January 2008

 
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Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008 Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008 Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008

Sledding at the Crowley Pit Snow Play Area (located about 20 minutes north of Flagstaff on Hwy 180 - approx. eleven miles past the Arizona Snowbowl turn off and one mile past the Arizona Nordic Center). There's free parking but no facilities other than portable restrooms. This place is huge so there's room for lots and lots of people. But better still, it has every kind of slope from little baby bunny hills to thrillseeker runs.
Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008 Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008 Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008
We came to this same spot a couple of weeks earlier, but for this visit on January 12, there was at least a foot of fresh soft snow. The place was really busy and we got there just as the available parking was running out. We stayed a good four hours, including our break for the picnic lunch we had packed. Richard's cousin Ashley came with us too.
Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008

A study in
Contrasting Styles

Notice how the expert on the left deftly guides his sled down the slope with a sleek aerodynamic style that would make an eskimo envious.

On the right we see a more "freestyle" approach to balance & aerodynamics that inevitably led to more tumbles.

 Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008
Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008
Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008
The sport of recreational sledding has changed much since we were kids. One used to navigate trees and rocks on the way down the hill. Now one must negotiate trails dotted with Mommies & Daddies, completely oblivious to their surroundings, with cameras surgically attached to their foreheads (I'm guilty!). Richard enjoyed riding shotgun with his cousin Ashley and with Daddy.
Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008 Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008
After four hours we were soaked (look at Ashley's pants on the right below!) and pretty cold. It was time to call it a day.
Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008 Crowley Pit snow play area near Flagstaff, Arizona - January 12, 2008