South Perimeter loop

Distance: 7.8 miles, clockwise

Elevation: 5143' to 6056'; gain 1197.'  All the gain is from the 3mile to 5.16 mile mark

I had always wanted to hike this loop.  This section is the newer extension of the Perimeter trail in the Huachuca mountains, starting at Lower Miller Canyon and hiking south to Hunter Canyon.   It's just under eight miles and most of the elevation is the connector trail between Hunter and Miller Canyons.

I met Bill shortly after 5am in the Lower Miller Canyon parking lot.  I was seven minutes late but was ready to go as soon as I got out of my Honda.  I brought Hansel along, who seems to enjoy Bill's company.

The first three miles going south were breezy and cool.  There are three drainages that would have running water in the monsoon, but it was dry.  Once we got to Hunter canyon, the heat began.  The first mile is under the canopies of emory oaks, but once we got to the official trailhead, the exposure began.

We took a short break by the mine.  The trail to that mine is now "closed" with branches, but Bill went to look at the shaft anyway while I gave Hansel some water.  I had to rest here because shortly after the mine the trail takes a steep ascent.  It leaves the shade and is exposed until the trail reaches the saddle.  It's about a half mile but feels longer than that.  Views to the south, however, are expansive.

The first of several hikers passed us by, a shirtless trail runner.  Once back on the Miller Creek trail we met a few mountain bikers.  By now Hansel was looking for  water.  He found a small pool of stagnant water another half mile downhill.  This was the only water along the entire loop.

He was now back onleash for the rest of the hike as we passed a few more people hiking uphill.

Once back at the car, Hansel took a back seat and rested for the rest of the drive home.  He limped a bit once home, but then rested the rest of the day. 

I would love to do this trail again after some heavy rain.  Flora is suffering from drought and many of the trees were dropping their leaves.

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.