FLAGSTAFF FAMILY ADVENTURES.....

Record-Breaking Snowfall

2010-01-26T09:24:00.000-08:00

Poncho House Ruins

2009-12-27T13:58:00.000-08:00

These ruins are near Mexican Hat, on the Navajo Reservation, and the way in is not advertised. Most people who get there are led by a guide. After our hike we almost got snowed in at the remote Valley of the Gods Bed and Breakfast which is highly recomended....built by an early Mormon pioneer.

Snow Days

2009-12-27T13:54:00.000-08:00

We love snow days! Doesn't take much snow for school to get canceled in Arizona, and if the roads are icy, school might not even start until 10:00.

Squirrel Watching

2009-11-16T11:23:00.000-08:00

Flagstaff has the cutest long-eared squirrels ever, and Tim the cat likes to watch them. This year, one of them discovered the delectable taste of pumpkin. Grandma recently cracked us up..."Oh, it's a bunny......no it's a skunk...no, a squirrel!"

Waputki

2009-11-16T11:21:00.000-08:00

Waputki National Monument has some amazing ruins. Good driving practice for Karli on windy roads that go forever in the middle of nowhere! Next time I think we would start at Sunset Crater, then do the whole loop, seeing ruins along the way.

Elk Hunting

2009-11-16T11:18:00.000-08:00

Luckily for Julie, Elk aren't as skiddish as deer. They just stand there looking confused. We had the picture perfect hunt on the first day of hunting season. Came over a grassy knoll way up high on the north-east side of the peaks at sun-up to find a whole herd. Sam and Julie both got an elk, then Julie cried and apologized to hers.

Brianhead Trails

2009-11-16T11:12:00.000-08:00

These downhill trails at Brianhead Ski Resort in Southern Utah were Mom's favorite - great for the whole family, but gorgeous and challenging. Grandpa and Grandma Hull stayed in the condo with us, and dropped us off at the top of the mountain many times. We ate Sam's birthday cake on the most perfect hillside overlooking Cedar Breaks.

Single Speed Race

2009-11-16T11:09:00.001-08:00

The Hull Family

2009-11-16T11:09:00.000-08:00

In front of our newly painted home. Logan did an awesome job on the rock wall in front, and everybody helped paint the trim.

Hangover Trail

2009-11-16T11:05:00.000-08:00

Another secret trail... this one goes around a butte hanging on the side of a cliff in Sedona. The whole family somehow survived.

Angel Fire

2009-11-16T11:04:00.000-08:00

Sam and the boys joined the Absolute Bikes downhill racing team. We don't have downhill races in Flagstaff yet, so we travel to Angel Fire Ski Resort in New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, and Nevada for races.

Freeride Trails

2009-11-16T10:58:00.000-08:00

Sam jumps a well know gap jump on the Wasabi Trail, which is easy to see from way up on Elden Lookout Rd. There are a lot more of these crazy, straight down trails, but I can't tell you where they are cuz it's a secret!

Easter Pageant

2009-11-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

Wow. This was an awesome way to spend Easter. I don't know why we haven't gone before. Amazing to think that the actors volunteer so much time to put this on for free every year.

Rocky Point

2009-11-16T10:48:00.000-08:00

Spring Break can get crazy in Rocky Point, but just outside of town we had a beautiful condo with pools and a beach all to ourselves. We still like San Felipe the best, but it only takes 5-6 hours to get to Rocky Point.

Hockey

2009-11-16T10:40:00.001-08:00

Ethan joined the "In-House" league that is just for fun at the Jay Lively Ice Skating Rink. They practice once a week and have a scrimmage most Saturdays.

Snowbowl

2009-11-16T10:40:00.000-08:00

Snowboarding is our favorite wintertime family activity. These kids are fast! Poor mom can hardly keep up.

Altitude Training

2009-11-16T10:36:00.000-08:00

Flagstaff is an official high altitude training destination! These cross-country runners from Flag High are used to the lack lack of oxygen at 7,000 ft. Better than the heat in Phoenix! Maybe the extra oxygen in their blood has something to do with them being state champs now and again.

Maui

2009-11-16T10:33:00.000-08:00

Our friend's sister just happens to live in Maui. They were coming here, so we went there and dog-sat for them. We borrowed their surfboards, mountain bikes, boogie boards, adventure books, and had the time of our lives while the kids stayed at home with Grandma and Grandpa.

Hiking Cinder Cones

2009-11-16T10:29:00.000-08:00

SP Crater is a tough hike, but this hole is as deep as two football fields in the middle, and we found a pretty cool tropical looking lizard one time. We picked up a map at Sunset Crater National Monument that shows how to drive to all the craters. My favorite is Strawberry Crater. There are indian ruins at the very top, and to the east.

Yosemite

2009-11-16T10:26:00.000-08:00

Only a day's drive from Flagstaff to Lee Vining, and the next night we spent in Yosemite in a tent, and got a close look at a bear cub.

Mono Lake

2009-11-16T10:23:00.000-08:00

Well, it was quite a drive, but have you ever seen such amazing sunset photos? There was a big fire in Yosemite, and the smoke coming over the Sierra Mountains made the sky red.

Bike Injuries

2009-11-16T10:19:00.000-08:00

Boys in Flagstaff seem to like jumps... big ones like "The Gaps" and "Schultz Gaps." But, when your brake lever breaks and the jagged end goes into your leg down to the bone, or when you come straight down on your head and break your helmet and your elbow, and an ambulance has to come get you, then it's not so great. It's also not a good idea to stick your foot in your spokes on the way to school (because the nurse won't believe you have a broken arm) or to ride with no hands on a bumpy road. 2008 was our year to learn all of these lessons.

Schultz Creek Trail

2009-11-16T10:12:00.000-08:00

Schultz Creek trail has always been a favorite for the kids... get dropped off at the top of the pass and it's an easy downhill roller coaster all the way. Cousin Becca had never been on a mountainbike, so it was a fun adventure for her.

Airplane Wreckage

2009-11-16T10:09:00.000-08:00

On Memorial Day, on our way down from hiking Humphrey's Peak, we took out the GPS to find airplane wreckage that's been there since the 40's. The B24 was on a night training mission and did not see the mountain. The wreckage is spread all over a rock field and down below in the trees as well. If you would like the coordinates, let me know.

Humphrey's Peak

2009-11-16T10:06:00.000-08:00

Clear Creek

2009-11-16T10:04:00.000-08:00

Easter in Sedona

2009-11-16T10:02:00.000-08:00

Horses

2009-11-16T10:01:00.000-08:00

Unique thing about Flagstaff is that there are a lot more bikes on the trails than horses. People have horses, they just don't ride them much. I would love to ride a good Arabian in these mountains though. This 25 year old mare is not recommended... trips on every rock, but she is sweet.

Pumphouse Wash

2009-11-16T09:57:00.000-08:00

What a cool canyon that extends from the Kachina area down to Oak Creek north of Sedona. We weren't expecting all the snow down there, and our feet were really cold, but at least the pools were frozen so we could walk across them. In the summer you can swim in the pools to cool off while you hike.

Fremont Peak

2009-11-16T09:55:00.000-08:00

Humphrey's Peak gets all the attention, but I personally like our hike up the Weatherford trail to Fremont Peak the best. On the way down we went off trail on the south side and ran into a herd of elk not far from the top.

Pioneer Trek

2009-11-16T09:53:00.000-08:00

Ever wanted to be a pioneer for a few days? Every 4 years our church gets out the handcarts and the kids find out what it was like to cross the plains. Let's just hope those pioneers had their handcarts packed lighter than ours were!

Monument Valley

2009-11-16T09:50:00.000-08:00

This time Monument Valley was open! We drove to all the scenic points, and the kids had fun in the back of Grandpa Bunnell's pickup.

More Havasupai

2009-11-16T09:47:00.000-08:00

Sam and Julie leave the kids with Grandma and Grandpa and hike 10 miles down into the Grand Canyon to explore the waterfalls, mines and trails for 3 days. We dove thru waterfalls, jumped from high cliffs and found a lost big horn sheep that doesn't want to stay in the cliffs anymore.

Havasupai Falls

2009-11-16T09:42:00.000-08:00

The scouts hiked down to the tiny town of Supai in the Grand Canyon, where the waterfalls are spectacular.

Crater Lake

2009-11-16T09:37:00.000-08:00

This tiny little crater lake is hard to find on the west side of Kendrick Park, but it was a pretty place to take some campers... except for that lightning and downpour... The lake was actually just a very pretty puddle, but we had fun building our own tarp-tents next to it.

Flagstaff Winters

2009-11-16T09:33:00.000-08:00

Sometimes it's a drought, and sometimes that snow on the roof just won't melt!

Buckskin Gulch

2009-11-16T09:32:00.000-08:00

Buckskin Gulch is the most amazing slot canyon, and Paria Canyon has the smoothest mud I've ever had between my toes! Why was I barefoot? Because someone knew I used to be a marathon runner and didn't mention that this hike is 21 miles in one day!

Deer Farm

2009-11-16T09:28:00.000-08:00

On the way home from a football game, Ethan wanted to stop at the Deer Farm. It's half way between Flagstaff and Williams, right by the freeway, and the deer and other animals are so sweet. We've gone more than once.

Mount Elden

2009-11-16T09:27:00.000-08:00

Rim to Rim

2009-11-16T09:25:00.000-08:00

When Sam was Logan's scout leader, the troop got dropped off at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon and hiked all the way to the South Rim where they enjoyed a superb late night stake dinner in the parking lot.

Red Mountain

2009-11-16T09:10:00.000-08:00

One day we hiked about a mile into the middle of this amazing eroded crater. You can hike in the red-earth crevices, slide down the black cinders, have a picnic under the Ponderosa and admire hundreds of catapillars.

Zion National Park

2009-11-16T09:07:00.000-08:00

Most Amazingly beautiful camping trip ever! Hiked, biked, found a hidden swimming hole in Zion National Park, and managed to not lose the kids off the cliffs on the way up to Angel's Landing.

Easter on Mt. Elden

2009-11-16T09:03:00.000-08:00

Easter egg hunts are always challenging around here and usually involve rock climbing.

Pink Sand Dunes

2009-11-16T09:02:00.000-08:00

Sand dunes in the middle of nowhere... somewhere north of Kanab, Utah I think. We had never seen pink sand before, and beaches in Arizona are hard to find, so the kids had a blast.

Moab, UT

2009-11-16T08:55:00.000-08:00

Moab, Utah is incredible, and just a few hours away. Slick Rock, Arches, Rivers and scenic trails everywhere.

Meteor Crater, etc

2009-11-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

Sledding

2009-11-16T08:47:00.000-08:00

We've never actually been to the official sledding area for tourists off Highway 180, but we like sledding down cinder cones the best. You go super-fast, and then hit cinders that slow you down. The golf course was fun when the kids were little, and Kinsey Elementary School has some pretty awesome jumps.

Lake Powell

2009-11-16T08:43:00.000-08:00

Okay, so the lakes in Flagstaff get pretty small or completely dry up during a drought... but Lake Powell is only a couple hours away. Great place to meet old friends (with boats) from up north!

Biking in Sedona

2009-11-16T08:41:00.000-08:00

When it's still too cold and snowy to bike in Flagstaff, the red trails and wildflowers of Sedona start calling.

San Felipe, Mexico

2009-11-16T08:39:00.000-08:00

Our favorite Mexican getaway...not as well known as Rocky Point, so you can have the beaches to yourself. We like to camp. The kids beg us to go there just for the fireworks and abondoned buildings. Ride motorcycles on the beach or to a waterfall, play volleyball,roast marshmallows and play guitar, eat shrimp tacos every afternoon downtown... but don't get your jeep stuck in the sand because that tide comes in incredibly fast!

Hiking in Sedona

2009-11-16T08:32:00.000-08:00

Canyon de Chelly

2009-11-16T08:31:00.000-08:00

Absolutely breathtaking canyon with well-preserved indian ruins. I'd like to go back and see more of it.

Monument Valley

2009-11-16T08:29:00.000-08:00

Wilderness Area

2009-11-16T08:26:00.000-08:00

It's not too hard to find Wilderness Area around here. We just wish we were allowed to ride our mountainbikes in it so we could see more!

The Grand Canyon

2009-11-16T08:25:00.000-08:00

Only a 1 1/2 hour drive to the Grand Canyon for awesome family pictures!

Slide Rock

2009-11-16T08:20:00.000-08:00

When we first moved to Flagstaff in 2001, this is one of the first places we had to see. The water is cold, but the natural water slides are so fun! Popular place, but if the parking lot is full, they let you park up the hill and hike down.