AZ2004 -- Yarnell Hill

When i was 15 and only had a learner's permit, coming up over the hill down US-89A and not seeing where the road went through the switchbacks nearly made me crap my pants. Fifteensomeodd years later, still the same impact. Going down 2500 feet in only 4 miles, its like driving a rollercoaster and worth turning around and doing it again 5 or so times before leaving the park.

View of the US-89A from the top. . .

. . .about halfway down. . .

. . .the lower valley fromn the hill. . .

. . . random hawk on the desert updrafts. . .

. . .random desert cactus. . .

. . .more local rocks. . .

. . .almost down. . .

. . .looking back at Yarnell Hill from the bottom. . .

. . .the valley floor.