Last time the temperatures took a nose-dive, we bailed early from the Flagstaff area, but this time we decided to tough it out, even though temps were going to dip into the teens. That’s teens with an “F.” The primary reason for holding to our schedule this time was that we were going to be in Prescott (say PRESSkit if you want to do it right) a place we’d not explored before. The secondary reason was that the days were forecast to shine, granting us that exploration.
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We thought it would be nice to begin our exploits with a pleasant autumn stroll around a local lake.
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| Watson Lake |
The lake was aflutter with water birds, and the trail was popping with grasshoppers.
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| “Mmmmm, protein!” |
We’d known about the Granite Dells and had planned to hike there another day, but we hadn’t known that this trail around the lake would lead us right into them.
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| Connecting the (trail) dots over the boulders. |
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| The contrasting colors were striking. |
Our pleasant promenade ended up being the pleasant surprise of a 4.79-mile workout amid a stunning rockscape. Not that we minded!
When we were in Sedona, I found a restaurant online, the menu for which looked out-of-this-world. Unfortunately, it had the prices to match. TBudgetG put the kibosh on it, but a place in Prescott was recommended to him that looked intriguing and much more wallet-friendly. We made a day of it, starting with a drive around various neighborhoods looking at houses, then a walk around the old downtown area. Prescott is very visitor-friendly and has plenty of free parking including a large parking garage right downtown. Our enjoyment of the pretty courthouse square and charming shop-lined streets was a bit marred by a lot of machinery that was hard at work maintaining the charm but greatly disturbing the peace. We managed to poke around – and resist drool-worthy treats at every turn – until it was Half-price Happy Hour at our chosen eatery.
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| Time for tapas at El Gato Azul! |
We stuffed ourselves by sharing seven different tapas – or six, since I only sampled the goat cheese one to check to see if goat cheese still tasted exactly like an old goat smells. It did. TBG devoured it, and each of the others was positively delectable. They were so good in fact, that I shall break my interweb rule prohibiting the posting of food pictures.
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| Top: Beef & Bleu Tacos, Chorizo Meatballs Left: Sticky Chicken, Falafel Right: Beef Pinchos, Fig & Goat Cheese, and Papas con Queso |
The following day was Halloween, and we had some tapas and maybe a piece of Oreo cheesecake to work off.
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| No treat for you, Trickster! |
There was no need to drive anywhere to find a trailhead since the campground served as one of its own. It connected to a large network of paths from which to choose and make a hike of just about any distance.
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TBG makes a good point! |
We opted to head for Goldwater Lakes and make a loop. I ❤ loops.
It was a level, easy walk in the woods that lead to Goldwater Park along the edge of the lakes. I really, really ❤ loops that have a defined destination.
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| A defined destination. |
We saw a few mountain bikers, hikers, and fishermen, but mostly it was a serene sun-dappled seven miles that didn’t feel half that long.
I had put my hummy feeder up and dishes of birdseed and water out when we arrived, but we weren’t seeing any hummers and the plentiful Juncos, some dressed in their soft brown shawls, were happy with their natural food on the ground all around the rig.
Dozens of acorn woodpeckers seemed to have used every Ponderosa pine as a winter larder and, unlike at Gila, they weren’t interested in my sugary feeder. That was a good thing because due to the overnight freezing and rapid morning thaw, it popped off the window and crashed to the asphalt below. Luckily, the only damage was a bent metal hanging rod, which TBG fixed, but I didn’t tempt fate and opted to not re-hang it for the duration of our stay.
On another chilly morning, we headed out shortly after sunrise for what I call a hurry-walk on a trail that made a loop near the foot of Granite Mountain.
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| Too cold (or was I just too fast?) for snakes on the Williamson Valley Trail! |
It was cold for about two seconds, then layers quickly got tied around waists as we alternated speed-walking with running atop the trail rocks for 3.7 miles. It was exhilarating!
At the beginning of our Watson Lake hike, before we knew how great it was going to be, it intersected a section of the Peavine Trail, a long rail-trail. I remarked at the time that I would like to bike it, but TBG scoffed at its unchallenging flatness. He did take a solo mountain bike ride on the Goldwater Trail the day after we hiked it, but he changed his mind later in the week about Peavine.
It began in an inauspicious lot that required a $3 payment. We knew there were places to access this trail that didn’t cost anything, but we didn’t feel like moving, so we ponied up the three smackers.
The trail paralled Watson Lake, and we saw the water birds again, a fat javelina, and a coyote. Then the scenery changed, and I got to be oh-so-vindicated.
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| Smug Cyclist |
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| Bargain Bikers: only $0.33333333334 per mile for 9 miles! |
On the way back from our turnaround point, we stopped to offer picture-taking services to some folks, and they kindly reciprocated.
For our final hike, we chose a trail that would eventually split to go around the base of Little Granite Mountain or up to the almost-top of Granite Mountain, and we decided not to decide which way we were going until we got to the split.
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| TBG leaves it to chance. |
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| Smooth beginnings. |
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| Decision time. |
We encountered a solo hiker on his way down when we reached the split. He had been on both trails before, and after hearing his descriptions, we chose the slightly shorter, but steeper, Granite Mountain Trail.
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| Switchbacking up the rocky mountainside. |
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| Rounding the high corners. |
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| Top o’ the trail to ya! |
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| Overlooking Watson Lake and the Granite Dells |
We were glad to have done the trail in November rather than, say, July since it was almost entirely exposed. There was a nice breeze most of the way, too, which made the 7.9 miles extremely comfortable.
This dry camping stay only exceeded our longest stint by one day, but we were both feeling a bit too restricted by it this time. We’re not sure why, exactly, since all we really lacked were proper shower facilities and super-strong cell service. The freezing night temps burned through more propane than normal, but we had plenty, and we even got a little TV since the bedroom set runs off of 12V battery power. The campground was mere minutes from town, so I’m not really sure what our “problem” was. We really liked Prescott and the surrounding area a lot, and the seemingly unlimited outdoor activity opportunities were phenomenal. It might be too hot in the summer, but as a possibility for future permanent living?
COMMENTS
Chasing Dirt It's a lovely area, for sure, with so much indoors and outdoors to offer. We have a lot of places yet to see, but much of Arizona is very tempting for full-time living!
I can’t necessarily explain why you felt constrained by your dry camping experience, but for us cold weather really saps our energy and we feel antsy when we can’t sit outside because of weather. It all enhances the feeling of being hunkered down inside the (small) RV which makes us grumpy. Once the grumpiness starts, everything seems doubly annoying. We’ve definitely been plenty of places that were uncomfortable in the RV but would be great places to live if we were in a normal house, so kudos to you for recognizing that and not letting RV issues cloud your judgment.
Chasing Dirt I do so love a good validation! TBG was skeptical because it wasn’t challenging single-track mountain biking, which is the only “real” kind, doncha know? I tease, of course, but he misses having someone to ride like that, and I’m more and more unwilling to chance a crash on the technical stuff.
I think you’re right, and the cold snap messed with our dry camping comfort. We were also a little spoiled by our previous stay where we were right next to the bathhouse with unlimited hot showers — the contrast was stark this time. We often have to think about house vs. RV and remind ourselves what a place would be like if we were actually living there full-time. It’s going to be hard to choose someday when we come off the road!!
Love that pose at the top of the trail!
Chasing Dirt I swear I read every single one of your posts, but was still surprised to go back and see that we copied a couple of your hikes almost exactly. Our shots from the top of Granite looking down on Watson Lake could be the same photo! I guess it’s not that surprising since we love to do the same things, but I am a little worried about my memory 😐
Your dinner looks positively delicious. But I guess I never get to serve goat cheese to you, huh? “Tastes like an old goat smells,” haha! By the way, I believe we would benefit from someone with the middle name “Budget” traveling along with us, LOL.
Chasing Dirt I can see why so many former FT travelers choose Prescott. So much to do, all the real-life stuff (stores, medical, etc.) but still maintains a smaller-town feel. I think the summers would be too hot for us, but who knows what the future holds?
That Peavine Trail had lots left to explore, and it connects to another super-long rail trail that I would’ve loved to have the saddle-strength to get to while we were out. I guess that leaves something fun to do next time!
No! No goat cheese for me. It looked so melty and good, though, I had to taste it. Blech!!! I don’t know how y’all do it. What a great place, though. You have to put Prescott on your re-visit list and make time for a stop at The Blue Cat!
I have heard lots of great stuff about Prescott, but we have not visited yet. That Granite Dells hike is beautiful! It reminds me of Sylvan Lake at Custer State Park. The contrasts of colors and textures are striking.
I agree with Shannon re the cold – between the cold and the short days, we quickly lose interest in the places we are visiting. This time of year is just brutal. Plus, when it’s really cold, you just want to be able to take a hot shower and make lots of warm soup and not worry about using too much water to wash all the dishes that result. It’s just tough to deal with those competing interests, so I totally get it. The important thing, I think, is getting as much sunlight as you possibly can, and it looks like you’ve been doing plenty of that, so that should help.
Now, go take some pictures of whatever you’re eating and send them to me!
Chasing Dirt LOL, I don’t really object to GOOD photos of pretty food — in fact I LIKE those and am obsessed with food and recipes, etc. It’s the general “here’s a picture of my half-eaten dinner every day” sorts. I’m happy to say that my full-time blogger friends take GOOD pics of pretty food. I hope you get to enjoy the smelly old goat cheese someday! 😀
The Dells really were/are lovely. Had it been a bit warmer, I would have loved to get my little kayak out on the lake (I’m not set up for chilly conditions.) We saw people on the water, and what a fabulous place it is for that. There are many more trails in and around that area still to explore. We’ll be back, and you should join us!
The cold snap definitely messed with our minds a bit, and water conservation mode always gets to me after awhile. I did make a series of delicious soups during that stay, which we ate out of the pan a lot (with long spoons! 😉 )