The San Pedro River

 I have been wanting to check out the San Pedro river level at the Big Wash for a while.  Today was that day.  I had wanted to take Wolfie since he was due a walk, but Fritz was more convenient as he was already alone in the backyard, so I took him.

The trailhead off Ramsey Road is the closest access to the river for me.  Here I can take in a short hike and take in the views with no people around.  The river is 1.9 miles away, but the views east toward the Mule Mountains in the morning light is worth it.  The terrain is on high ground for the first mile, then descends into the riparian area of desert willows and tall grasses.

The fires in Cananea, Sonora are still burning, creating a smokey haze for the past week.  Both sunrise and sunsets are beset with that haze.  It was no different this morning.

There was no water at the Big Wash where it flows into the San Pedro. The river floor was dried, cracked mud with weeds poking through.  Yesterday's short storm at 5pm made no difference. I had to walk another 0.45 miles south in the wash before reaching water.  I know this is predator hunting time but I had Fritz watching out for me.  He never strays far.

I knew there was water somewhere as I spotted a red Vermillion Flycatcher near the remaining water pool.  Birds never are far away from a water source. Fritz immediately went into the pool and sat in the muddy water.  I'm sure that pool of water is full of bacteria.  The water was illuminated by the morning sun.

I made this pool my turn-around post at the 2.38mile mark.  It was still very cool and shady here, but I knew the walk back away from the river would be warm.  I didn't want to make it uncomfortable for Fritz as it was already in the upper 70s.

This morning hike took us two hours and 4.8 miles.

Carr Peak with Bill and Zana

Hiking the peak was Bill's proposal and I was all for it.  I hadn't done the peak all year (!) and the last time was last September when I did it with Bill and a few days later with Ellen for the aspen glow. Getting settled in my new home had been my focus all year.  Now that my fence is up and I can "let the dogs out," I have no excuse to not hike anymore.

Bill came promptly by my place at 5am. We drove together to the Sawmill trailhead. The sun rose at 5:15am behind a smokey haze from two wildfires that have broken out in northern Sonora.  It made for a gorgeous sunrise that I didn't capture with my camera.  

I had Zana as my canine companion. I enjoy hiking with her as she doesn't stray.  We started at 5:45am as the only car in the parking lot.  We ended up having the trail all to ourselves.

I had enough water for Zana and me but one bottle ended up having a leak and got my shirt wet.  The Sawmill springs was bone dry and the lack of  spring rains voided any wildflowers save for a few above 8000.'  Even the common mullein were stunted and only a few had stalked with white flowers.  They easily grow over six feet tall, but this time none were taller than Bill.

The drought was visible all throughout the drive up the mountain. The oaks have dropped their leaves. I didn't see healthy pines and oaks until we got near 8000' and here is when i noticed a spike in the growth of the post-2011 fire trees.  Lots of young pines and firs are sporting healthy candles! So not all is lost.

The trail had been trimmed back in the upper portion, making it easier to walk through the aspen. The migrant trash we saw last year had also been removed.  Last year the trail was so overgrown, that branches from young aspen were tickling us on either side.

I fed Zana a can of dog food on the peak and gave her the rest of my water.  I ate a few tangelos but after that snack we were on our descent.  There were no ladybugs on the peak, nor much of a wind save for a gentle cooling breeze.  We really lucked out with the weather, ranging from 73F at the start to a good mid 80s when we got back to the truck.

The total hike took us 4:40 hours. I was back home by 11am but I also felt exhausted from the hike in the sun.  Zana was out the rest of the day and that's ok as she can be a real pistol when she's wound up.

We have a good chance of rain next Tuesday.  I hope we really get hit with hard rain.  The flora and fauna need it and I still have trees and shrubs to plant in my yard.

Walking Bisbee's stairs with the HHC

I finally joined the guys from the Huachuca Hiking Club on a stair climb in Bisbee.  Doug B hosted this walk.  We met in front of the St Elmo's bar in lower Brewery Gulch at 7am.  The three guys, Doug, Steve A and Barry D, all drove in Steve's van and were ten minutes late because of road construction east of town on SR90. Doug was the only member not wearing a "goofy straw hat." His words.

We started up the art alley, turned around and continued heading toward the first stairs by the City Park.  The rest of the route was the same as the official route.  The only difference is that at 7:10am it was already quite warm at 75F.  This is why I kept all dogs at home.  I had walked Gretchen and Hansel at 4:50am for three miles but I could already feel the heat reflecting off the asphalt.

The pace was much slower than what I'm used to with Bill, But what I did enjoy was the camaraderie. It had been over a year, maybe two, since I hung out with these guys on a hike.  I've always enjoyed our post-hike meals and conversations.

We hadn't even finished the first mile when we stopped at the new coffee shop in the renovated Warner Hotel.  I walked into that place and was immediately impressed with the high ceilings, live plants, and water fall in the back room.  Despite the warmth, I had a large vanilla cappuccino.  The guys had smaller portions of plain espresso.  It was quite good.  I'll definitely be back at this place as the cafe is dog friendly.

By now it was past 8am and warmer.  I felt the heat getting to me.  While I did ok on the third set of stairs, which is the first of the longer sets. I was worn out by the end of the 5th set.

Doug stopped briefly at the Circle K for another drink.  We talked to the owner of a 7-month old mudi pup, a small Hungarian herding dog with pretty merle marking.  The pup, Cosmo, was a bit nervous of me.  This was the highlight of today's walk

Bisbee was in bloom.  Cacti were flowering.  Flowers were everywhere.  I wish the prickly pear in my yard would bloom.  My entire property is a dull brown and black

We stopped for  a second time at the Bisbee Coffee Company.  I had my iced tea which I carried in my pack.  We chatted some more.  From there it was a quarter mile back to our cars by 10:30am.  

We drove back to Sierra Vista via SR92, avoiding the construction on SR90.

And yes, I felt exhausted when I got back.

Reef Townsite overlook

Ellen texted me early to ask if I were interested in hiking around Reef Townsite after she got off work at 4:30pm.  Hoping for some cooler temperatures at 7700 feet, I agreed to meet her at the lower Carr Canyon parking lot and drive in separate cars to the Reef

I took Zana and Hansel. They were both happy to get out and run offleash, especially while in the shade.  But once we got on the old ATV trail that takes one to the overlook, they quickly tired from the direct sun.  It was still intense heat.  We have had a triple digit heatwave all week

I noted the many new pines coming up, many now two and three feet tall.  These are all post 2011 fire growth.

We made the overlook our resting spot.  The dogs got their water but they quickly drank most of the quart I had brought for them.  I sat on the group to rest while Ellen stood.  The heat --88F-- was still hot despite it being cooler than the 94F in town. The dogs ran through the low manzanitas to keep shaded.

We came across a suspicious man on our descent.  The dogs were on alert but didn't bark.  They simply went into standby mode by standing still and staring the man down, who quickly retreated and waited for us to pass him.  He didn't look us in the eyes, either, as we walked past him. A white Nissan pickup was parked just outside the gate by the trailhead, with three pillows in the back bed.  Hmm.  Ellen reported that vehicle later as a suspect lookout vehicle.

We continued on the shaded road to the group campsite, then continued on the trail to the waterfall, where luckily Zana found a pool of water that surely was left from the recent rain.  Both dogs splashed around in the cool delight

The sun was now behind us and we had little daylight left. We climbed back up to the road and returned to our cars. It was a mere 3.5 miles but well deserved.  

On the drive down we saw the near full Strawberry moon rise over San Jose Peak in Mexico.  The official full moon is tomorrow.  We stopped briefly to photograph it and agreed to have a late dinner at Culvers. where each dog got a pupcup.

My fence is up

Jodi came by around 9am with her daughter Jasmine and husband Stan to finish stretching the fence.  She had done all the poles Friday.  Having two more people to help her made the job easier and faster for her.  All she has to do now is install the gate and walk-in gate Wednesday and the job is complete. Right now she has temporary gates in place to keep the dogs in the yard.

When her party left after 1pm I let the dogs out to try out the new fence.  All six dogs exploded out of the back patio.  First they ran toward the south side where they were used to jumping over the old field fence. That exit is no longer available to them, so they ran along the perimeter at full speed.  They all seemed to relish the opportunity to run free, even within a confined 3/4 acre.

 

I enjoyed watching the dogs play.  While Gretchen and Wolfie quickly went back inside, the other four stayed outside for a while, exploring the fence line, wandering under the mesquite and pooping and peeing in the back yard.  And that's when I realized that watching my dogs enjoy being dogs again, without being tethered, is what is making my new place finally a home. I have six more weeks to plant vines along the fence to create a natural barrier before school starts up again.  Chainlink fences aren't very attractive, but they are efficient and make good trellises for climbing vines. 

OUR FIRST RAIN OF THE YEAR!

The first tropical storm in the eastern Pacific, Alvin, moving north along the Baja peninsula, sent us some residual rains today. Heavy rains had been forecasted a week out. These rains affected all of Arizona. That included me. We have been dry since September 10 of last year and both flora and fauna have been suffering from lack of rain. 

I got up early at 5am to walk Gretchen and then Wolfie for three miles each. The sky was already overcast with a cooler breeze. This was ideal for some gardening. I have so many plants still in pots needing permanent homes . 

I dug a few holes for some of the plants I had planned to put in the front yard. I timed myself to be done with my gardening by 1pm. 

My last errand before the rain was going to the old lot to pick up the 50 gallon water trough and place it against the east side of the house to catch water running off the roof. 

The mature photinias along my northern fence at the old house have died from the drought. It's a sad sight, as for all all the time we lived in that small house, I kept the plants alive with grey water. 

I brought all the dogs inside, closed the patio door, and watched the sky. By 2:30pm people in Bisbee were sharing videos of rain on Facebook. Oh, the jealousy! But then at 2:46pm the rain came to me. Big, glorious, news-making rain! 

My parched front yard quickly flooded. I was glad I could witness this event safely from my windows.

The downpour lasted just 30 minutes; a bit of a let-down. 

I wanted to walk Gretel next but then decided not to as rattlesnakes are most prevalent after heavy rain because their burrows and dens are flooded and they slither out to look for flooded-out rodents. The water trough was half-full when I checked. 

The rest of the day was spent inside. Storm clouds made nightfall especially dark. A gentle rain began at 9pm, with lightning over the mountains that made the dogs uneasy. This saturating rain then continued until 3am. We were under a flood watch until 10am the next day.

Smokey skies

A wildfire broke out yesterday in Cannanea, Sonora, a mining town 25 miles south of the border. Our prevailing northeastern winds are B rising smoke up our way. Today was our second hazy day, trapping the stifling 90F over us.

We now have a 44% chance of rain on June 1st.

This morning I took Zana on a 4mile walk on State Trust land.  Its a mile to the trailhead. We entered by the dry pond and walked westward on the ATV trail. We passed several black Angus who stared us down. Zana didn't even provoke a chase! She is such a good hiker when it's just her as she stays close by my side.

We rested by an illegal shooting range by a wash before turning around. There were a lot of abandoned shell casing there.   I picked up some brass to recycle later. I will go by there again another time and pock up the trash.

It was already in the 70s when we got back home at 820 am.

Jody came by at 230 to put the posts in the ground and fill in cement. She will come by Friday to put the fencing up. I  can't wait. I hope this 6' fence will end the dogs getting out and upsetting my neighbors across the street.

Zacatecas Canyon and Bisbee's perimeter trail

I agreed to meet up with Bill in Bisbee at 630am. I was ten minutes late as I had overslept the alarm. I took Hansel this time. I was looking forward to exploring new trails.

It was 57F at the start, but once that sun was up, quickly warmed up. This was a hike with little shade.

Our dry spring is showing results. Oaks in town and in the hills are dropping their leaves. Few spring flowers besides some poppies have bloomed since our last visit.

Patio Peak with Bill and Zana

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This hike was Bill's idea so we met in Bisbee at 6am. It had been a few years since I was last here. This hilly area south of Bisbee is known for its rich mining area and ocotillo groves, tall stick-like succulent native to the Chihuahuan desert. They bloom in late April with multiple tubular flowers.

Weather was sunny and clear, with a cool breeze that kept Zana cool. I never took off my red flannel shirt as the winds got stronger soon after we began our hike.

I saw the dryness right away. There were no cattle in the area, which told me there was no water in the rock pools and drainages. I was right. The ocotillo were in their red bloom, but had not leafed out yet. The sticks have no energy to produce leaves because they need water!  Not even the usual spring grasses had sprouted, making the hilly landscape a dull sandy brown. The stock pond was bone dry. Cow patties littered the watering holes, but they were all dried up.

 

This was Bill's first time in the area. He easily gets excited about nature. I showed him the metates, old grinding holes used by the ancient inhabitants of this area. I want to show him the route to the nearby Ivanhoe mine the next time we come back.

Zana was a real champ. She stayed by my side. There was nothing for her to chase anyway. She got her water when we got to the peak, but we didn't stay long due to the chilly breeze.

Both the hot sun and steep descent tired me out when we got back to our cars. Zana was exhausted and napped the rest of the day. Bill and I talked for a bit by our cars while sipping on some spiked iced tea he had made, a first for us as we normally go our separate ways after a hike.

The winds persisted into the evening. Even after dark I'd look out toward the mountains to make sure there were no new fires.

All photos by Bill King

Mt Ballard

This short but steep hike was my idea. Bill hD never been up this peak. I took Hansel and we met at 6am at the trailhead parking.

You can see the old Courthouse once you reach elevation