Soft orange rays from the rising sun cascaded through the boughs of stubby junipers that lined the trail to Sedona’s famed Bell Rock as we hiked along the well-worn dirt trail that circled the base of the massive, bell-shaped red dome. During the four-mile hike we marveled at the otherworldly beauty surrounding us: In every direction, both near and far, red rock formations inexplicably arose from the scrubby beige high-desert landscape.
Our foursome had come to Sedona, one of my favorite places, on our first post-COVID-19 trip mainly to hike and check out its well-known spiritual vibe. Because few places in the world rival the red-rock grandeur of Sedona, many others had made the same travel choice. By 7 a.m. the small parking lot was already almost full, a reflection of the COVID-19-weary Americans who have been pouring into popular travel destinations like uncorked Champagne. Fortunately, the trail never got crowded and we kept silent as we tried to tune in to the world-famous vortex energy that Sedona manifests in certain spots, including Bell Rock and Cathedral Rock.
