Carr Peak Easter Sunday with Sadie, Minnie and Zeke

We had two short afternoon downpours both Friday and Saturday afternoon, just enough to wet the dry grass and put out any pesky fires. I figured the moisture would make today's hike a lush, green hike. It was a good day to hike up to the peak, but it wasn't the lush experience I was hoping for. I took all three hiking dogs (Sadie, Minnie and Zeke) and left the home at 9:45am. It was sunny in the valley, but clouds were moving in from the southwest.

Sadie seemed tired or overheated in the beginning, when the sky was still mostly cloudless and heat radiated from the rocks. That always worries me, as I understand her medication makes her very heat and light sensitive. I took it easy and rested several times. Once we got higher up and the cloud cover became more prominent, I could feel the cooling effect, and Sadie began to perk up again. It was cool but not breezy at all. I never needed to pull out my jacket.

There wasn't as much moisture in the higher elevations as I had expected after the last two days of short downpours. The higher falls were just trickling, and there was little water for the dogs. Instead, the pool base was muddy. I had 2.5 gallons for us so I wasn't worried, but I am also glad I didn't rely on mountain water for the dogs.

I could see more color across the forest in the higher elevation. There are some wildflowers starting to come out, finally. Lupines are visible, some white flowers and a few yellow flowers. The aspens are now leafing, the bramble is coming out, and other deciduous trees are also showing lush green growth. We are still below average as far as bloom goes, but at least we didn't lose trees that regrew from the last massive fire. There are still many dead and grey areas in the forest that may never regrow in my lifetime.

I could not see any burn area from the Brown Fire from last week. The burn area must all have been contained to the western slopes, which were not visible from Carr peak. The 600-acre brush fire that blew up yesterday afternoon in Elgin from a lightning strike was also not visible.

We took our time today. This may have been the longest time spent on Carr. We were the only ones on the peak so we rested, played fetch, tool selfies, and had lunch. The three dogs had an entire 8-pack of chicken-pork hotdogs. Then a father-son duo came up with their small terrier Misky, and all three dogs went after that dog. There was no fight, luckily, but Minnie seemed protective. Misky didn't fight back. I reassured the father-son that the dogs were just making sure that Misky was no threat. They soon all played, but the father-son duo went further downhill for their lunch.

Then another couple came up but the dogs were fine with them as they had no dog with them. I certainly wasn't expecting all this activity today, it being Easter. I am not the only heathen here after all!

I finally made it back home by 2:45pm. Kevin had heated up chicken kebabs, so our meal was nothing special. It didn't feel like a holiday to me at all. I got home, worked on photos, talked wit Kevin and Eric, talked to the other two dogs and peaked in on my three-legged foster cat Missy whom I picked up last night for a vacationing volunteer. The cat is so terrified she just hides in her cat cave. She's been very quiet, too.

The Brown Fire

Sunday Kevin and I went to Tombstone with some shelter volunteers to watch the Pet Parade. It wasn't as big as in previous years; less than 20 people showed up. We had more fun eating at the OK Cafe (where the food truly was just OK!), and finished off with a quick visit to Carol's house on the east side of town. Her home truly is a pet sanctuary. She has many unadoptable pets that have flourished in a loving home. Her dogs stay in the back of the house, the cats in the front of the house, and the doors to every room are kept closed. All animals come in at night.

Kevin was looking rather grumpy by the time we left Carol's place at 3pm. He hadn't had alcohol yet and I could tell that is what he wanted. So we stopped in Bisbee to have a beer at the Old Bisbee Brewing Company, and made another stop at the newer Beast Brewing on the west side of town. The owner, Jim, hails from Massachusetts so that gave Kevin something to talk about. By now he had had a few beers. I only had two as I was driving.

As we left town for the drive home, we saw smoke pluming over the Huachucas. "Oh shit!" I said, and as soon as we got home at 5:30pm I checked for an update. It started shortly after noon in the upper Sheelite/Brown and Ramsey canyon areas and appears to be human caused. Five acres at first, and the first email from Cochise County Board of Supervisors Pat Call said this isn't a fire to get "excited" about.

But then that fire grew to 296 acres in 30 hours, and today it's up to 366 acres with zero containment. Brown and Ramsey canyons are closed and the first pre-evacation orders were given today to 150 people in Ramsey canyon. Those homes are old homesteads, but Ramsey canyon is a narrow canyon, and an intense fire could blow pressue down into the valley. I feel for those people with livestock.

I hope the entire forest isn't closed off now. I still need to hike up Carr Peak for the month! I continue to take the dogs up Hunter Canyon for a mile or so of romping around. The dogs seem to enjoy this. Right now I am not worried about the fire spreading toward our area again. But any evacuation would mean nervous animals on the loose, abandoned pets, injured and killed wildlife.

The Brown Fire right now is the #1 priority fire now in the country. While most of the fire is in remote military installation area, all it would take for it to spread would be strong, erratic winds like we had three years ago. I don't see fire along any ridgeline yet. We're too far south for it right now. Our prevailing winds are from the southwest, so the fire would move away from us.