Phoenix is at about 1500', and Flagstaff is at about 7000'.  They are about
120 miles apart, so you climb 5500' in that distance.  Worse, you climb
some of it twice, as you go up through black canyon and then down into the
Verde valley.  However, I think the worst single climb is maybe 3500' in 20
or 30 miles.  Still a steep climb.  The first one out of Phoenix is worse
for heat, as it starts at a lower elevation.

BTW, the drive from Phoenix to Flagstaff is an interesting one.  The
experts say that a 1000' elevation change is about the same as going 400
miles north to south, so the 5500' elevation change in the 120 miles
between Phoenix and Flagstaff equates to driving north 2200 miles.  You go
from the low desert to the largest unbroken stand of ponderosa pines in the
world.  The temp in Flagstaff will typically be about 30 degrees (F) lower
than Phoenix.

When we lived in Tucson, we could get up on a January morning and take a
dip in our pool, then drive about 40 minutes and play in the snow or ski.
On the other hand, we could drive 3 hours the other way and swim in the ocean.

At 01:16 PM 1/18/00 -0500, Bulley wrote:
>There are a couple of long, hot climbs in AZ that could make that a VERY
>expensive policy for him. The climb up to Flagstaff from the desert is one.
>(From memory) you go from about sea level to 7,500 feet, in something like
>25 miles, without pause (correct me, foggy memory).

Bill (SE Arizona) (Bill@freeholder.com) HTTP://www.freeholder.com
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