New Documentary: Walking the Camino, six ways to Santiago
Hey Northern Arizona Pilgrims! Join us for the screening of the new Documentary film Walking the Camino six ways to Santiago.
This film is winning awards across the nation, has received international praise and per Martin Sheen “A brilliant documentary!”
We hope you are able to join us pre-film for tapas and wine. For complete details follow link to our Northern Arizona Chapter of APOC
The WordPress.com stats helper monkeys prepared a 2013 annual report for this blog.
Here’s an excerpt:
The concert hall at the Sydney Opera House holds 2,700 people. This blog was viewed about 12,000 times in 2013. If it were a concert at Sydney Opera House, it would take about 4 sold-out performances for that many people to see it.
Click here to see the complete report.
My dear Pilgrims get ready to have a delightful belly laugh! So true, I can relate to almost everything on this list. Enjoy!
*note to visitors: This post is about the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in Spain and assumes a certain amount of knowledge in readers. If you’re curious, this article gives a brief overview: “Walking the Camino de Santiago: A Beginner’s Guide“
1. Goodwill will not accept your used hiking boots.
2. You carry toilet paper, extra-powered Ibuprofen, and Compeed with you at all times.
3. You wash your socks with shampoo.
4. You have a fantastic tan…but only on your left side.
5. You have seen Pablito‘s special rock.
6. You fear cyclists.
7. You routinely approach reception desks and ask if the hotel is “complete.”
8. You hear that Alanis Morissette song in your head when you take long walks.
9. You can say “hello” in Spanish, French, Italian, German, Portuguese, English, Dutch, Korean, and Aussie.
10. You…
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Just hit me that no way could I let my Christmas pass without a short hike up Sugarloaf with its panoramic view of Sedona. Turn a bit and you get views of Thunder Mountain,Chimney, Coffee Pot and views of the sinkhole along Soldier Pass.
Right now I’m facing the sun and once again trying to blog from my cell phone. Feeling lucky to have the life I lead, blessed to have such wonderful family and friends.
Still pinching myself over the many adventures of the last year and wondering what’s next on my bucket list??? For sure Mount Whitney August 2014 and contemplating/researching PCT and John Muir trail. !;&$”if I could just over come my insane fear of BEARS!
Or is it Corsica, another Camino???
We will see.
Merry Christmas and hope you found or looking for the trail you are meant to walk… wherever or whatever that might be.
Bobbie
I met Kimberlie not long ago in Sedona and she is a remarkable woman who walked every inch of the PCT, over 2600 miles! I’m in awe of her and well a bit more than I would care to admit filled with envy. I love so many of her blog post but this one has stuck with me. We complain and moan about what we can’t do, what we used to do, what we wish we could do but do we every just marvel at how fine, forgiving and fantastic our bodies are… Do we every really think about how much we abuse our body with poor nutrition, lack of sleep and sometimes lack of exercise and it still keeps us moving day after day. I’m just starting to learn to appreciate my health, my body and how it continues to perform beyond what I thought it could do. So enjoy and peek around Kimberlie’s blog, you won’t be disappointed!
PS: Last year Kimberlie started the PCT and at about 700 miles had a stroke on the trail! She recovered and seven months later she started the PCT again and this time completed the entire trail. Wow!
http://thenewnomads.com/?p=1881
Sign posted along the Chemin Vezelay
This is a lovely video by Paulo Coelho about the Camino de Santiago. If you have not read any of his novels I do highly recommend The Pilgrimage, Coelho’s first book.
From Amazon: Step inside this captivating account of Paulo Coehlo’s pilgrimage along the road to Santiago. This fascinating parable explores the need to find one’s own path. In the end, we discover that the extraordinary is always found in the ordinary and simple ways of everyday people. Part adventure story, part guide to self-discovery, this compelling tale delivers the perfect combination of enchantment and insight.
A member of the Camino de Santiago Forum shares his admiration of those who have suffered and went on to survive without bitterness while retaining hope and love. Such a thoughtfully and beautifully written post, I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
To those preparing for Camino who have suffered loss
First Sedona, AZ Camino Party
New Camino Friends!
What a great time we had Friday night in Sedona. A gathering of past Pilgrims and those interested in walking the Camino de Santiago. Carl Cooke presented his Camino telling such a lovely story of friendship, sacrifice, the wonder of the Camino and lessons learned. Food, wine and conversation flowed as we moved over the course of the evening from strangers to new friends bound by a common interest and passion.
A magic, spirituality, oneness… whatever your word is I have no lingering afterthoughts… the Camino de Santiago is a summons, a calling that once ignited cannot be extinguished or ignored. I have a new-found understanding that even at a gathering where the participants are strangers they instantly long to share their Camino story, long to listen to others as they delve into what the Camino has meant to them.
Walk Away Lesson: Yep, we differently need a Northern Arizona Camino group centered around fellowship, hikes, presentation and great Spanish wine and tapas!
Want to join us? Have questions or suggestions? Check us out at: Northern AZ Chapter of Americans on the Camino
Visit and “Like” or fan page on Facebook at: Northern AZ Camino Fan Page
Carl Presents his Camino Frances
Carl Cooke, Bobbie Surber and Al Howard at the Sedona “After Party”
One way hike from home to Lizard Head to Chuck Wagon to Brins Mesa.
Sunday morning started out with a chill in the air and overcast sky. I postponed getting out of bed and decided another cup of coffee and the Sunday paper ruled over my hiking shoes waiting beside my bed for the impending long hike. Coffee, my favorite, extra dark roast made strong enough to curl your hair worked its magic as I continued to procrastinate the start of my hike. Not sure if it was fear of regret of a wasted Sunday or the sudden clearing of the clouds, whatever it was I gave it up, dumped the remained of my brew, got the hiking shoes on and headed out my front door.
My goal was to try out day 1 of a planned 3 day hike in Sedona and the Village of Oak Creek. I headed to the Sugarloaf Trailhead catching the Andante trail over to Chimney Rock saddle with the intent of connecting to Lizard Head trail. This is where I was momentarily lost. OK, not momentarily lost… could not find the #$(%# trail of about an hour! Man talk about the embarrassment of getting lost in my backyard!
After some bushwhacking and following a new chain-link fence I found Lizard Head and started the ascent. Within a half hour I was high up on the side of the mountain and sure I was too high for this trail. Thank goodness for cell phones and a call to my friend Doug. Doug is the master of all things related to Sedona trails knew exactly where I was and assured me I only needed to butt-scoot down the rocks in about 100 ft and begin my descent to the bottom of the trail. He was dead on!
Besides my inability to navigate easy to locate trails in my backyard I also did not care for this section due to road noise off of Dry Creek Rd. This however was not a major deal as soon enough Lizard Head connects to Chuck Wagon trailhead with a lovely new picnic area, maps and toilets. A fast rest and lunch and I was back on the Chuck Wagon trail heading to the Brins Mesa trail. Chuck Wagon trail meanders through open vistas and dry gullies with views over Boynton and Secret Canyon. A wonderfully easy trail with outstanding red rock views. By 3pm I was at the trailhead of Brins Mesa with the much-needed forest to cool me off. Brins Mesa is always my favorite. Not sure why, perhaps it is the rebirth after the fire of 2006 or the feeling of others that have walked this Mesa for hundreds of years. Whatever the reason I had a surge of endorphins firing off in my brain and I was in complete bliss despite a longer than expected day of hiking and a start of a dreaded blister on my little toe.
An hour and a half later I was at the Jordan trailhead heading over to the Oak Creek Brewery for a massive hotdog and cold beer. NOT A BAD WAY TO SPEND A SUNDAY 🙂
My best guess is this was a 12 mile hike and moderate in difficulty.
Northen Arizona Chapter of Americans on the Camino
Whether you’re an experienced pilgrim, or are yet to experience your Camino, does the idea of bringing the spirit of the Camino to northern Arizona by getting together with fellow pilgrims during the year for outings, hiking, Camino presentations, tapas, and potlucks sound good to you?
As we’ve all learned, the spirit of the Camino stays with us well beyond our return, and many pilgrims miss the camaraderie and fellowship they experienced while on the Camino. Recognizing this, we believe it’s time to establish a Northern Arizona Chapter of the American Pilgrims on the Camino to create opportunities for pilgrims (and other friends of the Camino) to take part in social gatherings, walks, presentations, mentor and act as a resource for future pilgrims.
We are pleased to announce a meeting to discuss establishing the Northern Arizona Chapter of the American Pilgrims on the Camino. The goals of this first meeting will be to meet each other, have a little fun, and identify what we would like this Chapter to be going forward (e.g., the type and frequency of events, and possible future meeting places).
We are holding TWO meetings for you to choose from. We invite and encourage pilgrims, future pilgrims, and family or friends of the Camino, to join us at:
Sunday November 10th 4pm-6pm at:
Flagstaff, AZ
and
Friday November 15th 5pm-7pm at:
Sedona, AZ
Please RSVP via email at bobbiesurber2012@gmail.com to let me know if you plan to attend. We encourage you to bring a snack/appetizer and a bottle of wine to share.
Feel free to call or email Bobbie with any questions.
Join our new MeetUp page to stay informed on all future meetings and events: http://www.meetup.com/NorthernAZChapterofAmericansontheCamino/
Bobbie Surber and Carl Cooke
Join our new MeetUp page to stay informed on all future meetings and events: http://www.meetup.com/NorthernAZChapterofAmericansontheCamino/
Hiking with Arizona Desert Hikers
Saturday morning found me bright and early driving down Verde Valley School road heading to Turkey Creek Trail. Turning off the paved road I enjoy a high clearance vehicle dirt road that for sure will challenge you city drivers 🙂
After a half mile on the dirt road I arrived at the trail head and within a few minutes the first of our hiking group arrived.
Diane is a west Sedona local that
Turkey Creek Trail in Sedona, AZ
I met for the first time the previous Saturday. Diane sure is a hiker to admire with a vast knowledge of the Sedona area trails. Soon after the remainder of our group arrived. Cynthia, Steve, Beth and Jay all from the Phoenix/Scottsdale area. This was my first time meeting them and my first official hike with Arizona Desert Hikers.
We started out about 8:30am with a decidedly crisp bite still in the morning air yet within a half hour hiking I was warming up and peeling off the layers of hiking clothes. The trail starts out with a gentle stead climb across an open meadow. About 10 minutes into the hike Steve spotted a deer crossing the edge of the tree line. It took me a moment to spot the doe and soon she was prancing away back into the safety of the bush. By the time I fumbled with my Iphone she was long gone so no photos of the rare treat. Following the meadow we began the climb up House Mountain which I would guess is a doable 500ft ascent. About halfway up we got our first glimpse of the red rock views to the North. At the top of the saddle It amazed me what clear views he had over west Sedona with Thunder Mountain and Coffee Pot easily identified despite the distance. Views beyond Thunder Mountain included Dry Creek/Boynton area looking over Doe Mountain, Bear Mountain and Secret Canyon. By 11:30 we were back at the trailhead heading into the Village of Oak Creek to enjoy some good chow at Maria’s restaurant complete with an ice-cold beer. NOT a bad way to spend a Saturday morning!
Thanks to Arizona Desert Hikers for a great hike, even better company and showing a local a new to me trail! Hope to hike with you again!
Top of Turkey Creek Trail
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Wow and Duh! Why is it so hard to see the obvious?
I finally gave up. After twenty years of searching for my mission, I threw in the towel. And today I’m going to ask you to do the same. Stop searching for your mission. I know where it is.
It’s not out there. It’s not in the books you’ve been reading. The podcasts you’ve been listening to. It’s not even in the Bible. It’s not at church. It’s not at the next mission trip that you really are going to go on this time. It’s not in this blog.
Your mission, your calling, is planted deep inside you right now. Waiting, maybe even bursting, to get out. It’s not missing. It’s buried. Buried under your mortgage, dentist appointments, soccer games, iPads, Facebook, and everything else that fills up absolutely every second of every day.
Each morning when I wake up I grab my Nook (stop laughing, it really looked like they’d…
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Yesterday found me out on the Bear Mountain Trail with a new friend I met during a Sedona Meet Up Hiking event Linda is from New Jersey and an avid outdoorswoman, hiker and yoga devotee. I sure enjoyed Linda’s company as we marveled at the views and shared about our lives, family and career paths.
I was also happy that the Bear Mountain Trail DID NOT kick me in the behind. A challenging hike with 1800 FT gain over the course of 3 levels of summits. Views along the way revealed stunning red rock slot canyons and an area that looked like a mini Grand Canyon. This is a steep trail with some rock scrambling. Pay attention to the trail as it is easy to get off track. recommend at least 2-litters of water, more on a hot day. Food, hat and walking poles very helpful.
Bear Mountain Trail: This is a difficult hike and you should be prepared with proper footwear, water and food
Trailhead Directions: The parking for the Bear Mountain hike shared with Doe Mountain hike. From the “Y” roundabout (the intersection of Highway 179 and Highway 89A), drive west on Highway 89A about 3 miles. Turn right on Dry Creek Road. Stay on Dry Creek Road about 3 miles to the end and a stop sign. Turn left on Boynton Pass Road and proceed about 1 1/2 miles to a stop sign. Turn left, continuing on Boynton Pass Road. The trailhead is the second trailhead on the left side, about 1 3/4 miles from the stop sign. The trailhead is across the road from the parking area
Description: Bear Mountain provides fantastic red rock views. The start of the trail is at about 4600 feet at the parking lot. At the final summit the elevation is about 6150 feet. The total elevation gain to the top is some 1800 feet. From the top of Bear Mountain you can see the San Francisco Peaks in Flagstaff, views of Bell Rock in the Village of Oak Creek, Verde Valley, peaks of Sycamore Canyon as well as all of west Sedona.
A great website on this hike and many more please visit The Hike House
So very lucky that I get to go on this adventure with Susie. I started training today with a hike up Bear Mountain trail with an elevation gain of 1800 ft. Photos to follow.
Now that I have been back for over a month I have started to think about the next adventure…..
Mt. Whitney is another one of the items on my list of things to do, God willing. The plan is to hike Mt. Whitney in August 2014. I have invited fellow hikers to join me on this hike. It is a 21 mile hike with an elevation gain of 6,000 ft. It is the highest peak in the lower 48 states, 14,497 ft in elevation at its highest point. The level of difficulty is strenuous. Because of the possibility of elevation sickness we will do this hike in two to three days so we can adjust to the elevation over a couple of days. Which means we will carry everything necessary to camp overnight for either 1 or two nights including food and water.
Mt. Whitney, east of the California town…
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Soldier Pass Trailhead
A friend told me about a social site named Meetup a few weeks ago. So of course I went on-line to check it out. At first I thought it was a dating site then after clarification from Carl I checked it out again and what a great site! Any interest you might have from hiking, sewing, cooking, politics and yes, sites for singles can be found on this well thought out and incredibly easy to use website.
Finding it more difficult to convince friends to hike harder and long trails I thought it was worth trying out the group. I called my friend Elaine and we joined the Sedona Hiking Meetup group. Our first hike was Soldier Pass to Brins Mesa making it a loop hike by returning to Soldiers Pass trailhead via Jordan trail.
The meetup was at 8am October 26, 2013 at Soldier
Bobbie Surber and Elaine Vail hiking Brins Mesa trail
Pass trailhead. We found ourselves part of a group of 20 hikers! At first I thought this won’t be my cup of tea, too many hikers! Wrong, like walking the Camino people spread out to their own hiking speed and soon we were in smaller groups joining up at rest stops along the way. By noon we had passed the Seven Sacred Pools, a side trip to the Arches and were on top of Brins Mesa having lunch. By mid afternoon we were saying our goodbyes to new-made hiking buddies. A perfect hike on a beautiful Fall day.
Seven Sacred Pools Soldier Pass Trail
This make a great hike as you get to see some popular landmarks including Devil’s Sinkhole, Seven Sacred Pools, Arches, and climb to the top of Brins Mesa. about 6-7 miles, and I would clarify as Moderate in difficulty. Sturdy shoes and poles recommended and as always plenty of water (at least 2-liters) and food. For more photos please visit my Flickr site at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/bobbiesurber/sets/
Some additional info:
This loop trail through the Red Rock Secret
Mountain Wilderness offers moderate elevation changes and lots of variety: the Devil’s Sinkhole and
Seven Sacred Pools near the beginning, massive arches along the canyon wall during the
Arches traill off of Soldier Pass
climb up Soldier Pass, and long views from the top of Brin’s Mesa. You even get to see Steamboat Rock from an angle that makes it really look like a boat.
The trail begins by first traversing a small ravine and then heading up the valley through a forest stand of Arizona cypress, pinyon pine, and juniper. Throughout this open stand there are numerous views of the spectacular red rock cliffs that rise on either side of the valley. After passing the Jordan Trail on our right (our return route), the trail will arrive
View of Arches off of Soldier Pass
at the first site to see. This is Devil’s Kitchen, a deep sinkhole that is the result of a collapsed cavern. As the trail continues, the next significant site will be the beautiful “Seven Pools”. Here, the creek bed drops into a ravine, but not before leaving seven beautiful little plunge pools which are usually full of water. The trail then continues up to Soldier’s Pass gradually until the 1.5 mile mark, where it will begin to ascend more steeply. As we ascend, look to our right to see two arches on the cliff walls. At the top of Soldier’s Pass, look for a way-trail leading off to the right where it will end at a cliff offering spectacular views back down Soldier’s Creek Valley into Sedona. We are standing on Brins Mesa and panoramic views
Blessing Tree at top of Brins Mesa
abound. We can see to the north and west toward Boynton Canyon and the Mogollon Rim. Continue on the trail until arriving at the junction of Brins Mesa Trail. Turn right and follow it across the mesa through a burned area, and to the edge of another cliff. Here, we can look down into Mormon Canyon, Uptown Sedona, and can see Schnebly Hill and Mitten Ridge in the distance to the east. The trail will descend down steeply into the valley.The trail will continue until arriving at a parking area at the end of West End Ridge Drive. Just before arriving at the cars, look to the right for Cibola Pass Trail. Follow this trail back upslope. It will ascend briefly until arriving at Cibola Pass, where we can look back down toward where we started. Follow the trail down the other side until arriving at the junction with Jordan Trail and turn right. This trail will connect us back up with Soldier’s
Pass Trail shortly and we will be done.
Trailhead info:
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Feeling a bit odd about dinner tonight. I have carried a scallop shell over 4 camino routes but till now never had one on my dinner plate 🙂
One of my very favorite Camino Pilgrims shares his latest update. This young man quit his job in the USA and bought a 1-way ticket to Europe. He has already walked the Vezelay trail and now near completion of the Camino Frances. Whew, he will have 1000 miles completed in one go! Nathan is a gifted writer, who has shared his pilgrimage in such thoughtful detail and with soul-searching depth that I find myself eagerly awaiting his next post.
My time is fast approaching. Tonight I am in Samos, 130 km before Santiago de Compostela. Despite the rain—the one constant feature of rugged, green Galicia—I will probably be there within the next week. When I first started the Camino from Vezelay, on August 18, the end was simply too far away to envision, like the Sahara to an Eskimo.
The closer I get to Santiago, the less I seem to walk each day. Yesterday I covered only 9 km to O Cebreio—that after a grueling 30 km through a much less-traveled alternative route that climbed three small mountains, but for someone who has already gone nearly 1,000 miles on foot, nothing fazes me anymore.
Maybe I should reconsider that statement: the purely physical demands of the Camino de Santiago have long ago fallen away. It is the mental aspect which I struggle with, especially as I grow closer to…
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Bobbie Surber - Camino del Norte June, 2013
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