“It’s a world with endless noise, so consistent it barely registers.. But when true silence settles, it commands entire moments of being.” – Old Sean
Quiet Camping
Finally through New Mexico, Ari and I completed our drive to Flagstaff, Arizona. There, we were due to meet a friend of ours and her daughter for a dispersed camping trip in the Coconino National Forest.
We initially drove into town and met everyone in the urban space, stopping for a small treat. Afterwards, we began driving up a series of dirt roads to reach the deeper portions of the Coconino National Forest.
The road, especially when escaping to the most obscured part of the woods, was painfully rugged and nearly completely deserted aside from two cars in as many days.
Exploring the Forest
The woods themselves are fantastic. Surrounding mountains block out any light, resulting in a fantastic spill of stars plastering the skies.
The woods themselves are remarkable quiet, swallowing sound swiftly so only nearby crows and the occasional unnerving yip of coyotes. We cooked our food on small burners and wandered the woods up and down soft-shoed horse trails.
The majority of trees are proud, high branched pines, with needles that snuff out foliage entirely. Other trees include perfectly white with mottled black quaking aspens, growing razor straight into the sky.
Camp Events
Our friend, Bela, brought enough cushions and other creature comforts to make our tent a veritable plushie-hug. Her daughter, June, played with an endless reserve of wild energy.
To better entertain June, we created scavenger hunts searching for small coins, towers of pinecones, mounds of stones and numerous wildflowers.
Despite this, June still desired endless games and activities. We enjoyed playing a not-just-made-game called Pine Needle Staff Fight. This involves selecting a pine needle, holding it from the edges and trying to break the opposing side’s pine needle.
Other activities included mountain hikes and finding a strange set of wooden tepees and lean-tos in unassuming spots in the woods.
Down the Wooded Hills
After two nights, we descended down the mountain in rickety fashion, stopping briefly at Picture Canyon in Flagstaff before accompanying Bela and June home for showers in Phoenix.
And here we are now, lounging quietly at Bela’s house, regathering our energy from a somewhat frantic few days.
Tonight is a night of board games, snacks, takeout from Rula Bula (my second favorite restaurant in North America), laundry, showers and dishes. We also had a brief walk through the night with our beloved tall friend, Trent.
Tomorrow, Ari and I launch outward again, with more things to see and do in Vegas. As always, we’ll stay on the outskirts of town to avoid COVID surges, and I’m looking forward to visiting my friend Jynelle.
Of course, we’ll need to wear masks and such, and we’ll be camping outside the city limits, but it’s a start.
Until tomorrow morning, when we hunt again for silence.
Best regards and excellent trails,
Old Sean
Written July 24th, 2020
Read more about visiting Flagstaff and seeing the world by visiting Leftfade Trails Destination Info.
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I bought this Horizon Hound Trek Blanket for a late-autumn trek in the United States. Since then, it’s gone everywhere with me. The blanket is lightweight, stuff-able, warm and durable. But my favorite features are the buttons. The blanket can be buttoned up the sides, turning it into a long thermal poncho when I don’t want to leave the warmth of my bed.
