Double peak bagging up Miller and Carr Peak with Ellen and Zeke

Distance: 13.9 miles

Elevation gain: 3207'

Significance: This is a challenging dayhike close to Sierra Vista. No need to drive far or spend money on parking permits.  Both peaks offer panoramic vistas.

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The Forest Service has opened Carr Canyon Road for the season. Today was Ellen's big 14-mile hike up Miller and Carr, an out-and-back hike along the Carr Peak and Crest Trails in the Huachucas.  We had done this route two years ago with her friend Adam.  Sadie and Zeke came along on that hike.  Today I only brought Zeke.

The cold blast that hit Los Angeles on Thursday, which was the reason I left a day early, arrived in southern Arizona overnight.  I could hear the winds howl.  It was 2am, I was wide awake, and I really didn't feel like hiking 14 miles today.  When the sun came up,I could see clouds racing across the peaks.  A heavy fog lingered over the mountains.

And yet we still did this.

Ellen and I met shortly after 7am to drive to the Sawmill trailhead across from the group campground on Carr Canyon Road.  I wore a dryweave shirt under my sweatshirt but quickly realized that wasn't going to keep me warm.  A black raincoat packed for the peak was put on before our hike.  We took off at 7:39am as clouds overhead blew by. Winds were gusting.

 

A mile into our hike we both questioned our sanity, but we trekked on.  We could see frost on the highest pines near Carr Peak, and Miller was still shrouded in fog .  (That frost was melted by the time we were on the return hike.) Hiking in fog on a summer day is refreshing; not so much in the winter when it's 50F and gusting. Parts of the upper trail were still moist from melted snow.  Despite feeling fatigued yesterday, I had energy today and didn't slow Ellen down.  She said I was averaging 2.3 miles an hour.

The northern slope sections of the trail were calm, which broke up the blasting winds.  Ellen lent me a beanie to keep my ears warm.  When we hit the Tub Springs at 4.2 miles, the winds felt calmer.  The surrounding trees protected us from the wind. We stayed there a bit to talk to an Arizona Trail hiker from Toledo, Ohio.  He was Frank, aka "Skink" who has until April 24th to finish the 880 mile section.  Last night was his first night  on the trail, and he told me how he was being followed by someone, but that someone moved back whenever he got close. Both were shining their headlamps on each other.  (I'd have yelled out in English to see if that was a USBP agent).  A man sleeping wrapped in a tarp was near the tub as well.  This southern section of the Arizona Trail is notorious for drug smugglers passing through at night.  I would never camp out here, even with a pack of dogs.

It was 10am and Frank was just getting ready to push on to Parker Canyon Lake 18 miles away.  We had to make way for two equestrians moving north on the Crest Trail.  Horses are not allowed in the Miller Peak Wilderness.  The horses left deep grooves in the wet soil.  These grooves are going to be dangerous for night hikers if they get their feet caught in one and stumble down the steep embankments.

We made it to Miller Peak shortly after noon. It was blustery here as we sat on the old foundation eating our lunch.  Zeke cuddled behind Ellen to keep warm.  He wasn't interested in eating his raw steak.  It was windy but there were no clouds overhead.  The trees below us all looked thirsty for a heavy rain.  I was glad to notice many new pines growing in the burn area.  The ridgeline is coming back with new growth!

At 12:36am we descended Miller Peak to return to Carr Peak.

Frank was long gone as we returned to the tub for another rest before continuing on to Carr Peak.  A yellow-eyed Junco seemed unbothered by our presence, as it circled around us pecking at the ground.

We got to Carr Peak just before 2pm.  Here is where we finally came across other day hikers.  Winds were calmer here, perhaps because they were broken up by the nearby brush.  We had another snack, took some photos, and descended this trail for the 3-mile finish.

 We got back to the car at  3:10pm.  This was a 7.5 hour hike with 13.9 miles, using Ellen's Garmin watch for data.  We were all tired, even Zeke.  We drove to Culver's in town for dinner.  Zeke rested all night long.  I gave the dogs that stayed at home a raincheck; I was too tired to go out and walk some more.