This was a hike that Ellen had planned and routed. Rob and I joined her. I brought Hansel and Gretel along for protection. Susan was also invited, but she chose not to go because her neighbor, who works with the US Border Patrol, advised her against going where smugglers and drug runners are known to traffic.
It's been a few years since I was in Sunnyside Canyon, a canyon rich in mining and social history as it was in this canyon where a religious commune was created. Many abandoned buildings still remain. We didn't have time to tour the old town, as we spent all day hiking in the shaded canyon and looking at various mines. This was Ellen's hike, afterall, and she is passionate about caves and mines.
It was a good day for a long hike. Temperatures were forecasted to hit 81F and sunny in town, with a breeze developing in the afternoon. We met in Hunter Canyon and then carpooled. Ellen rode with Rob and I drove myself. The dogs were restless in the 50-minute drive to the canyon, paralleling the border and then continuing north on S Sunnyside Road/FR228. At the 1.5-mile mark the dirt road forks and we continued on the left. FR228 continues to the right to the old settlement.
We parked across the street from the Arizona Trail. We were the only cars parked here. We saw a large encampment that was part of the America Conservation Corps, a group of mostly young college students volunteering to cut down dead trees. The forest right now is looking bleak from lack of any water and many of the younger, less established trees have died this year.
Other than a few ATVers leaving the forest as we arrived, the only other people we encountered on today's hike was a young couple hiking up to Rattlesnake Springs, three miles from the trailhead. There were no signs anywhere of recent illegal immigration passing through. The only trash we encountered was old trash at some of the mines.
The first mile from the parking lot was exposed, but soon we hit the treeline and stayed in the shade. The trail at times was a wide, rock-free mining road with a gradual grade. Sadly, there was no water in Sunnyside Creek. Even the grass along the creek has died back, lacking the lush green that's normally along this bubbling creek. The springs were also dry. It wasn't until we were climbing uphill after the second mile that the dogs found a few leftover pools in the creek.
The dogs were excited to get started. They chased each other along the entire trail, running up and down and at times hitting us as we walked. This was Gretel's longest hike this year and neither dog seemed tired.
The best water sources were in two of the mines we explored. The dogs enjoyed the cool air and the refreshing mud between their toes. Our first big mine was covered in rusty tuna cans (!!!) but lacked other typical migrant trash like water bottles and backpacks or clothes.
We got to the Copper Glance mine at 1pm. I was ready for lunch! I had a cheeseburger that Kevin had made earlier in the day. The dogs each got a can of dogfood. They then went to Rob and Ellen who were sitting away from me. They associate Rob with the fresh salmon treats he makes and shares with us.
TBC
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