Arizona Snow Bowl, Flagstaff

Sky Ride At Arizona Snow Bowl After the winter snow has melted and the skis stowed away for the summer Lloyd and I went on a day trip to ride the Agassiz Ski Lift to the top of San Francisco Peaks Near Flagstaff. Mount Humphrey, the tallest of three peaks, reaching 12,633 feet into the sky is a popular ski area. The ski lift transports riders to an elevation of 11,500 feet and through three life-zones, where ponderosa pine, douglas fir, aspen and spruce grow prolifically. If you have an aversion to heights you might opt to enjoy Arizona’s tallest peak from another vantage point. Many visitors prefer to hike and picnic on the mountainside or simply experience the beauty of the wilderness. Eruptions beginning millions of years ago formed this giant volcano. The peaks are a sacred place to the Native American people. The Hopi Indians call it “ High Places of Snow”. The snow bowl opened in 1938 and is one of the oldest, continuously operated ski area in the United States. The day was clear and cloudless as we ascended more than a mile over the tall trees. At the top, the views were forever, looking down on miles and miles of green meadows and groves of aspen and pines. We could see the Grand Canyon walls in the distance, seventy-five miles to the north. It was invigorating, enjoying the panoramic views and the quite solitude of the forest beneath us. Wild flowers and ferns were growing abundantly on the forest floor. A ride to where the eagles soar and beyond was an experience we will remember until the next time when we ride to Arizona’s tallest mountain and leave our cares behind.