t alone--the pit was full of Valley families, many of them hard pressed to find a good place to sled once they learned that the Arizona Snowbowl was closed to sledding and parking was banned along Snowbowl Road.
It seems like it would behoove Flagstaff, ... Bto set up a place to sled,” said Todd Swansiger. We just found this place driving around.”
Actually, the Coconino National Forest has created three formal snowplay areas north of Snowbowl off Highway 180. Following is a brief description of each:
Wing Mountain: This site is a mecca for sledders as well as cross- country skiers. Most of the Forest Service roads at WingMountain are off-limits to wheeled vehicles between Dec. 1 and April 1, and there are also informal trails along gas pipeline easements.
The access road (FR 2228) is 2.8 miles north of Snowbowl Road. Hart Prairie Road (FR 151) is on the right, and about 100yards farther on the left is FR 222B.
For some reason, the Forest Service does not want to post a sign saying “Wing Mountain.” Instead, the sign says ‘Parking Area” Take FR 222B about a mile to the kiosk with a map of the trails. About a quarter-mile farther, there is a sizable parking lot. Drivers of high-clearance vehicles can proceed even farther to the base of the sledding hills.
Crowley Pit: This area is smaller than Wing Mountain but often less crowded. It is also at a higher elevation, so the snow tends to last a day or two longer. The pit is 9.8 miles north of Snowbowl road on the left, or about a mile north of the Flagstaff Nordic Center. Again, the sign at the turnoff (milepost 233) says ‘Parking Area,” not Crowley Pit. The access road is 200 yards long and there is parking for about 25 to 30 vehicles.
Walker Lake: This also is known as the Kendrick Park Watchable Wildlife Area. It is 14 miles north of Snowbowl Road on the left opposite the Chapel of the Holy Dove. This area is primarily for cross-country skiers and snowmobilers who want to explore the flatlands of Kendrick Park as well as the foothills of Kendrick Peak.
There are other informal snowplay areas along Highway 180, but the Forest Service discourages their use because of the hazards of parking along busy Highway 180.
For more information, contact the Peaks Ranger District at 526-0866.
