Don Sprenkel is a 92-year-old adventurous Sedona resident who enjoys golfing multiple times a week, exploring local restaurants, traveling, and trying new things. He is very involved in Christ Lutheran Church, his local church, and enjoys spending time with his companion Martha Townsend, another Sedona local.
Don has a big family with six children, 12 grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
As one of his grandchildren, I came to visit him for a long weekend and suggested a we do a sunrise hike on Sugarloaf Trail.
Don, the ever-adventurous man that he is was very interested in doing a sunrise hike, as he had never heard of anyone doing such a thing.
With an early start leaving the house at 3:30 a.m., the two of us were the only ones at the trail in West Sedona when we began hiking in the dark.
Armed with headlights and flashlights we made it to the summit just in time for sunrise at 5:20 a.m. on May 21.
We stayed to watch as the hot air balloons rose into the morning air and Don expressed the amount of peace he felt at being in a place that felt so removed from the town.
As someone who sees the red rocks every day, it was a new way to experience the beauty of Sedona’s nature.
A true once-in-a-lifetime experience that some never make the effort to do, Don conquered confidently.
By Katie Dempsey
Special to Larson Newspapers
