Hiking this peak with the Huachuca Hiking Club was Ellen's idea. I told her I didn't feel ready yet for intensive elevation bushwhacking, but she encouraged me. I was unsure of my stamina because the blood pressure medication I'm on now is giving me lightheadedness and fatigue. We agreed we would carpool together, with Zana in the backseat on bed covers to keep her white fur off the upholstery.
We met at 0630 at the old Pizza Hut Bistro meetup and drove in three cars: SteveS, DougB, BarryD, KarenF, MilesB, JimA, all diehard and strong hikers who love bushwhacking challenges. I always enjoy getting together with this group, although the vibe has changed with some of the oldtime members, like RodC and Phillip no longer with us.
The drive to the Chiricahuas was over two hours long. I hadn't had much sleep the night before, but didn't want to fall asleep and be dead company to Ellen during the drive there.
We started our hike around 9:30am at the Barfoot Peak campsite. Another group with three dogs was already there, so Zana was on high alert. She was calm, but I kept her on the leash until we were out of range and hiking on the Ida Peak trail.
This area of the Chicricahuas was burned 75% during the 2011 Horseshoe 2 Fire. That was a bad year for Cochise County wildfires. Today the steep peaks around Ida are still barren, with a thick layer of ash still on the ground, and ferns coming up from the once burned soil.
The first mile was fine. I was keeping pace and not feeling exhausted. Zana stayed on the trail next to me, but I was very aware that Jim was next to me and he doesn't care for dogs on the trail.
The entire hike was above 8000'. It was still warm, although there was a slight breeze. But once we got off the trail and ascended the steep slope up to Ida, I began questioning the group's sanity. Was there really no trail to the peak that didn't require dredging up through dusty ash?
I could tell that Zana was getting exhausted as she sought out shade in whatever tree she could find. Ellen wasn't doing much better. I didn't have a hiking pole to help push me uphill (my bad), so when Ellen said that the group would be returning the same way back down, I opted to return back to the trail and wait for the rest. My tracker had me at 1.67 miles one way.
Ellen, Zana and I waited in the shade off the trail for the others to return. The views toward Cochise head were vast. The forest here is slowly regrowing as new pines are popping up, but it's going to take another 50 years with good rain for the forest to regrow back to its splendor.
The other six people eventually made it back down. "We found the trail to the peak!" said one of the members, and I could tell the hike up was exhausting for those who almost made it to Ida. We hiked back to the parking idea and then opted to not do part II of this hike to the Buena Vista lookout. That would have added almost two more miles to the track. I was last there in 2014 with Sadie.
Monsoon clouds, as forecasted, were moving in. That alone convinced us to cancel Buena Vista lookout and head back home via a stop at Sandy's RV Park and restaurant in Pearce. It's one of two eateries along the route from Wilcox to Douglas and a favorite among the hikers.
Zana had to stay outside so I tied her up to a bench in front of the restaurant, with her water bowl next to her. She was unhappy with that and kept looking inside the window to spot me. Others in the group came out to give her company, including Jim.
The meal was good. I always enjoy the post hike meal with the group.
We hit a short but intense rain in Elfrida. My lot, however, was dry when I finally got home in the late afternoon. My metal bird feeder broke at the stem from high winds
The second egg in the second clutch hatched today, so there is some good news.
Ellen later told me that the group was impressed with Zana. I hope that is true. She stayed on the trail, didn't trip anyone over, and didn't bark or harass other people or wildlife.
The enclosed video is a recap made by KarenF, a talented videographer who has a good following on YouTube with her "Flynn Hikes" channel.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXe_A3EgEIU
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