A winter storm is coming to North Central Arizona, tomorrow in fact. You can see the haze in the air and the sunshine is veiled in gray. Jim, Bear, and I took advantage of 62 degree temps and went hiking out to Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, and we found this gorge.
Black and White
Hiking with a breeze and surrounded by space. Is there anything better?
Cindy Bruchman 
Peace, quiet, opaque skies and clean air. I wish I was there.
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I’ve lived here now for 3.5 years and it really has grown on me. When you get a lot of peace, quiet, opaque/blue skies, and clean air, it’s hard to leave it. Thanks, Paul.
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Beautiful pictures
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Thank you very much 🙂
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Arizona is a beautiful state with so much diversity. Stay warm!
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Thanks, Ingrid. You know it personally 🙂
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Yes, I do! In November we became AZ residents. It was a little hard giving up my Colorado status, but I got over it 🙂
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I enjoyed the pictures.
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Thank you, Ian. I’d enjoy looking at pictures from your end of the world.
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What a strange profile to the gorge. I bet there’s a whole school trip in that for some lucky class!
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Hi John, that’s a good idea. It’s literally 20 minutes from my front door. Our valley is not heavily populated, so you rarely bump into anyone unless you choose to go to the tourist spots, then watch out, the world is visiting today, it seems. (Sedona, Grand Canyon, Jerome)
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That’s a lot of space, and an impressive gorge, Cindy. I suspect that I would have to go to Spain to see something like that closer to home, as the UK doesn’t have those type of formations. Ollie would like to explore that space too, I’m sure.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Hi Pete–I’m hosting a trip to Spain with a group of students/adults in 2017. From the looks of the brochures, I felt the same way when I saw Don Quioxte’s windmills and the fortresses up on the cliff tops. I can’t wait. Until then, hiking in January is the best time to hike in AZ. No snakes, sweat or people. 🙂
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Snakes might be a problem for Ollie.
I am sure that you will love Spain, and find that at least some of it looks familiar. (You may well have been already, in which case, ignore that last part…)
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Never been. The snakes announce themselves. Usually.
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I don’t know what area you are going to visit, but if you get the chance to see it, Barcelona is a great place, one of my favourites in Europe. I have never been to Madrid, though I am sure that it also has its charms.
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Madrid, Seville, and Barcelona. 🙂
Lots of picture posts, for sure.
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Sounds wonderful!
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What beautify scenery and views 🙂
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Hi Paul, thanks for saying so. The Cottonwoods and Sycamores are budding already. Soon we’ll have green leaves sprouting and more colorful pictures follow. But there’s something lovely about hiking this time of year. It gets bloody hot to hike in the summer–you have to be careful to pack water, hats, blah blah blah. In January the sun is warming on the shoulders and there’s no snakes to think about, either. 🙂
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Hello Cindy. It must be a lovely are to go hiking, even more so when everything begins to bud and return. The added bonus of it not being too hot as well, enables you to enjoy the scenery even more. So nice to experience the change in the seasons 🙂
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The older I get, the more claustrophobic I become. It’s really grounding out there.
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Its always nice to get away from it all sometimes though and enjoy such scenery. I bet it is grounding, looks amazing 🙂
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Great shots. They remind me a bit of No Country for Old Men!
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Thank goodness Anton Chigurh was nowhere in sight! When I’m out in the wilderness like that, so many movies come to mind. AZ is prettier than Texas 😉
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Ha, indeed! You’ll want to steer well clear of that pressure gun thing! I’ve never been to either, only New York and Pennsylvania. Maybe one day! 🙂
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Head West, young man 😉
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I love number 4!
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With Jim at the edge, you get a sense of the magnitude of the gorge. Thanks, Abbi!
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Arizona is wonderful during cooler seasons. My grandpa and step-grandma lived in Phoenix. They chose a nice area called Moon Valley where their back yard led to a golf course.
Your photos were moody and very interesting. Almost seemed like the shimmering look of Westerns. Hope the winter storm isn’t too bad or big.
Cindy, I wrote a post about the movie, “Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day.” I was going to schedule it for February 13th, mentioning your Valentine’s Day post. Is this a good way to lead back to your post?
On a post I read today on: http://mohawkvalleygirl.wordpress.com
This young woman I follow was planning on watching “Being Julia,” mentioning how much she loved Annette Bening. Just wondering do you wish to enlist her independent review of this movie as one in your Valentine’s movies list? I will take any suggestion about my own post. I even considered changing date, if this works out easier/better?
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I love it! Share me the link and invite your friend inviting her to add the link to the day! In fact, it would be awesome if you two co-hosted with Ruth and I. All you would have to do is condense an aspect of your review to just focus on an aspect of the film for the discussion. A small paragraph is all! Then I would link your full review (and your friend) on the 13th. Would you be willing? Then you can comment with all the visitors on my site, too, in addition to yours. It would be a busy, fun day!
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Gorgeous gorge.
When I was a kid, I could tell the weather for the day by looking at the horizon. I knew how hot it was going to get – or not. Rain – how hard. I didn’t predict – I just knew. A useful talent. Worked when I was a kid – in Alberta. Not sure if I still have that knack or not?
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Hi, JC. A useful skill, indeed! Sounds like you are observant and connected to nature. That’s a good thing, in my book. 🙂
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Very nicely done!
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Thanks!
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Beautiful shots Cindy. Really motivates me to get out there and have a hike. There are some amazing green-filled views to be found near me:
http://epilepticmoondancer.net/2015/04/25/adelaide-a-photo-journal-part-i/
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Your corner of the world is lovely! Take more pictures! 🙂
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I know, I really need to! Not just because its fun, but because its healthy…. I’m a bit of a hermit so any exercise or social interaction is massively helpful for my mental health. I’ll let ya know if I take any more snaps 🙂
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What a pretty part of the world.
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Hi there, Lloyd. Thanks! I’m enjoying it. Your part is pretty cool, too.
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I missed this post somehow! LOVE these Cindy, I’d love to go hiking again w/ you, maybe in the Fall so it’s not as hot? Hiking w/ a breeze sounds delightful!
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Hi, friend. Anytime.
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Mohawk Valley girl may not follow through but I did visit her and reiterated what you said! 🙂
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that’s okay! She is certainly welcome to stop by and discuss her observations!
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In many respects, Nevada is not that much different from Arizona when it comes to scenic trails and raw desert areas to hike. To be honest, I’ve also crossed Hoover Dam on occasion to hike in nearby Arizona. I very much like the Desert Southwest landscape. I’ve lived in Las Vegas for over 20 years, and also graduated years ago from the University of Arizona, at which time I routinely explored the southern part of your state (e.g, Chiricahua National Monument). But I’m also familiar with other natural areas of Arizona that I have not hiked, such as the Grand Canyon and the Mogollon Rim. to be honest, I’m not familiar with the Sycamore Canyon Wilderness, so I’ll have to check into that area. Thank you for posting some great photos!.
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Welcome! I’m very happy you stopped by to comment. I hate crowds and Sycamore Canyon is the road less traveled. In the Verde Valley it’s 20 minutes from Sedona and the space and majesty is well worth the trip. I’ll tell you what–you should try Mexican Hat area just outside of Monument Valley, UT. in AZ the camping is great there on the rim–the best I’ve camped since moving to the SW 3.5 years ago. Since you favor the topography anyway, either East or South you won’t be disappointed. I am partial to the Mogollon Rim. Their sites are right on the lip and it’s liberating.
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