Steps and stairs everywhere you look

Why staircases? Better, why not staircases? They are, after all, not only photogenic, but quite necessary landscape items in our world of hilly ups and downs. Besides, many are built of local stone, which can be quite handsome.

This pair of staircases leads down to the trail alongside Granite Creek. Above, the wooden steps from the Dinner Bell; below, stairs from the patio behind Coffee Roasters. Both on Gurley Street.

While rough-hewn stones are, frankly, more attractive, one is less likely to stumble on a smooth cement step. However, the Congress Street staircase (above) is inset in an neat rock wall. Nice curves in the Park Avenue steps (below).

More concrete -- rising up to the tennis courts at ERAU.

Now I'm not really sure whether or not these steps on South McCormick are ever used. However, I like them, as they are each cut from a single stone.

These stairs out at the Thumb Butte picnic area are built from flagstone quarried out near Drake. Dramatically different from what one finds in the Prescott area.

The stone work over at the Smoki Museum and the former armory dates from WPA days and is a splendid example of what can be done.

More flagstone steps beginning where the sidewalk leaves off. On Beach Street.

Here's one of my favorite sets of steps that are probably never used, inasmuch as the house above sits on High Street, not Coronado where the stairs start.

Oh, what grand granite slabs one climbs at the Shrine of St. Joseph down in Yarnell. And almost too many to count!

But nothing in Prescott can match the industrial staircase I saw last summer up in Flagstaff with the dotter's family. Up and around it went. Makes me wish for a wee bit of industrial stuff hereabouts -- makes such great photos!