13 Flag; Flagstaff, Arizona

He makes me as surefooted as a deer, enabling me to stand on mountain heights.  2 Samuel 22:34 NLT

Flagstaff, Arizona is a well-known college town.  Thoughts of rock climbing, snowboarding, hiking, skiing, mountain biking, and partying are most times associated with the beautiful mountain city of “Flag.” People from all over the world attend Northern Arizona University, which adds to the culture of the city.  It’s no wonder snowboarders careen the slopes in winter, rock climbers scale the cliffs, and mountain bikers navigate beautiful trails carpeted with pine needles, and racy steep, single-tracks.

Training in a desert city made me no match for the steep climbs and even faster downhills found on Flagstaff’s mountainsides. It takes painstaking hammering to get up trails, as well as lung power!   On the other hand, if you don’t mind shuttling up to the local radio tower, you’ll be able to enjoy awesome downhill trails!  It took me three times driving the shuttle vehicle to gain enough courage to jump out, gear up, and tear down the trail.  It was a fast ride, with terrain that ranged from smooth single track to a grassy, rutted, root-covered and log-blocked endeavor.  Most of the riders were down the mountain within minutes.  You could hear shouts of elation coming from the end of the trail.  When I reached the bottom, my heart was pumping and my adrenaline was running high. Flagstaff is a great place to ride regardless of what trail you choose. What great memories were made the year I rode those trails; I can imagine mountain bikers enjoying summer rides in the San Francisco Peaks outside of Flagstaff. So many trails to choose from!

Father, when I find myself out of my element, away from my niche, nudge me to focus and trust. Help me to welcome boundaries, and at the same time to let go of rigid attitudes that can stale life. 

Challenge 13: Let the “same ol’, same ol’”go for a day.  Step out of the box and let some fresh air push out the stale, rancidness of complacency.  Make it your goal to shake off some of the scales that have blinded you to the great things around you, and step into some new areas in your life.

I invite you to leave a comment: add a trail or two you’ve ridden in the San Francisco Peak area. Join the conversation.