Sheelite Ridge/Tinker Pond loop

 I was able to talk Susan into joining me for a short but challenging loop on Fort Huachuca, the Sheelite Ridge/ Tinker Pond loop.  She thought I mean Sheelite Canyon and thus didn't bring her dog with her.  Once we got started, however, she thoroughly enjoyed the four-mile hike.  It was 60F and pleasant for hiking.  I took Sweetie, Zeke and the pups.

The Sheelite Ridge separates the military post from the National Forest.  From the high points one can also see other hilltops not normally visible fro the trail. We started at the fort boundary with Brown Canyon, taking a firebreak to the top.  This was an immediate incline.  Then we went down.  Then up again, then down, then up one more time before descending to the pond, which incredibly had water in it.

Susan had never been up along the ridge.  From the ridge one can see the Brown Canyon ranch and get views one doesn't get from the Brown canyon trail.  Even I noticed new terrain.  We both were even confused about the road we were on, thinking that a trail we noticed was a new trail, when in fact it was the trail we were on.  A curve in the road and a large rock formation had us believe differently

The dogs had fun chasing birds and running in and out of the fence boundary.  They even chased a deer.  I enjoy taking my dogs as a pack somewhere where no one else will bother them, or they bother no one.  There was plenty of shade as well.  The only thing they lacked was water, but I had that in m pack.

I was tracking our loop.  One can't see Tinker Pond from the ridge, but if one knows that the pond is just a tad over two miles away, one can prepare oneself with the descent via the correct road back down.  The dogs took off, as if smelling water, and got themselves wet before we could catch up with them.

A hunter was in a blind set up by the water.  I saw him right away and pointed the blind to Susan.  My voice must have caught his attention, as the man popped up and briefly chatted with us.  I let the dogs briefly play in the water before resuming our walk back to the cars. The dogs were just happy to chase each other in and out of the woods.

I always enjoy Susan's enthusiasm for nature and new things.  What the perfect partner to have on adventures.  She had always wanted to explore the ridge, but would never do it herself.  I showed her where the ridgeline would end had we stayed on it: along a high reef in Garden canyon.  Maybe some day we will go up there, but it's steep and the terrain is decomposed granite with little traction.

We met two groups of two mountainbikers on our return walk.  Gretel both times took chase.  Chasing bicycles is still something I need to break her of.

There was no flowing water coming from the pond.  Everything was dry.  And when we stopped at the Middle Pond on our way out, to check the water level there, that pond was completely dry!  This is not a good sign.  It had to have been dry for a while, because the ground was sandy with no hint of moisture.  I still remember when Minnie swam in that clear water last year, looking so content.   

We had walked four miles in just under two hours.

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