A few days ago we ventured down to Sedona for a morning trail run with Northern Arizona Trail Running Association (NATRA.org). Recent rain/snow and cold temperatures resulted in slippery conditions on the sandstone slickrock with rivulets of water and ice crossing the trail. Although treacherous–and many of us took a spill or two–it was also very beautiful so see patches of snow and ice on these trails.
The 7th Annual Kahtoola Agassiz Uphill Race was held this weekend on the slopes on Humphreys Peak and within the boundaries of the Arizona Snowbowl. This is a winter race with runners using whatever sort of foot traction suits them. Some wear Kahtoola microspikes as minimalist equipment. Others use snowshoes. And some use skis—both downhill and telemark style. It’s an interesting contest as the runners can easily outpace the skiers on the way up—but skiers have the advantage on the downhill. Still, the fastest competitors were the runners.
Providing the rhythmic drumming during the event was Flagstaff’s very own Sambatuque.
Always looking for new trail running routes, the Northern Arizona Trail Runners Association (NATRA) found themselves on a section of old Route 66 between Ash Fork and Williams, Arizona, on this sunny and warm spring morning. This section is also known as the Ash Fork Hill Bicycle Tour. (Map here.)
Two parallel segments of Route 66 exist here: the original 1922 alignment (also known as the Old Trails Highway) and the 1931 alignment that replaced it. And, of course, the newest alignment is Interstate 40 just a few hundred meters away. The 1931 segment is composed of old and crumbling asphalt while the 1922 segment retains the original gravel road.
The group initially headed westward on the paved segment which has a net downhill and made the return trip on the uphill graveled segment. The soft gravel combined with the steady uphill climb made us pay for our earlier cruise on the downhill.
A comparison of the retired segments and the current Interstate highway provides an interesting perspective on how American highways have evolved over the decades.
It’s fascinating to imagine cars driving on these old roads — where they came from and where they were going.