Third and final hike in Sedona this long Thanksgiving weekend and the perfect anecdote for our longing to be back outside.

We’re out on the West Fork Trail, which is a 6.5-mile out-and-back hike and involves a few creek crossings.

There were others out here on this trail with us today, but they didn’t matter as I had other things to take in.

I never fail to be amazed at what Caroline and I stop to take in and how many people simply sprint by on their way to reach the end and get back to their cars, as all they really wanted from their time out here was to be able to brag that they went hiking in Sedona. But what about all this other stuff?

While my first photos might have you thinking we are tucked into a small space, that’s not exactly reality.

Overhead, the red rocks of Sedona assure visitors of where they are.

Even if not all sandstone is red.

From the ice on the creek and these icicles, you should be able to glean that it is cold out here.

The trail is well marked, at times with cairns.

Today, this looks like an overhang with trees growing atop it, but it could also be an optical illusion; I no longer know.

No, that is not our dog, and yes, Caroline is wearing flip-flops in icy water; she’s tough that way.

Canyon reflections on frozen water just add to the charm of our getaway.

The shelf at the end of the trail was actually a bit too crowded for my liking, so we didn’t spend much time there; we were on our way back to the trailhead.

With the trail almost finished, it was time for something to eat…

…we’ll just go and consider this our Thanksgiving dinner this year. We are at Simon’s Colombian Hot Dogs, situated in the Oak Creek Brewing Company, and the first dog we opted for is known as the Colombian. Just what is all that you ask? It’s a hot dog topped with pineapple, cheese, Simon’s sauce, and crushed potato chips, and it’s yummy.