Uploaded January 2026 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
Having crazy friends makes for some fun times. Like when you say "Let's go climb Bell Rock" and they just immediately agree. Then, when the forecast gets a little dicey, they say "Let's just go and see what the weather does". Then, when you're on the top of the climb and a storm is closing in, they say "This was your idea" and it's all your fault. But Troy @walkingwithawookie1097 did a great job at keeping me alive, so I can't really complain.
I think the route we took was pretty low on the rating scale. Everything I climb at this point is low on the rating scale though. And yet somehow it all seems pretty complicated and scary to me. That's probably a good indication that the climbing rating system is flawed and not that I am a mediocre climber. Yes, that's what it is.
Anyway, Bell Rock is one of the most iconic hikes in Sedona. Yet after going there for over a decade now, I've never hiked it. The reason is pretty simple; it's crowded. Everyone who visits Sedona seems to hike Bell Rock. It's one of the first things you see when driving into town from the south, it's right off the highway and it is very well known. And the views are absolutely amazing.
So I had to go check it out. But being me, I wanted to make it as complicated as possible so I decided to climb to the summit. You can climb up Bell Rock quite a bit, but eventually if you want to get all the way to the summit you will need technical climbing gear and experience.
For a beginner like myself, this was a really fun climb. Challenging but not scary, easy approach and incredible views. One of my favorite climbs to date. Anyway, I'm tired of typing so I'm going to go climb a mountain now.
Music by Arlist:
At the Bistro - Louis Adrien
Invincible - IamDayLight
I Don't Know - Ge Filter Fish
Music by Epidemic Sound:
Wildflowers - Traveler
Reflection No. 2 - Hanna Ekstrom
Having crazy friends makes for some fun times. Like when you say "Let's go climb Bell Rock" and they just immediately agree. Then, when the forecast gets a little dicey, they say "Let's just go and see what the weather does". Then, when you're on the top of the climb and a storm is closing in, they say "This was your idea" and it's all your fault. But Troy @walkingwithawookie1097 did a great job at keeping me alive, so I can't really complain.
I think the route we took was pretty low on the rating scale. Everything I climb at this point is low on the rating scale though. And yet somehow it all seems pretty complicated and scary to me. That's probably a good indication that the climbing rating system is flawed and not that I am a mediocre climber. Yes, that's what it is.
Anyway, Bell Rock is one of the most iconic hikes in Sedona. Yet after going there for over a decade now, I've never hiked it. The reason is pretty simple; it's crowded. Everyone who visits Sedona seems to hike Bell Rock. It's one of the first things you see when driving into town from the south, it's right off the highway and it is very well known. And the views are absolutely amazing.
So I had to go check it out. But being me, I wanted to make it as complicated as possible so I decided to climb to the summit. You can climb up Bell Rock quite a bit, but eventually if you want to get all the way to the summit you will need technical climbing gear and experience.
For a beginner like myself, this was a really fun climb. Challenging but not scary, easy approach and incredible views. One of my favorite climbs to date. Anyway, I'm tired of typing so I'm going to go climb a mountain now.
Music by Arlist:
At the Bistro - Louis Adrien
Invincible - IamDayLight
I Don't Know - Ge Filter Fish
Music by Epidemic Sound:
Wildflowers - Traveler
Reflection No. 2 - Hanna Ekstrom
