Monday, November 11, 2013

Exploring McClure Canyon

McClure Canyon is a hidden side canyon on Fort Huachuca that is known for its protective species of birds. It is a quiet canyon away from mainstream hikers. A creek runs through this canyon, which makes it a popular place for wildlife to hang out.

I took Zeke and Minnie to this canyon Sunday afternoon to see how the road to the trailhead for this was in preparation for tomorrow's hike with Ellen and a few others. I hadn't been in this canyon for several years. Sarah was with me then and she hiked up to the peak and down. That was perhaps her last long hike.
Fall colors were just past their prime. There was also a lot of bear scat, which is why the US Army is now making it mandatory to check in with the post MP station before hiking into this area. Zeke and Minnie didn't seem to care as they ran up and down the old jeep trail. Zeke doesn't hike as much as Minnie or Sadie because he's a bit more "wild" around strangers and tends to chase after all wildlife, something I really don't appreciate. But today Zeke was more happy frolicking around with Minnie. He'd come out of the forest covered in seed heads, wagging his tail with delight.
I only made it to the trailhead a mile uphill. Everything was as I remember it from a few years ago, with the new trail signs in place and the rocky, gravelly trail meandering uphill. This trail ascends right away, which is why it's perhaps the steepest but shortest way up to Huachuca Peak.

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