Sedona has some beautiful places for hiking. Doe Mountain is he one of the best scenic spots in the area.

The Amblers group from the Sedona Westerners Hiking Club did their usual sign-in, carpool and meetup, and from there they made their way to the Doe Mountain parking lot and Boynton Pass Road trailhead.

As we began our trek to the north side of Doe Mountain, hiking leaders Terri and Jon Petrescu shared a sweet story about a family they met on the trail while scouting out to prepare for the actual hike. The children in the family were especially excited about what they called the “magic staircase.” You left us who had never done the trail before we knew it.

The Doe Mountain Trail climbs almost straight up the side of the mountain via rock steps and some switchbacks. It felt like the elevation was rising rapidly, and we stopped several times along the trail to look back and realize just how far we had come. The climb is pretty steep, at least by my standards, about 500 feet of elevation gain. There are some places where you had to cling to rocks to climb the mountainside. This is a scramble of small rocks. Our hiking leaders have been great at explaining and adopting hiking best practices when they need minor assistance, such as showing the proper way to hold a person’s wrist when helping them climb a rock. rice field.

I discovered a magical staircase just before the end of the trail climb. The magic staircase turns out to be a short section of rocks stacked like stairs that pass through a narrow chute before appearing on a stone ledge. I have concluded that the special powers involved are the hikers’ own strength and spirit, the ones that lead them to success on the summit.

The summit of the Mesa is a special feature of the hike and, given its size and flatness, it is unlike any other trail. Simply put, Mesa has incredible 360-degree views of him that caused many gasps as we hiked along the rim before descending. We took a refreshment break on the flat rocks at the top of the trail before heading out to the summit. This break was memorable not only for the scenery, but also for the hiking her leader, Terry, who brought us some delicious homemade pumpkin bread to share with all of us. The pumpkins and applesauce apples she used to sweeten were grown in Terry’s own garden. Did.

Some people took part in their first hikes with Westerners. When I spoke with them afterwards, I was happy to hear that their experience was a positive one. One hiker said, “The most memorable moment was on the mesa with its panoramic view of the red rocks…it was just spectacular…it was the perfect day for hiking, sunshine and cool temperatures.” Another hiker remarked, “How cohesive the group seemed – friendly, non-competitive, helping each other, professional leaders setting a nice steady pace, all leading to an enjoyable experience.” I thanked him for that.

In addition to stunning beauty, most west Sedona hikes usually include botany lessons, hiking tips, a little history, and sometimes good job opportunities.

The botany learned on this hike is that when trees grow in a spiral, the twist is clockwise in the northern hemisphere and counterclockwise in the southern hemisphere.

For hiking tips of the day, the Amblers boss asked how many people have Osprey backpacks and if they knew that some models have a whistle built into the chest strap buckle. It was when

As Boynton Pass Road changed from pavement to dirt, there was a discussion about why it was paved, how it was paved for residential development about 15 years ago, and what happened to the area before it was developed. started. Christmas tree farm.

The good job was evident when two specially trained veteran Westerners who knew what they were doing took the time to record and remove the unsightly graffiti from the rocks at the top of the mesa. Kudos to them and how nice it will be when the day comes when this will never be needed.

Best of all, hiking along the Dou Mountain Trail has provided me with many opportunities to connect with nature and other people who love the outdoors. Rich rewards indeed.

The Sedona Westerners are always welcoming new members and hike several days a week for all abilities. If you are interested in joining the club, please visit the website sedonawesterners.org. It has an interesting history, a full season list of planned hikes, and a handy membership link. It only takes 5 minutes to sign up and start your new adventure here in Red Rocks.

Written this week by Lisa Crichlow, Sedona Westerns is available every Friday. Sedona red rock news.