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Sedona

Wednesday, April 23, 2025 - Wednesday, April 30, 2025 -- $TBD ★

Sedona's jaw-dropping red rock beauty makes it a life-list destination not only for adventure travelers such as yourself, but for just about everyone including the people that marvel at your intrepidness (intrepidity?) for undertaking a week-long trip. Sedona's savagely beautiful and varied ecosystem can freeze your bones at night and warm your heart the next day. Whether it's the dominating presence of monolithic red rock formations, endless stretches of towering Ponderosa Pine Forests or the ubiquitous spiritual vortices, Sedona (part of the Coconino National Forest) has it.


Our trek will begin in Phoenix. We'll shuttle up to Sedona and set up camp in a front country campground complete with fire rings, picnic tables and pit toilets. "Check this out honey, they have pit toilets!!". Every day, we'll experience another beautiful day-hike to give you a varied perspective of the area. One entire day will be devoted to visiting various vortices (for those that seek out their evanescent vibrations) and on another day, we'll shuttle up to Flagstaff for a Full Adult Adventure Course at Flagstaff Extreme Adventures (American Ninja Warrior hopefuls take note). It all adds up to one unforgettable excursion.


We will be visiting this visually stunning hiking wonderland just as the temperate Spring unfolds. It's prime time to visit, so why not join us to see a wonderful place and jump start your fitness level?



Weather

Weather is always an important concern when hiking. Spring is a great time to visit Sedona. Expect daytime hiking temperatures into the 70s & 80s and nighttime temperatures to be cold -- perhaps in the 30s or lower. It may reach the 90s during the day or freeze at night. Here are the historical weather averages Expect sunny, fair weather but be prepared for the possibility of dry, frigid nights.



Probable Trip Leaders

Guide(s) TBD

Difficulty


Although the trails can be rugged, our hiking distances are not overly aggressive. Furthermore, our hikes are day-hikes carrying relatively small amounts of weight. However, expect to carry at least 4 liters (8 pounds) of water to ensure that you're hydrated. Elevation changes are moderate or somewhat high -- there are climbs, making this trip sometimes challenging but still good for beginners.



Cost

$TBD per person double occupancy. Here, double occupancy means that you will share an ending hotel room with another trip participant. You will also be responsible for transportation to and from Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (PHX), as well as personal equipment, restaurant meals and any gratuities for guides. If you drive, shuttling to the park may be an option


Covered expenses include 1 hotel night, 6 nights in front country campgrounds, 5 days of trail meals, airport ground transportation, ground transport to/from/within Sedona, National Forest permits and awesome guides.


Tipping: In order to keep our prices competitive with (and hopefully favorable to) other outfitters, we shamefully can’t pay our guides as much as we think they deserve. Like most other guiding services, we rely on the generosity of our participants to make up this shortfall by tipping the guides. While tips are not required or expected, if your guides have served you well, please consider a gratuity so they can continue living their extravagant lifestyles of eating powdered meals, sleeping in the dirt and pooping in smelly outhouses and small holes they've dug.



Notes


Day-Hiking / Base Camping only


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Itinerary
Weather
Guides for this trip
Cost
Important Note
Difficulty (Please Read)
 
 

Itinerary


Wednesday, April 23, 2025

Fly or drive into Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport (PHX).

We will pick you up and bring you to Guide Emeritus Deb's house. Your flight must arrive by 2PM in order to get to the park in a timely manner. If you cannot arrive early or can save a significant amount by arriving later, please let us know and we may be able to make arrangments that work with your arrival time

We will assemble at: TBD, To Be Determined

Mini-equipment shakedown, following up your virtual shakedown done prior to the trip

Make-Your-Own Trail mix bar

All the items that you won't bring on the trail will be set aside and put in storage at Deb's house'

At around 3PM, shuttle to campsite: TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD

Guides prepare dinner in camp. On some trips with longer shuttle times, we may opt to go out for an opening dinner at a local restaurant. (Cost of restaurant dinner not included in trip price)

Camp at TBD, To Be Determined Site(s) TBD


Thursday, April 24, 2025

Start hiking at Purtyman Trailhead, elevation 5110'

Day-Hike 0.9 steep, switchbacked uphill miles to Purtyman, elevation 6350'

Day-Hike 0.9 steep downhill miles to Purtyman Trailhead, elevation 5110'

Shuttle to Cookstove Trailhead, elevation 5500'

Day-Hike 0.6 steep miles to a view at 6320'

Day-Hike 0.6 miles back down to the trailhead, elevation 5500'

Base Camp at Manzanita Campground, sites 05 & 06, elevation 6065'

Miles today: 3.0. Total miles: 3.0


Friday, April 25, 2025

Vortex Day

Visit Airport Vortex

Day-Hike 3.3 mile loop around airport, elevation 4830'

Visit Cathedral Rock Vortex

Start day-hiking at trailhead, elevation 4040'

Day-Hike 1.7 miles to Cathedral Rock, elevation 4964'

Day-Hike 1.7 miles back to trailhead, elevation 4040''

Visit Bell Rock Vortex

Day-Hike 3.4 mile loop around Bell Rock and Courthouse Butte

Base Camp at Manzanita Campground, sites 05 & 06, elevation 6065'

Miles today: 10.1. Total miles: 13.1


Saturday, April 26, 2025

Shuttle to Brin's Mesa Trailhead, Forest Rd 152, elevation 4640'

Day-Hike 1.5 slightly uphill miles to trail intersection, elevation 4930'

Day-Hike 2.0 more miles on Brin's Mesa to Jim Thompson trailhead, elevation 4520'

Day-Hike 0.6 miles via Cibola Pass to a trail intersection, elevation 4520'

Day-Hike 0.5 miles via Devil's Kitchen to a trail intersection, elevation 4510'

Day-Hike 1.7 miles via Soldier Pass to a trail intersection, elevation 4930'

Day-Hike 1.5 slightly downhill miles back to the starting trailhead, elevation 4640'

Base Camp at Manzanita Campground, sites 05 & 06, elevation 6065'

Miles today: 7.8. Total miles: 20.9


Sunday, April 27, 2025

Shuttle to Sterling Pass Trailhead, off of route 89, elevation 4800'

Day-Hike 2.1 uphill miles over Sterling Pass, elevation 6000' and then downhill to Vultee Arch spur trail, elevation 5190'

Day-Hike 0.2 uphill miles to Vultee Arch, elevation 5310'

Day-Hike 0.2 downhill miles to the Vultee Arch Trail, elevation 5190'

Day-Hike 1.5 downhill miles to the Vultee Arch Trailhead, elevation 4800'

Day-Hike 3.6 miles back to the the shuttle vehicles, elevation 4800'

Base Camp at Manzanita Campground, sites 05 & 06, elevation 6065'

Miles today: 7.6. Total miles: 28.5


Monday, April 28, 2025

Shuttle to Flagstaff for Flagstaff Extreme Adventures for a full adult course. This is where you can start your training for American Ninja Warrior!

Base Camp at Manzanita Campground, sites 05 & 06, elevation 6065'

Miles today: 0.0. Total miles: 28.5


Tuesday, April 29, 2025

Break Camp. Pack everything into shuttle vehicle(s)

Shuttle to Harding Spring Trailhead, elevation 5440'

Day-Hike 0.8 steep uphill miles to Harding Spring with somewhat of a view, elevation 6190'

Day-Hike 0.8 steep downhill miles to the Harding Spring Trailhead, 5440'

Shuttle to Doe Mountain Trailhead, elevation 5030'

Day-Hike 0.6 steep uphill miles to Doe Mountain, elevation 5030'

Day-Hike 0.6 steep downhill miles to Doe Mountain Trailhead, elevation 4620'

End of hiking. Break camp

Miles today: 2.8. Total miles: 31.3

Shuttle 3 hours back to Phoenix

Shuttle back to local hotel: TBD, To Be Determined

Gather your off-trail items from storage

Dinner and awards ceremony at a local restaurant (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

Stay in our local hotel (included in trip cost)

Gather your off-trail items from storage

Dinner and awards Ceremony (Dinner cost not included in trip price)

This is the official end of the trip. You are welcome to spend the night at the hotel, however if you drove and would like to get on the road or if you flew and would like to schedule a late flight (or a red-eye if this is a West Coast trip) you can definitely do so.


Wednesday, April 30, 2025

Take free airport shuttle or we will pay for a shared cab/Uber


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