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
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