The temperatures in Flagstaff are much more pleasant at 80 during the day and 55 at night. We hiked to the base of Sunset Crater Volcano today and were shocked to find that this area is all cinder from the volcano eruption. The mountains do not seem stable because they are all crushed cinder. There was a very soft and deep 5 mile cinder Jeep trail into the mountains that was impossible to stop on or we would have sunk deep into the cinder.

Wupatki National Monument was an amazing display of 800 year old structures. We hiked to three of them and were simply amazed. They incorporated Blow Holes into their homes and villages. These are holes that hit an underground opening and blow cold air in the summer and suck the cold air down in the winter. The wind was coming hard enough to knock Duf’s hat off.

From this area the Painted Desert is also visible. There seems to be a haze over this area so clear pictures are difficult. 

the Cinder Lava River

 Cinder Jeep trail.

 One of many Cinder Mountains.

 The Painted Desert.

 An 800 year old house!

 Short doors

 The Blow Hole, ancient air conditioning and heat.