October 3, 4, 5 2010: Fay Canyon, Sedona

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Sunday, October 3

Oct. 3: Start in Flagstaff, Fay Canyon, Sedona, Back to Flagstaff
Oct. 4: Start in Flagstaff, Trail north of Flagstaff, Sedona, Back to Flagstaff
Oct. 5: Start in Flagstaff, Sedona, Stay in Holbrook
October 3 Weather:
  Lows: Flagstaff: 44
  Highs: Flagstaff: 73; Sedona (airport): 86
October 4 Weather:
  Lows: Flagstaff: 39
  Highs: Flagstaff: 69; Sedona (airport): 82
October 5 Weather:
  Lows: Flagstaff: 43
  Highs: Flagstaff: 58; Sedona (airport): 71; Winslow: 75 Holbrook: n/a
Oct. 3 Hikes/Walks: 3.8 miles
2.8 miles, 200 feet elevation : Fay Canyon
1.0 miles                     : In Sedona
Oct. 4 Hikes/Walks: 3.9 miles
1.4 miles : "Watchable Wildlife" trail
1.6 miles : Red Rock Crossing
0.4 miles : In Sedona
0.5 miles : In Flagstaff
Oct. 5 Hikes/Walks: 1.0 miles
1.0 miles : In Sedona
On the 3rd, we got an early start to do a hike in Fay Canyon at the edge of Sedona. And again, storms began developing nearby as we returned to the trailhead. So we went back to Sedona for lunch, then shot some photos as the storms allowed, even trying for lightning photos over town.

For October 4, we again were dodging storms. We drove up to a trail north of Flagstaff in the morning, and got to the trailhead at the same time as a thunderstorm (with hail), so we waited about 20 minutes at the trailhead before the hike. After lunch in Flagstaff, it was back to Sedona where for once we did not have to fight storms.

On October 5, storms were a lot more widespread. So we shopped around Sedona and visited various vistas again for our last day in Sedona. With the cloudiness, we just decided to enjoy the view and I did not bring my camera. As luck would have it, we saw what we believe was a wall cloud to the southwest, albeit a high-based wall cloud and not a real threat of producing a tornado (although it would be a bit of foreshadowing for the next day.) We then bid farewell to Sedona, and began traveling east to stay in Holbrook for the night.