SEDONA, AZ
I left Flagstaff after work this afternoon amidst intermittent snow flurries. I shouldn't have been surprised then, that after descending 2,500 feet into Sedona, that snow turned to pouring rain.
I was on my way to Sedona to hike Cathedral Rock (thank you Kathy OCP and Michael for this recommendation) and I thought, well, if it's still pouring rain, I'll just check out the touristy part of Sedona instead. But, right as I was pulling up to the Cathedral Rock trailhead, the rain stopped (woot, woot!) and a car was pulling out of the otherwise full parking lot, so I was able to park without waiting.
The hike is short, just 1.5 miles roundtrip, and has a 700' elevation gain that requires more rock scrambling than exertion. Exhibit A:
It wasn't difficult, but the rain did make the rocks a little slick, so everyone took their time. Fortunately I made it up and back with no wipe-outs and all my teeth intact.
Here's a shot about halfway there.
And here's the view from where I am standing. Again, pictures don't do it justice.
Almost there! (Also, proof that the Arizona skies aren't always a perfect azure blue.)
I finally made it to the top! The view there is incredible.
Apparently the summit of Cathedral Rock is one of four vortexes (vortices?) in the Sedona area. A vortex is thought to be a swirling center of energy, conducive to healing, meditation, and self-exploration, a place on earth especially alive with energy. At least that's what I learned after googling "what is a vortex" when I got home.
I didn't know at the time that Cathedral Rock is a vortex, and I don't really get into "energies," but I will say that by the time you reach the top, your heart is beating a little faster, both from the final climb and from the incredible views. So you are definitely feeling some energy and elation when you get there!
As soon as I got back to the car, it started raining again, so if a serendipitous break in the weather is the result of vortex energy, I'll take it.