David Blanchard
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davidblanchard.bsky.social
David Blanchard
@davidblanchard.bsky.social
1.5K followers 180 following 720 posts
Atmospheric Scientist, Ph.D., CCM. Chased by storms since 1981. Trail running, mountain biking, skiing. Astro, weather, and landscape photographer.

dblanchard.net/blog/
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davidblanchard.bsky.social
Did a run in Sedona this morning connecting many trails to get a double loop:

•Hogwash
•Hog Heaven
•High on the Hog
•Broken Arrow
•Chicken Point turnaround
•Broken Arrow
•Submarine Rock
•Broken Arrow

About 5.8 miles with 938' total elevation.

#landscape 📷 #trailrunning
Two trail runners on the Hogwash Trail in Sedona. Water is running down the slickrock and across the trail. View of Sedona from Hogwash Trail. Traill route: Hogwash -- Hog Heaven -- High on the Hog -- Broken Arrow -- Chicken Point (turnaround) -- Submarine Rock -- Broken Arrow.
January 3, 2026 at 8:59 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
SpaceX launched the COSMO-SkyMed Second Generation Mission this evening from Vandenberg SFB in California. The launch was after the end of twilight so the rocket had to climb a fair bit before it caught sunlight.

#astrophotography #rocket
January 3, 2026 at 4:17 AM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Our annual group run on New Year's Day was along the Flagstaff Urban Trail System. It may be January but it is raining here at 7000' feet--making for an odd "winter" run.

Photo of a sculpture along the FUTS trail adorned with holiday attire.

#trailrunning #azwx #weather
A sculpture adorned with some holiday attire along the Flagstaff Urban Trail System. It is raining and the sky is gray. Radar image showing rain falling in and near Flagstaff during our New Year's Day morning group run. It was a simple out-and-back run along the Flagstaff Urban Trail System (FUTS).
January 1, 2026 at 9:20 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
•Faint parhelia lie on either side of the Sun and are reflected in the waters of Ashurst Lake.

•Sunset colors are present in the sky and water.

•Reflections of trees in the still waters of Ashurst Lake.

#landscape 📷 #AtmosphericOptics
Faint parhelia ("sun dogs") are visible on either side of the Sun and are also reflected in the waters of Ashurst Lake. 5-stop ND filter used for a longer exposure. Sunset colors appear just above the horizon and are also reflected in the waters of Ashurst Lake. 5-stop ND filter used for longer exposure. Trees along the shore of Ashurst Lake are reflected in the still waters.
December 31, 2025 at 11:39 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Yesterday's trail run included "Outer Limits" and "Ledge 'n Airy" in west Sedona. Did the outbound on LnA and the return on OL with our turnaround at the low point on Dry Creek. Nice views and great weather!

#trailrunning #landscape 📷
Trail sign for the intersection of Outer Limits and Ledge 'n Airy Trails in Sedona. In the distance is Capitol Butte (aka Thunder Mountain). View along the trail of Capitol Butte in Sedona, Arizona. Map of the route showing how the trail follows the canyon rim above Dry Creek.
December 31, 2025 at 7:05 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Flagstaff precip since Oct 1 is 190% of normal. Snowfall is 30% of normal.

Satellite shows a push of subtropical moisture into the SW US. Looks like another rain event this week for Flagstaff with snow levels generally above 9000'.

#azwx #weather #AtmosphericRiver
GOES-18 water vapor image showing a northward surge of subtropical moisture into the southwestern United States. Accumulated Winter Season Severity Index (AWSSI) for Flagstaff for Winter 2025-26 to date. https://mrcc.purdue.edu/research/awssi/
December 30, 2025 at 10:20 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
With the Moon high in the sky and Orion rising in the east I was able to get a well-lit foreground and nice stars above Wukoki Pueblo and Sunset Crater Volcano.

•Wupatki National Monument
•Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument

#landscape 📷 #astrophotography
Wukoki Pueblo in Wupatki National Monument, Arizona. The constellation Orion is rising above the pueblo. Nikon D850, 12mm fisheye, ƒ/2.8, ISO 1600, 30 seconds. Wukoki Pueblo in Wupatki National Monument, Arizona. The constellation Orion is rising above the pueblo. Nikon D850, 24mm, ISO 3200, ƒ/5.6, 8 seconds. Orion rises above Sunset Crater Volcano. Nikon D850, 12mm fisheye, ƒ/4.0, ISO 1600, 15 seconds.
December 29, 2025 at 11:30 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Today's group run was Turkey Creek Trail near Village of Oak Creek (VOC). Net elevation was 665' but up-and-down nature of the trail resulted in 1075' total elevation. 7.5 miles.

#landscape 📷 #trailrunning
The final uphill. Turnaround is top of the saddle. A view back from the high point at the terrain we ran through. Love running in Sedona in the winter! Turkey Creek Trail and Turkey Creek Alternate lines.
December 27, 2025 at 8:35 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Extended period of precip starts tonight so we decided to get in a trail run on Schultz Creek Trail today. The first 2 miles were okay. Beyond 2 miles there were icy sections -- so we decided to do the return run on the road. Good move.

#trailrunning #landscape 📷
A runner carefully moves across an icy section on Schultz Creek Trail. The intersection of Schultz Creek Trail and Arizona Trail -- our turnaround location. The return on the road was dry.
December 24, 2025 at 1:01 AM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Sunset shot from Ashurst Lake near Flagstaff on Monday evening. Was really hoping the clouds would light up. Nope. But got some nice reflections in the water.

#landscape 📷 #azwx
Sunset shot of Ashurst Lake. Colors near the horizon are reflected in the calm waters of the lake.
December 24, 2025 at 12:55 AM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Was driving down Lake Mary Road near Flagstaff yesterday afternoon and saw this partial halo with parhelia that was reflected in the water.

#landscape 📷 #optics
A partial halo is visible around the sun with parhelia ("sun dog") at the same altitude as the sun. The parhelia are reflected in the still waters of the lake. A small segment of a parhelic circle is visible on the left.
December 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
GOES-18 water vapor image shows an impressive plume of subtropical moisture heading northward into southwest US. Forecasts call for very high snow levels so expecting mostly rain -- even here in Flagstaff at 7000' elevation!

#azwx #weather
GOES-18 water vapor satellite image showing a plume of subtropical moisture moving westward and then to the north and impinging upon the southwest United States.
December 22, 2025 at 4:22 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Yesterday's run was an out-and-back on the Huckaby Trail in Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Arizona. Total elevation gain is almost 3x the net gain with lots of ups-and-downs. Turnaround point was Midgley Bridge.

#trailrunning #landscape 📷
Two runners climb up the trail out of the canyon bottom onto the ridge above. From the high point along the trail and looking towards Midgley Bridge -- the turnaround point on the run. Huckaby Trail in Oak Creek Canyon, Sedona, Arizona.
December 21, 2025 at 11:19 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Temps remain well above normal so why not run some local trails (~7000–8000 feet elevation). The snow should be mostly melted. Right?

Ran up Elden Lookout Road to Upper Oldham to Down Under until mud/snow became too much. Returned via the road and then Middle Oldham.

#landscape 📷 #trailrunning
Down Under Trail -- mostly follows the old Red Onion social trail. Too much mud/snow/ice on the upper sections of Down Under. Should have brought the foot traction for this section. Lower sections of Oldham Trail crossing Brookbank. No snow or mud here! Not really a Figure 8. How about a double loop? North-facing slopes had mud/snow/ice. South-facing slopes were dry and dusty.
December 19, 2025 at 12:02 AM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Running on Teacup Trail below Coffeepot Rock in Sedona, Arizona. Warm and sunny.

#trailrunning #landscape 📷
A runner on the Teacup Trail below Coffeepot Rock in Sedona, Arizona. Turnaround spot at the Seven Pools on Soldiers Pass Trail in Sedona, Arizona.
December 16, 2025 at 11:39 PM
Reposted by David Blanchard
girlswhochase.com
GWC training season is here, ya'll -- and we're kicking off with a new kind of event to answer your requests for more time to learn about radar! 🥳⛈️📡

More info in thread ⬇️, but all the details also at girlswhochase.com/radarworkshop
GWC radar workshop March 7, 2026
December 10, 2025 at 11:07 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Geminids from 2100–2159 MST 13 December 2025 overlooking Mormon Lake near Flagstaff, AZ. Details in Alt Text.

Nikon D850, Tamron 35mm, ƒ/1.4, ISO 800, 15 seconds.

#astrophotography #meteors #geminids
Composite of images taken from 2100—2159 MST while using a star tracker—and then blended with a foreground image. Jupiter is the bright object in the center with Pollux and Caster to its upper left. The red star on the right is Betelgeuse. The meteor at top center left a long-lasting smoke trail. Nikon D850, Tamron 35mm, ƒ/1.4, ISO 800, 15 seconds. #astrophotography #meteors #geminids Cropped versions of the bright meteor and the smoke trail. Nikon D850, Tamron 35mm, ƒ/1.4, ISO 800, 15 seconds. Cropped versions of the bright meteor and the smoke trail. Nikon D850, Tamron 35mm, ƒ/1.4, ISO 800, 15 seconds.
December 14, 2025 at 9:17 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Pleiades and Uranus.

12 December 2025.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 Ai-S.
ISO 3200, ƒ/4.0, 27x120 seconds.
Processed with Siril v1.26, rnc_color_stretch, Lr/Ps.

#astrophotography #pleiades #planets #siril
Pleiades and Uranus. 12 December 2025. Nikon D850, Nikkor 180mm f/2.8 Ai-s. ISO 3200, ƒ/4.0, 27x120 seconds. Processed with Siril v1.26, rnc_color_stretch, Lr/Ps.
December 14, 2025 at 12:47 AM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Took a chance of seeing the aurora last night and was rewarded with a brief appearance between 0220–0240 UTC (1920–1940 MST). Taken at Ashurst Lake east of Flagstaff AZ at latitude 35.01°N.

Bonus: meteor (probably a Geminid) with fading aurora.

#astrophotography #aurora @tamithaskov.bsky.social
Aurora first appeared to the northeast and spread westward over the next several minutes. Tick marks show position of Polaris. Milky Way is at the top of the image. The aurora quickly faded and a meteor (probably a Geminid) streaked across the sky.
December 11, 2025 at 10:25 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Today's group run was the Bell Trail alongside Wet Beaver Creek. The turn around point was this deep pool. There are numerous petroglyphs located along this trail. This one is easy to see; most require a bit of effort.

#trailrun #landscape 📷
A deep pool reflects the blue sky and warm colors of the canyon cliffs in Wet Beaver Creek. Petroglyphs on a large boulder on the Bell Trail along Wet Beaver Creek. A runner travels along the narrow sandstone bench of the Bell Trail on Wet Beaver Creek.
December 6, 2025 at 10:17 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Many sunspots are visible today; the largest are, left-to-right, AR 4296, AR 4294, and AR 4298.

Nikon D850, 500mm, 1/500 sec, f/11, ISO 64, Kendrick Astro solar filter.

#astrophotography #sunspots
Many sunspots are visible today; the largest are, left-to-right, AR 4296, AR 4294, and AR 4298.
December 4, 2025 at 8:04 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Tuesday's trail run was up Long Canyon in the Red Rock Wilderness near Sedona, Arizona. Mild temperatures, light winds, and sunny skies made for a great day.

#trailrunning #landscape 📷
A side trip in Long Canyon to get a view of the spectacular red rock country. A wet November means water continues to run across the slick rock. This pool, or tinaja, is about 4 feet in diameter and about 5 feet in depth. Maples are still showing some color in the upper reaches of the canyon. The trail fades away here and further progress requires bushwacking. End of the trail. The sign says so...
December 3, 2025 at 9:07 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Meteorological fall has ended (Sep-Oct-Nov) and precipitation totals for Flagstaff (10.35") make it the 5th wettest fall on record. Normal for this period is 4.91".

Other sites across the state also had Top 10 or better results. (2nd image from NWS/Flagstaff.)

#azwx #weather
December 1, 2025 at 8:53 PM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Clear skies overnight allowed some shallow fog to develop in the Mormon Lake Basin. The San Francisco Peaks loom in the distance.

#landscape 📷 #fog
Clear skies overnight allowed some shallow fog to develop in the Mormon Lake Basin. The San Francisco Peaks loom in the distance.
November 25, 2025 at 1:02 AM
davidblanchard.bsky.social
Today's run took us down the Arizona Trail into Picture Canyon Natural and Cultural Preserve -- and then returned via the Tom Moody Trail. The snow has already melted and trail was a perfect dampness.

#trailrunning #ArizonaTrail #landscape 📷
A runner on the oak leaf covered Arizona Trail near Picture Canyon. Petroglyphs near the Arizona Trail in Picture Canyon. Flagstaff's only waterfall in Picture Canyon. Today's running route down the Arizona trail to Picture Canyon with a return on the Tom Moody Trail. https://www.outdoorproject.com/united-states/arizona/picture-canyon
November 22, 2025 at 10:25 PM