Slavin Gulch in the Dragoons

I finally joined the Huachuca Hiking Club with a hike to Slavin Gulch, a creek with many seasonal waterholes this time of year. This was also Kevin's first hike in over a year, and together we met old and new hiking pals again.



Naturally this is also the season for active rattle snakes, and shortly on the trail we spotted a coiled Western Diamondback in the middle of the trail. The dogs weren't on leashes at the time and walked right past the snake on the trail. Sadie went past the snake a second time and the snake didn't bite her. Thankfully, as that would have ruined the hike. Since it was at the start of the hike and the dogs were still chasing each other, we opted to keep them onleash for most of the trail going uphill to the Hoodoos, where we rested and then walked down to spend more time at the largest waterhole.

The hike was led by Mike S. Paul, Rod, John and three more people (two who are young scouts) joined us.


I was dressed in nylon that wouldn't stay wet for long. I even wore my ten-year-old Keen Water Sandals, which desperately need replacing. Once in the water, the shoes were ideal, but they were lose on the trail. Zeke and some of the kittens in the last year have chewed through the straps that tighten the shoes' hold around my feet. It's time to get new shoes.

We haven't had significant rain in over a week, which was good as there was plenty of water trickling everywhere, along the trail and in the creek. There was no chance of a flashflood, either. For the dogs this was the perfect hike, and we focused on the waterholes. The valley and the ridge were still very green from recent rains.

Minnie, it turns out, will fetch for anyone. She dove into the water to retrieve sticks, rocks, whatever, which then stressed Sadie out as she didn't want to go into the water but she wanted to fetch. She wouldn't stop barking, so we opted to bid farewell to the group and walk on to the truck. We didn't want Sadie to stress out so much that she would get another seizure. Although she was tired from the hike, I gave her an extra dosage of phenobarbital to prevent a seizure. She was fine the rest of the day and slept well that night.


Next Friday I am driving with at least one of the dogs to the Gila Mountains in central western New Mexico, where old friends from New Jersey are visiting for ten days. I can't wait! Unfortunately, the Gilas suffered from two very devastating fires these last two summers and I don't even know what trails are closed or not.

According to Rod, who later sent me a GPS print-out, the hike was only 4.6 miles, shorter than expected. My thighs felt a little sore that evening, but definitely not paralyzing!