Tale of Two Titans

Tale of Two Titans

Two wild red rock titans rise on the SE end of Sedona, while looking across (on the opposite end of the city) from a 4,700' knob between Thunder Mountain and Coffeepot Rock. Peering over the east shoulder of Airport Mesa (right foreground) is the "blocky" north face of Courthouse Butte (far right). The more rounded appearance of Battlement Mesa, (left), gives the impression of what Courthouse Butte will look like after the erosional process continues to whittle it down over the forthcoming years. The vertical cliff (to the far left) is the west escarpment of Lee Mountain. I know of no routes on Battlement Mesa, but at least three exist on Courthouse Butte. From my understanding, there's a north face (5.8) route on Courthouse called "Justice Of The Peace." Either way, the lofty stone titans surrounding Sedona are famous for catching the Arizona sun, while providing a feast for the eyes and soul. August 27, 2009
lcarreau
on Sep 4, 2009 12:22 am
Image Type(s): Hiking,  Flora,  Informational,  Scenery
Image ID: 549212

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lcarreau

lcarreau - Sep 5, 2009 7:36 pm - Hasn't voted

Hmmmm,

I got a "substandard" vote on this one.

Perhaps it's because I forgot to define the
difference between a "butte" and a "mesa?"

Early Spanish explorers referred to
"plateau-like flat-topped landforms" as
mesas (MAY-suz), which means table in Spanish, because explorers thought the landforms resembled steep-sided tables, where "sheeple" would gather to play rummy.

Populating the arid landscape (along with
mesas) were still "SMALLER" landforms having
a similar appearance.

At the beginning of the nineteenth century,
the word butte (BYOOT) was coined from the
French word meaning mound or hillock to
describe these solitary landforms.

Unlike "sheeple," these landforms like to
be alone and away from the crowd, and they
can catch your eye faster than "Little Red
Riding Hood" did when she first saw the WOLF.

: )))

McCannster

McCannster - Sep 5, 2009 9:59 pm - Voted 10/10

Hey Larry!

That's a great shot. Sedona looks like a really nice place. Does it get as hot as it does in Phoenix during the summer here?

lcarreau

lcarreau - Sep 5, 2009 10:19 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: Hey David ...

I first checked out Sedona in 1991, after
driving down Oak Creek Canyon.

In all those (18 years) I have never seen it
get as hot as it gets in Phoenix or Tucson.

If you like water, Oak Creek runs off the
edge of the Colorado Plateau right into the
place. So, if it gets too hot, you can take
a dip in a number of "holes" along the creek.

And, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
The towering rocks aren't in any way as high
as the Alps or Rockies, but you get to taste
the desert air and the formations will most
certainly knock off your socks.

Larry

RayMondo

RayMondo - Jan 17, 2010 8:13 pm - Voted 10/10

That's It !!

That's where I want to live.

lcarreau

lcarreau - Jan 17, 2010 8:34 pm - Hasn't voted

Re: That's It !!

Right on, Ray !!

I have met several "mates" from the United Kingdom living out their lives in Sedona!

The air is so fresh you can just taste it.
And, the place has juniper trees everywhere ...

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