FreeLists / az-observing / [AZ-Observing] Re: Five Mile Meadow for June 18-19 weekend

[BillFerris@xxxxxxx]

Brian Skiff wrote:
>     There seem to be some sites used by folks around Sedona, but I'm
> not familar with any of them.  Someone like Padraig Houlihan or Bill
> Ferris would know about these.

Sirius Lookers of Sedona use the Two Trees site. I believe it's located in the 
Prescott National Forest. Here, are the directions from their web page:  Two 
Trees Area is between Sedona and Cottonwood, 89A from Sedona to FR 525. FR 525 
about 1/3 mile to the Y. Left at the Y to the RC Aircraft field. We set up in 
the field on the left before the RC field. If you are planning on camping at 
Two Trees be sure to buy a Red Rocks Pass. I just found out that we are a mile 
inside the pass area. Buy the annual pass for $20 in case you plan on using the 
site more often.

And the URL for a topomap of the area: 
http://www.topozone.com/map.asp?z=12&n=3853383.00009261&e=416303.999999916

Here's the URL for the Coconino National Forest. This page lists restrictions 
and closures within the forest. In recent years, the forest has closed in 
sections during extreme fire conditions, with the most volatile regions closing 
earliest and those areas least likely to suffer a wildfire closing later in the 
camping season.

The Coconino Astronomical Society has observed from the Doney Mtn. Picnic Area 
located in the Coconino National Forest on the southern edge of Wupatki 
National Monument. The picnic area was among the last sections of the Coconino 
closed to public access during the summer of the Rodeo-Chediski fire. It is a 
true dark sky site with restroom facilities and even picnic tables for your 
midnight snack. Here, are directions:

1. Take Hwy. 89 north from Flagstaff toward Wupatki.
2. Drive about 26-miles from the Flagstaff Mall to
   the north entrance to Wupatki. The entrance is just
   a couple of miles north of Antelope Hills.
3. Turn right and head into Wupatki.
4. Drive 9.6 miles and turn right into the Doney Mtn.
   Picnic Area. This is a very short road ending in
   the parking area. A small wooden sign on the left
   marks the turnoff, but is hard to see in the dark.

NOTE: If you find yourself going down a steep curving hill (the Doney fault) 
you have gone too far and need to go back.

GPS coordinates of the parking lot are N35d 31' 55.0" W111d 24' 16.0" and the 
site is at about 5,500-feet elevation. This is about an hour's drive from 
Flagstaff. Note that camping is prohibited in the picnic area. However, there 
are several reasonably good forest roads off the main road that will take you 
into national forest land where camping is allowed.

Regards,

Bill in Flagstaff


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