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

Stronghold fire

This fire near Sunsites broke out April 28. It is 62% contained at 2138 acres. This morning was the first hazy morning from the drifting smoke along the Mule mountains east of me.

I was outside at 7:30am pruning some dead shrubs in the front when Gretchen and Zana darted past me. They had pushed the front window open and jumped outside. I didn't think they could push it open as I have trouble lifting the pane. Now I have to get 24" wood stoppers to keep the windows secure when open. I had been so vigilant at making sure the dogs wouldn't be able to dart outside this past month.

Luckily Kim's dogs weren't outside although both dogs were looking for them in Kim's yard. I last saw them running full speed west on my street. I drove around looking for them, but saw no trace. What more could I do besides stay home and watch social media about two loose dogs running around, or getting an angry text from Kim or Ken.

But nothing ever came.  Then, quite unexpectedly, both dogs reappeared in the front yard an hour later, panting with their long tongues drooping. Zana came right to the front door and wanted inside. I let her. Gretchen played harder to get but I got her inside the Honda ten minutes later where she had time to relax before I brought her inside,

Both dogs stayed inside the rest of the day. They got the bigger pieces of chicken for lunch when I made myself some pollo marinade with rice. At least they got a good hour of unleashed running so I could take Fritz for his four mile walk later. I like knowing all six dogs get a good workout over the weekend.

I can't wait to get that fence put up.