Sedona's Vortexes and Red Rocks

Sedona, AZ 4-4-2009

Recently, I said I wanted to settle somewhere that was beautiful. Arizona is beautiful. Especially our current location, Sedona. This is RED ROCK country, and the scenery surrounding this village is magnificent. I have never seen anything like it.

The village is full of artists and quaint shops. The full time residents have built adobe houses in colors that reflect the surrounding cliffs. These are my kindred spirits.

I was reading some blogs by other people who are just like us - full timers, wandering around the country - and one couple mentioned a camp ground they had stayed at in Sedona called Rancho Sedona. I called and made reservations and it turned out to be wonderful.

We are staying in a canyon that runs right along the village, yet there is a steam running past and it is quiet and full of trees.

Today we took two hiking trips. The first was to Fay's Canyon, a 2.5 mile hike into a canyon. The picture above is taken from the bottom of that canyon. Then we ventured out to Chapel Rock Trail.

The local story is that 64% of tourists that come to the area (according to C of C statistics) come for spiritual reasons. What they mean by that is that people come to visit the vortexes where they believe creative energy is centered.

One of our hikes was to Chapel Rock which is where a vortex is supposed to be located. We hiked about 1.2 miles out to the vortex zone.

At the vista there were medicine wheels and other shrines that people had built. I do not know enough about New Age religion to explain the significance. But, to Christians, the area reminded us to worship the creator, not the creation. And, HIS creation is magnificent.

Tonight, though we had hiked about five miles up and down rocks and in and out of canyons, Bill said he felt refreshed. The vortexes are supposed to impart rejuvenation, so maybe they did work some magic on us.

At the end of the day we drove into Oak Canyon to see spectacular bluffs and magnificent vistas as the sun set on the red cliffs. This is one of the most beautiful places I have ever been.

Tomorrow, we are headed north.