During a visit to family in North Carolina, Steve & Sharon brought us to some very nice trails in the vicinity of their home in Wake Forest. These were truly family walkabouts, with people from Raleigh, Tucson, Baraboo, Seattle, and St. John VI (or the Azores).
The Hikes (or Walkabouts)
Durant Camp Trails
Durant Camp Trail Walks.McDaniels.2022-05-12&20 (profile for 2022-05-20)
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The first walkabout introduced us to North Carolina weather conditions – warm and humid. But it was quite pleasant to walk through the lush woods with a stream and lake nearby. But … so much green; from New Mexico, it is almost overpowering.
The second walkabout took us the length of the Durant Nature Preserve, including a long stretch along the shore of the lake.
For this outing, we went to the Falls Lake and a trail along the water’s edge for the distance, out to a promontory in the middle of the lake. Another nice hike
Wake Forest Reservoir Loop
Wake Forest Reservoir Loop Walk.Pat SharonSteveSusanJohnJackRay.2022-05-22
Another lake-side trail along the shore of the Wake Forest Reservoir.
Statistics
Durant Camp Trail Walk – 05/12/2020 Total Distance: 0.99 miles Elevation: start 300 ft, maximum 304 ft, minimum 233 ft Gross gain: 71 ft. Aggregate ascending 164 ft, descending 165 ft Maximum slope: 22% ascending, 32% descending, 5.5% average Duration: 0:43
Durant Camp Trail Walk – 05/20/2020 Total Distance: 2.37 miles Elevation: start 300 ft, maximum 325 ft, minimum 241 ft Gross gain: 41 ft. Aggregate ascending 275 ft, descending 276 ft Maximum slope: 16% ascending, 21% descending, 3.6% average Duration: 1:03
Shoreline Trail Walk – 05/21/2022 Total Distance: 4.06 miles Elevation: start 330 ft, maximum 338 ft, minimum 250 ft Gross gain: 88 ft. Aggregate ascending 568 ft, descending 566 ft Maximum slope: 23% ascending, 20% descending, 4.0% average Duration: 2:05
Wake Forest Reservoir Loop – 05/22/2022 Total Distance: 3.03 miles Elevation: start 303 ft, maximum 319 ft, minimum 295 ft Gross gain: 24 ft. Aggregate ascending 433 ft, descending 433 ft Maximum slope: 15% ascending, 20% descending, 4.0% average Duration: 1:26
A hike on the Deer Trap Mesa Trail, one of the many trails in and around Los Alamos, with Jay and Nancy on the third day of a camping trip to Bandelier.
The Drive In
The trailhead is on the perimeter of Los Alamos, on one of the narrow mesas/ridges between the many canyons across which the city is spread. Here are directions from Trail Network Map – Los Alamos County (pdf):
From NM 501/East Jemez Road, turn right onto Diamond Drive. Go north then east on Diamond for 2.6 miles to the roundabout at San Ildefonso. Turn left and in 0.3 mile continue straight onto Barranca Road. Follow this road 1.3 miles to its end just past the intersection with Navajo. Parking along the road, with signs for the Trail.
The Hike
Deer Trap Mesa Trail Hike.PatJayNancy.2022-04-26
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The trail, as we took it, begins on the somewhat narrow spine of Deer Trap Mesa. A couple of hundred yards on, it leaves the spine and traverses the slope near the top of the mesa. It is a well used trail – generally sandy surface but with rock small and large outcroppings to work around. And to the left – a steep slope to the bottom of Rendija Canyon. We continued along this edge of the mesa for about a mile into the hike, where we again climbed atop it. From there, another half mile to a point that required some rock climbing to continue further. We turned back, finding a place for lunch on top, then retraced our steps.
That was -our- hike. Upon returning home and looking again at the published maps of the Deer Trap Mesa Trail, I realized that we missed a turn that would have taken us on top of the mesa. From there, relatively level ground and a loop around the mesa top – that will make a great plan for a return trip.
Statistics
Total Distance: 2.8 miles Elevation: start 7,235 ft, maximum 7,236 ft, minimum 6,973 ft Gross gain: 263 ft. Aggregate ascending 919 ft, descending 923 ft Maximum slope: 37% ascending, 40% descending, 8.5% average Duration: 2:55
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
Our 2nd hike this day, on a 2-day camping trip to Bandelier National Monument.
The Drive In
The trailhead is down in Frijoles Canyon, so the drive in is to go to the Bandelier Visitor Center.
The Hike
Bandelier-Falls Trail Hike.Pat.2022-04-25
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
After having hiked the Frey Trail, with time (and energy) remaining, we headed down-river towards the Rio Grande on the Falls Trail. The trailhead is southwest of the Visitors Center, across the Rio de los Frijoles. It then proceeds down the western side of Frijoles Canyon, on a well used trail of gravel.
The trail ends at an overlook with a view upstream to the Upper Frijoles Falls. From here one can also see downstream, through the narrowing of the canyon where the Rio de los Frijoles flows into the Rio Grande.
The view near the start of the trail, looking downstream into the canyon.From the overlook at trail’s end, looking upstream at Upper Frijoles Falls
Highlight
This is a very nice, easy hike that would be great for visitors unaccustomed to hiking longer trails, with the Falls being a feature of interest.
Statistics
Total Distance: 2.66 miles Elevation: start 6,061 ft, maximum 6,080 ft, 5,830 minimum ft Gross gain: 250 ft. Aggregate ascending 800 ft, descending 801 ft Maximum slope: 47% ascending, 46% descending, 8.7% average Duration: 1:58
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
Our first full day on a camping trip to Bandelier National Monument. Wanting a trail with some elevation gain, we chose the Frey Trail for a few hundred feet up and back down again.
The Drive In
The trailhead is down in Frijoles Canyon, so the drive in is to go to the Bandelier Visitor Center.
The Hike
Bandelier-Frey Trail Hike.Pat.2022-04-25
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
We sought a hike with some elevation gain – Frey Trail offered some – 541 ft up from Frijoles Canyon. The trailhead is 400 yards from the Bandelier Visitors Center, on the right bit past the Tyuonyi Ruins. It is a well used trail up the canyon wall topping out on the mesa top. We continued another quarter mile continuing on the Frey Trail, then turned back and down into Frijoles Canyon.
Back on the canyon floor, we turned right onto the Alcove House Trail for 1/3rd of a mile, then crossed over Rio de los Frijoles to the Long Trail. From there we returned to the visitors center, having gotten -some- elevation gain.
Statistics
Total Distance: 3.05 miles Elevation: start 6,089 ft, maximum 6,619 ft, minimum 6,078 ft Gross gain: 541 ft. Aggregate ascending 852 ft, descending 853 ft Maximum slope: 53% ascending, 53% descending, 8.6% average Duration: 3:16
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
Our first hike on a 2-night camping trip to Bandelier National Monument. By mid-afternoon we had the RPod in the Juniper campground after the drive from Albuquerque. Then, with enough time remaining until supper, we set out from the campground on the Tyuony Overlook Trail.
The Drive In
Just find your way to the entrance gate to Badelier, if asked tell them you are going to the campground, then take the first right turn .. into the campground.
The Hike
Bandelier-Tyuonyi Overlook Trail.Pat.2022-04-24
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The trailhead is on the south side of the large parking lot from where the shuttle buses depart when taking visitors into Frijoles Canyon to Visitors Center and the Bandelier ruins. From there it is easy to follow this well used trail. At the fork shortly after getting on the trail, we took the branch to the right. Walking was pleasant over open ground for 2/3rd of a mile. From there the trail proceeds along the rim of Frijoles Canyon for about a 10th of a mile. The views to the left (down canyon) and to the right were impressive – this is quite a canyon, deep and narrow. (There was smoke in the air from a forest fire burning west of Bandelier).
The trail then turned to the left for 300 hundred yards to a junction. Taking our cue from a sign at a junction of trails, we turned right towards Tyuonyi Overlook. A few yards on we encountered a Small Ruin. As a sign told us, “Many small ruins dot the Bandelier Area.” We continued on towards the Overlook. Soon the mesa narrowed, coming to a point with a bird’s eye view of the Tuyonyi Ruins below. We also enjoyed a great view down Frijoles Canyon to the narrow gap through it flows into the Rio Grande.
From the Overlook, we turned back towards the campground, taking the more direct route (as indcated by the aforementioned sign). It made a great afternoon walk, leaving us looking forward to tomorrow’s hike.
Statistics
Total Distance: 3.05 miles Elevation: start 6,690 ft, maximum 6,699 ft, minimum 6,528 ft Gross gain: 171 ft. Aggregate ascending 417 ft, descending 414 ft Maximum slope: 55% ascending, 47% descending, 5.5% average Duration: 1:45
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
Our destination for this trip was to check out Quemado Lake with the idea it would make a good destination for camping. After visiting the Lake, we went looking for a place for a hike. Checking maps closely we identified a trailhead on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) – let’s see if we can get there.
The Driveabout and Quemado Lake
We drove west on I-40, then south on NM 117 through the Narrows and onward, turning left on NM 36. After a short jog to the west in the village of Quemado, we continued south on NM 32 for 14 miles, then left (east) on NM 103 for 4 miles. The lake, damning Largo Creek, is a nice size for fishing – typical of others we’ve seen in New Mexico. The main campgrounds near the lake were closed (Cove, Juniper, and Pinon). El Caso campground up a side canyon was open for us to look at. It is somewhat primitive campground – no organized campsites and a couple of pit toilets. Quemado Lake doesn’t appeal to us: we aren’t interested in activities centered around the lake, we’ve found limited information for hiking trails, and it’s a long ways from Albuquerque.
From Quemado Lake, we went looking for adventure – see the sections below. After the adventure, we headed for Pie Town, looking forward to stopping there for a piece of their famous pies.
Example of BAe Airtanker that we watched drop its retardant.
Sadly we arrived too late – Pioneer and the nearby cave were both closed. So we continued east towards Socorro. But about half way there we encountered a road block – a small prairie/forest fire was within a half mile of the highway. After a half hour wait, during which we watched a “Fire Bomber drop it’s load of retardant on the fire.
The Drive In
So from Quemado Lake, we retraced our route back to Quemado, then drove east on US 60 through for 7 miles, then turned right onto Catron County Rd A095. From here all navigation was based on indications on the US Topo map of “roads” – parallel dotted lines (see the note below) and a note on GAIA’s map “Quemado North End (CDNST) Trailhead”.
About 4.2 miles down A095 we looked a two-track that went west towards our destination. It didn’t appear to have been used recently, so we continued on hoping to find another road or two-track in better condition. At 5.9 miles from US 60, turned right onto two-track that appeared to get some use. Tho’ the tracks were deep (requiring high-clearance vehicle) it was “serviceable” for us. Continuing to take cues from the topo map, we continued over sometimes rough and rocky tracks for 1.1 miles, then left for half a mile, again left for another half mile (these are ranch roads – no identifications). And there — we found signs for the CDT
(A note here: Published topo maps don’t reflect the -current conditions- for may “roads” in these parts. Some of them are seldom used two-tracks, which I classify as Class 6. We avoided these, but came upon more recently used Class 5 two-tracks which did lead us to our destination. GAIA’s maps portrays Class 4 and Class 5 “roads” with a solid line, which doesn’t permit distinguishing between the difference.)
The Hike
CDT North Trailhead Trail HIke.Pat.2022-04-21
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
Despite the fact that this trail is in the middle of nowhere, with no features of interest in the vicinity, it is well used. That would be a testament to the many hikers who take on the CDT, whether through hiking or doing sections at a time. The trail passes through open grassland and in places piñon and juniper forest. The surface is loose soil with a few sections with a rocky surface. In our 3.7 mile hike slope was gentle with crossings of a couple of gentle arroyos; elevation gain was a bit over 400 ft. Along the way we encountered a few CDT blazes on juniper or piñon tree trunks or on stand-alone posts.
Highlight
I suppose the highlight for me was to be hiking on the CDT, even if only part of a section. And to think that No-No may have traversed this section (“No-No” is a young woman that we met on our Mount Taylor hike last year, who we enjoyed very much following her via her BLOG on YouTube, Jennifer Journeys, as she made her through hike on the CDT.)
Statistics
Total Distance: 3.70 miles
Elevation: start 7,533 ft, maximum 7,934 ft, minimum 7,517 ft
Gross gain: 417 ft. Aggregate ascending 483 ft, descending 498 ft
Maximum slope: 18% ascending, 19% descending, 4.6% average
Duration: Approx 2.5 hrs
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
The trails in Tijeras Canyon, like Hawk Watch, are favorites – close to home, just challenging enough to keep our physical condition, and nice scenery too. Because it is so close to the city (but not -in- the city), I’m placing this and others in Tijeras Canyon in the Category ‘Suburban’ hikes.
Today, as I will sometimes do, I did this hike solo. On other occasions, Pat & I will take a morning and do a -suburban- hike to stretch our legs (and whole body) as is the case for the 2nd hike in this BLOG post. Thru these we get more exercise than we get for our -urban’ hikes, like our walks in the Bosque.
The Drive In
The reach the trailhead, go east on NM 333 from Tramway Blvd for about 3.25 miles, then turn left onto Monticello Drive. Proceed uphill .5 miles, turn left onto Alegre Dr (there has been a sign pointing to the trailhead), then take the 2nd street to the right (another sign) onto Tres Pistolas Trail; continue to the parking lot for the Tres Pistolas Trailhead. Hike up the Tres Postolas Trail (also labeled Three Gun Springs Trail, No. 194) for about .5 miles; a few feet beyond the gate into the Sandia Mountain Wilderness, turn right and downhill onto the Hawk Watch Trail (No. 215). Enjoy this downhill stretch – from here Hawk Watch goes -uphill-.
The Hikes
Hawk Watch Loop.Solo.2022-04-07
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The 1st hike, solo: I went out to hike Hawk Watch, but at the trailhead chose to explore other routes. Rather than proceeding up the main trail, from the parking area I angled off to the right (east) on what appeared to be a trail. I soon found myself in a wash, following tracks that gave me the idea it was a trail. And so it was; about 1/3 mile on, I turned onto a trail to the right anticipating that it would ultimately take me up to the Hawk Trail. So it did; the trail proceeded up hill (200′ in half a mile) and intersected with Hawk Watch. I continued from there 1.3 miles until the slope of the trail became very steep (and slippery on a sand/gravel surface) where I became uncomfortable and decided I had come far enough.
On the way down, I began looking for an alternate trail on which I might return to parking. From a higher vantage point, I had seen trails on ridges south of Hawk Watch that held promise for such an alternate route. Returning 8/10th of a mile I came across a trail to the left, so I took it. Along the way I maintained my bearings, choosing trails at a couple of intersections that seemed promising, and they did lead me right back to the Tacoma.
Hawk Watch Loop Hike.Pat.2022-04-17
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The 2nd hike, with Pat: This hike was appealing to us for one of our daily “walks”, or hikes. It offers a nice distance (that is, time spent on the hike) and some elevation gain which we need in preparation for hikes later this year, like Mount Taylor in May. So, it served our purposes nicely, and as a bonus provides great views of the Three Gun Springs canyon, the side of South Sandia Mountain, and even out across the plains to the southwest. A great “suburban” hike.
Statistics
The 1st Hike (solo): Total Distance: 3.55 miles Elevation: start 6,321 ft, maximum 7,699 ft, minimum 6,321 ft Gross gain: 1,378 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,464 ft, descending 1,464 ft Maximum slope: 45% ascending, 44% descending, 14% average Duration: 3:18
The 2nd Hike (w/ Pat): Total Distance: 1.8 miles Elevation: start 6,321 ft, maximum 6,844 ft, minimum 6,321 ft Gross gain: 514 ft. Aggregate ascending 560 ft, descending 571 ft Maximum slope: 35% ascending, 32% descending, 11% average Duration: 1:07
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
We’ve looked forward to hiking the Narrows Rim Trail a the Malpais for some time – and doing it this time of year (spring or fall)! The trail begins at the south end of the Rim in El Malpais National Conservati0n Area. The Rim is a sheer cliff 300-500 feet above the road along the eastern border of the lava flow. The hike runs along the edge of this cliff with a great view across El Malpais National Monument (the area of the lava flow) and beyond to the Zuni Mountains.
This Rim Trail is one of the more accessible and easy trails we’ve found. ‘Tho an hour and half from home, the trip is easy and relatively quick – I-40 for 60 miles, then 20 miles on a state highway with interesting scenery along the way. The trailhead is just off of the highway, in the past a campground so there is plenty of parking and a pit toilet.
The Drive In
From Albuquerque, drive west on I-40 for 60 miles, turn left onto NM 117, continue for 21 miles. At about 18 miles the road enters The Narrows, a 3 mile narrow corridor between the lava and a 500 foot sandstone mesa. At about 17 miles you will pass La Ventana, a very large arch in the wall of the canyon. Then into The Narrows – not much notable about the view to the right (lots of lava), but the view to the left is amazing – the various layers of sediment exposed in the cliffside and the huge rocks that have detached and fallen down the face of the cliff.
The Hike
Narrows Rim Trail Hike.Pat.2022-04-14
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The trail begins with a short climb up a rock face (maybe 15′ with footholds).Once past this one steep place the views south, west, and north arrested our attention – wow.From there the trail presents a steady, shallow climb on a surface sometimes sand, or gravel/rocks, or in many places flat rock outcroppings (when among the latter, there are rock cairns that help one stay on the trail).
The view to the northwest and down the face of the Rim’s edge to the lava below. One can make out lava tubes down there on El Malpais.
For perspective, looking down at the highway from atop the Rim.
Typical rock/sand trail surface, and one of the many rock cairns that mark the trail.
Highlight
Prior to moving here from Virginia, we were once asked by a local there: “Why are you moving to New Mexico?”. It wasn’t long after our move and while exploring New Mexico’s wonderful open spaces that we started asking the rhetorical question “Why?!”. As we enjoyed another “special” place in this Land of Enchantment, I realized that we might be beyond “Why?”. As we hiked among ponderosa, piñon, and juniper trees, among fascinating rock formations, under a -clear blue- sky, and with amazing views near and far all around, a more appropriate exclamation might be “Because!”
Statistics
Total Distance: 4.87 miles
Elevation: start 7,078 ft, maximum 7,412 ft, 7,077 minimum ft
Gross gain: 335 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,318 ft, descending 1,319 ft
Maximum slope: 37% ascending, 37% descending, 8.0% average
Duration: 4:51
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
Went to the Rio Puerco to hike with Jay and Nancy, her first visit to Tapia Canyon. From the large number of visits t0 my previous posts for Tapia Canyon, this is a popular destination.
The Drive In
Not much to add this trip to the description on my most recent visit to Tapia Canyon, Tapia Canyon Hike – 04/06/2020. See the Photo Galleries below for photos and comments on our drive in this trip.
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
Descriptions from our previous hikes tell much the same story as for this hike. Tapia Canyon Hike – 04/06/2020 provides a good description overall, including the .gps track. And an earlier hike with Jay, Tapia Canyon & Tower Ruins Hike – 11/19/2016 (with .gpss track) describes the climb out of the canyon to see the Tower Ruins. (Note: Now I prefer to refer to “Ruins” as the “Tower Ceremonial Site”. The area is closed to the public for 2 weeks 4 times per year for “.. sacred native American traditional activities”. And there is little evidence typical of ruins at other sites that I’ve visited.)
An update, tho’, about the climb out: during this hike I had forgotten about the steps Jay and I found back in 2016. Jay had a clear memory of them, but not where they were located. As we hiked down-canyon we scrutinized the right-hand wall looking for something we recognized. Almost to the point of giving up, we checked one more suspicious break in the wall, and behind a couple of juniper trees were those footsteps (or footholds). Adding to our previous visit: this time we noticed some amazing petroglyphs on the wall at the bottom of the steps and more at the top.
So up onto the mesa we went, looked at the block building and kiva circles of rocks, then continued on to an easy descent back into the canyon.
Jay here: Funny (or not) how the memory is either crystal clear or hazy. In the case of the foothold path up to the mesa and the Tower, I remembered very specific details about the route but not how far back up the canyon it was from the arch. Only that it was on the right side of the canyon and that it was obscured somewhat by vegetation. Once you got close to the canyon wall, the route was obvious. Perseverance paid off and the path looked exactly as I remembered.
Statistics
Total Distance: 5.65 miles Elevation: start 5,959 ft, maximum 6,168 ft, minimum 5,929 ft Gross gain: 239 ft. Aggregate ascending 753 ft, descending 753 ft Maximum slope: 29% ascending, 25% descending, 3.6% average Duration: 4:10
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
The next gallery are a few of the photos of petroglyph panels that I took during this visit. Check to other posts for other photos of these and other panels.
This is the 2nd half of our first camping trip of the year, returning to Cave Creek Canyon in the Chiracahua Mountains. After a day of hiking and a day visiting Douglas, AZ and Agua Prieta, MX (see the post for the first half of our camping trip), we set out to hike the Silver Peak trail. The next day we drove across the middle of the Chiracahuas to the Chiracahua National Monument, then back to Agua Prieta to eat at the restaurant we discovered and attended a cross-border Binational Play.
The Drive In
For the hike, from Stewart Campground drive back towards Portal for half a mile; park at the trailhead on the left (north side of Cave Creek Road/Forest Rd 42).
The Hike
Silver Peak Trail Hike.Pat.2022-03-13
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
This hike proved to be one of the most challenging that we’ve done. The trail is well used; for the 1st mile/800 feet it is a constant slope on fairly flat terrain, but the surface is broken/flat rocks all the way – tough walking. As we climbed, the views out across San Simon Valley and beyond are what we came for.
After that 1st mile, trail changes to a traverse along a very steep slope as it continues gaining elevation. The trail becomes quite narrow, in places -very- narrow, generally with a gravel surface. This required constant attention and great care because any slip would likely lead to a tumble down the steep slope, encountering yucca and prickly pear along the way.
‘Tho the trail continues on another 2 miles and 1,400 elevation gain to the peak itself, our 2.6 miles and 1,600 feet was enough for us. We found a nice place to sit and have lunch, then headed back to the trailhead.
Epilogue
After the Silver Peak hike, we skipped more hiking in favor of investigating the drive through the heart of the Chiracahuas, over to the National Monument. FR 42 and Pinery Roads are examples of well maintained Forest Service roads – graded gravel surface and generally wide enough for cars to pass. Having said that, for us most of the route was daunting – like the Silver Peak trail carved out of -very- steep mountainsides. And for emphasis, for much of the distance in the heart of the mountains it was 1,000 feet (seemed like more) from the road to the bottom of the canyon. And the road has many turns; no fast driving.
Our visit to the Chiracahua National Monument was brief – we had visited it years ago, even hiked the Echo Canyon Trail. The rock formations are most interesting, quite different from Cathedral Rock and the other formations above Cave Creek Canyon.
To return to Cave Creek, one has a choice – go north to I-10 to circle around the north end of the Chiracahuas, or go south to Douglas – each is about 110 miles. We opted to return to Douglas and cross into Agua Prieta to eat at the cafe we discovered on our earlier trip, the Bizio Cafe – a very nice lunch.
Along the way we learned of an event being held that evening. There is ongoing effort to build connections between the communities across the border. One example is an event in which people on each side of the border present a multidisciplinary play about the history and conditions at the border (see the link below). The event began at dusk with participants on both sides presenting a story or dance about life along the border. In some cases participants on each side would make their presentation in turn. At other times the story was interrelated, as though the participants were on a single stage and not separated by the steel slat fence.
So, it appeared that the two communities were sharing the same space comfortably. We saw a constant flow of people across the border; families from Agua Prieta returning home with groceries from the nearby Walmart, cars with Arizona license plates returning from activities in Agua Prieta, and a few like us – visitors exploring.
Statistics
Total Distance: 5.18 miles Elevation: start 4,973 ft, maximum 6,587 ft, minimum 4,973 ft Gross gain: 1,614 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,960 ft, descending 1,957 ft Maximum slope: 34% ascending, 36% descending, 12.6% average Duration: 5:11
If you haven’t explored these hiking tracks with Google Earth, I urge you to try it. With the virtual 3-dimensional presentation, achieved by panning and tilting the view, you can get a much better idea of the hikes and terrain than you can get from the screenshot above. For some ideas, check out Using Google Earth Track Files.
