The Pueblo Magico of Capulálpam de Médez was high on our list of highlights to introduce to Steve and Sharon. We reserved 2 rooms at Hotel Chorromonte for 2 nights in the center of the Pueblo, from where we could walk to the restaurants, Traditional Medicine ‘clinics’, and generally get acquainted with the Pueblo.
The Drive In
No -drive in- was required to get from Chorromonte to the trailhead located at the office of Ecoturismo Capulálpam, it was a walk of only a 1 km (2/3 mi).
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
We met Ulyses, our guide, at the office of Ecoturismo Capulálpam at 9:00 and started shortly on the trail. The trail proceeds through the lush forest of these Sierra Norte mountains. We’re told there are 7 species of pine trees, many species of deciduous trees, a myriad of plants many with medicinal uses, and many species of bromeliads. Like other guides that have accompanied us on hikes here, Ulyses stopped often to point out one or another plant, describe its features and benefits, and answer our questions.
––
Epilogue
A new attraction near Capulálpam is the Mirador de Cristal de Ixtlán de Juárez, a glass-bottom balcony extending from the end of a ridge some 800 feet above the pueblo of Ixtlán de Juárez. We enjoyed a great view of the pueblo below and to the surrounding mountains.
Statistics
Total Distance: 2.7 miles Elevation: start 6,818 ft, maximum 7,122 ft, minimum 6,802 ft Gross gain: 314 ft. Aggregate ascending 781 ft, descending 784 ft Maximum slope: 36% ascending, 36% descending, 9.4% average Duration: 2:44
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 fourth outing with Jose, this one to an area that he tells us is the only rain forest in Mexico. It was definitely worth the time and the somewhat torturous drive, to an amazing place.
The Drive In
Rain Forest Trail Drivein.PatJose.2023-01-09
After our Sunrise Mirador Trail Hike and breakfast in Capulálpam, Leonel picked us up in the Ecotourismo Capulálpam pickup for the drive to Ixtlan de Juárez. There Jose had made arrangements with Ecotourixtlan for a guide and a pickup for the drive up the mountain to the Rainforest. The “road” is what we would call in New Mexico a two-track, a one lane very rocky path through the forest. The very rocky uneven surface made for a very rough ride.
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The forest throughout this area is lush with a tremendous diversity of plant life – trees, “shrub” plants, fungi, bromeliads, mosses, lichens, things that I wouldn’t recognize. Upon reaching near 10,000 feet elevation the forest changed. The tree trunks were covered with moss and strands of moss hung from every branch – this is clearly a different kind of forest.
The trail is wide and covered with a thick layer of leaves, needles, etc., much like a thick carpet – easy walking. And it is generally flat, tho’ does descend some distance from the parking area. So this is not so much a hike as a walk through an amazing forest, with the unusual drab green colors, the mosses and lichens on the tree trunks, and moss draped on nearly every non-vertical branch. At the end the first leg of the walk we climbed up on a 30′ tall tower, enjoying a great view across the mountain tops, over clouds above and below in the valleys, and into other valleys. We walked as far down the second leg as permitted, not far enough to reach Los Pozuelo, the pool of water mentioned in the description below.
In addition to the rainforest itself, the information on the signs tell a larger story. The story here in Ixtlán del Juárez is consistent with the overall attitude of this villate and the others in the Pueblos Moncomanados – honoring and preserving their history and the natural environment. Rather than leave you to read the Spanish, I offer the translation below.
Cerro de los Pozuelos (Mountain of the Wells)
THE SIERRA JUÁREZ DE OAXACA is considered by CONABIO as a priority region for the conservation (RTP 130), as it is a region important for its great biodiversity, directly related to their particular physiography and a mixture of ecological variables. The region is part of the Area of Importance for the Conservation of Birds number 11 (AICA 11), since In its forests inhabit 66 endemic species or quasi-endemic, such as the Dwarf Chara (Cyanolica nana). This zone is separate from the areas of high value of conservation (AVC), recognized by. the community and certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) which together form an approximate surface of 7,595 hectares, between tropical forests and mountain mesophiles, in the latter are concentrated species of flora and fauna in danger of extinction, recognized in national and international standards.
VISITOR’s CODE 1.- Follow all the instructions that the Guide tells you for the use of the area. 2.- Respect all trails, avoiding leaving it. 3.- Respect the area. (Do not cut, mutilate, or extract specimens of plants, animals, fungi or rocks). 4.- Make campfires only in the areas intended for this purpose. 5.- Transport all waste with you generated during your visit, both organic as inorganic. Remember that this forest is the cultural and natural heritage of the inhabitants of the community of Ixtlán de Juárez, for that reason respect all living beings They inhabit our forests.
You are here, in the camping area that has space for a campfire and a place of shelter.
THE MOUNTAIN MESOPHYLL FOREST is the type of vegetation that is endangered in Mexico, as it has been reduced to a small percentage, in it that we find vegetation relic, existing since the time of the dinosaurs.
LOS POZUELOS is located 600 m from this Point, this place is much appreciated, as here. The water that filters from the top of the hill is born and when travelers used the Camino Real, They rested and drank water, before continuing their journey to the community of Ixtlan.
EL CAMINO REAL is a pre-Hispanic road transited by the Zapotecs, which communicated to the villages of Rincón and Chinantla with the Valleys Central. With the arrival of the Spaniards, it was extended to the state of Veracruz.
THE THOUSAND-YEAR-OLD TREE is an oak (Ouercus sp.), in the center of the clearing, adorned in a way natural at its base, trunk and branches by epiphyte plants (plants that live on other plants), mosses, lichens and ferns, attributes that give it a high scenic beauty.
THE FOREST OF GOBLINS is a humid temperate forest, whose main vegetation are the dwarf pines (Pinus sp.). that do not reach the 30 meters high, developing at more than 3,000 meters above sea level.
AT THE TOP OF CERRO DE LOS POZUELOS you will find a tower of observation at 3,150 meters above sea level, where you can contemplate the formation of medium clouds, effect caused by moisture convergence coming from the Gulf of Mexico and the Pacific Ocean, you can also observe the Cerro del Zempoalteptl, the peak of Orizaba and the coastal plain of the Gulf of Mexico.
The Drive Out
After the hike, we drove back down the road and turned toward the Mirador de Cristal, an attraction created by Ixtlan de Juarez to offer an impressive view of their village and the surrounding valleys, mountains, and some of the other villages. The Mirador is a steel structure that extends from the sharp end of a ridge above the village of Ixtlán del Juárez. In addition of the superb view of the village and the valleys beyond, the floor of the platform is glass, a challenge for those uneasy about being high with an open supporting structure. We did make a couple of rounds to test our mettle.
The truck from Ecotourixtlan that took us to the Rainforest and then to Mirador de Cristal having left, we rode back to the village in one of the ever-present moto-taxis.
Highlight
Most impressive was the transition to the nearly all green forest common above 7,000 feet in the Sierra Norte into this Rainforest. It gave me an eerie feeling, the colors and draped moss that changed the whole feeling of the forest.
Statistics
Total Distance: 1.6 miles, 2.57 m Elevation: start 10,059 ft, maximum 10,200 ft, minimum 10,018 ft start 3,066 m, maximum 3,109 m, minimum 3,053 m Gross gain: 213 ft. Aggregate ascending 213 ft, descending 307 ft gain: 65 m Aggregate ascending 65 m, descending 94 m Maximum slope: 28% ascending, 32% descending, 8.8% 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.
This is our 2nd hike during two days visiting Capulálpam, one of the Pueblos Mancomunados, Zapotec villages in the Sierra Norte (TripAdvisor: Pueblos Mancomunados). The day before we had driven from Oaxaca city to Capulálpam and hiked from Ecoturismo Capulálpam through the forest (see Capulálpam Trail Hike – 01/08/2023).
Staying the night in a cabin at Ecoturismo Capulálpam, the next morning we were promised amazing scenery, driving and hiking to a viewpoint (mirad0r) to watch the sun rise. Up long before the crack of dawn, we met José and Leonel for the drive to the trailhead and hike to the mirador. We were not disappointed.
We met Leonel and José at 0430 and made the 8 mile drive to the trailhead. The road from Ecoturismo Capulálpam was like many in the Sierra Norte – a rough, rocky two-track roadway, in this case climbing 2,500 feet to the trailhead near the mountaintop.
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
At 5:00, it was dark at 0600 when we hit the trail. Leonel gave each of us a headlamp, and off we went with Leonel leading the way. The trail was generally a gentle slope on soft soil and pine needles in a few places climbing up a bit of rock outcrop. A mile on, we reached a vantage point which presented marvelous view across the mountains to the east, clouds in the valleys all around, and the sun beginning to present its spectacular sunrise scenery.
Reaching the ridge, we spent the next 45 minutes enjoying the view – the sun coming above the mountains, the changing light from bright orange to yellow, the clouds below us changing position and shape, even the waning moon above us to the west. As full daylight set in, we then admired the surroundings – the pine trees and various shrubs and grasses on this mountain top at 10,000 feet (3,000 meters).
On our return to the trailhead, now in daylight we enjoyed the scenery of clouds on nearby mountains and valleys, and the lush forest.
Highlight
Clearly it was the sunrise above the mountains and clouds, followed closely by the experience of hiking at night.
Statistics
Total Distance: 2.04 miles Elevation: start 9,306 ft, maximum 10,012 ft, minimum 9,305 ft start 2,836 m, maximum 3,052 m, minimum 2,836 m Gain: gross 707 ft, aggregate ascending 836 ft, descending 836 ft gross 216 m, aggregate ascending 255 m, descending 255 m Maximum slope: 36% ascending, 38% descending, 37% average Duration: 2:34
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 plans for our visit to Oaxaca this year included hiking in the Sierra Norte mountains. Pat had worked extensively with José, our guide, to plan these and other activities, including a request to make 4-5 mile hikes limited to a few hundred feet of elevation gain. Consulting with him during the first couple of days in Oaxaca, we settled on a plan to spend 2 days in Capulálpam, one of the Pueblos Mancomunados, Zapotec villages in the Sierra Norte (TripAdvisor: Pueblos Mancomunados). He suggested two hikes and other activities; we would stay overnight in the cabins with Ecoturismo Capulálpam. On our 4th day in Oaxaca we were off on our first adventure with José and Alberto, the driver that he engaged to take us to Capulálpam, .
The Drive In
Alberto dropped us off at the office for Ecoturismo Capulálpam. We were shown to our cabin for the night and left our overnight kits there. Then we met our guide Leonel and we were off into the forest.
The Hike
Capulalpam Trail Hike.PatJoseLeonel.2023-01-08
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
With Leonel in the lead (on the right), the hike began uphill on a dirt/rocky road. Soon we turned into the forest on a well used trail. After crossing a small creek, we continued uphill for a mile (500 ft elevation gain). Leonel and José paused often to point out various plants, often identifying them with their scientific names and telling us about how the plants are used, some as natural medicines, others for dyeing wool (Pat’s particular interest).
For the next mile or so the trail didn’t gain much elevation (200 feet or so), but there were ups-and-downs which added to the gains (and losses). Throughout the hike we encountered many bromeliads. These are the most colorful plants, attached to the trunks or limbs of trees, many with stalks of blossoms hanging or standing upright from the plants.
Winter at home didn’t allow us to get in good shape for hiking on this trip, and having climbed nearly a 1,000 feet (nearly 2,000 feet aggregate), Pat & I were lagging. When Leonel told us the destination was another mile or more, and we would need to hike back to the trailhead, we asked to turn back at the 3 mile point. So we turned downhill, with little evidence of a trail. It was a very steep descent (~45 degrees), but on fallen leaves and needles, so it was almost like skiing downhill. We had asked Leonel to request a vehicle to meet us on the road that would take us back to the Ecotourism office. Upon reaching the road, we continued walking until the truck arrived and rode back into Capulálpam and the Ecotourism office.
Highlight
A big one is to be back in the forest of the Sierra Norte, surrounded by so many interesting and colorful plants. And next to that, hiking with José and Leonel and learning from them about their back yard.
Video by José. George, Pat, Leonel, Chili (Leonel’s terrier).
Statistics
Total Distance: 4.56 miles, 7.32 km Elevation: start 6,815 ft, maximum 7,821 ft, minimum 6,815 ft start 2,077 m, maximum 2,384 m, minimum 2,077 m Gain: gross 1,006 ft. aggregate ascending 1,939 ft, descending 1,566 ft gross 307 m, aggregate ascending 591 m, descending 477 m Maximum slope: 43% ascending, 48% descending, 13% average Duration: 4:58
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.
The forest in the Sierra Norte is filled with many subtropical plants: deciduous and coniferous trees, mosses and lichens, and bromeliads and hanging vines. We show you a few examples in the photo galleries below.
We embarked on a short trip into southeastern Utah, to explore that territory and to eat at a special restaurant we’d heard about. We did not make this a camping/hiking trip, but stayed in commercial lodging enroute and at a BnB in Boulder, UT. See more in the BLOG post about the trip at Utah Trip – 10/19/2022-10/24/2022.
The Drive In
From Boulder, UT the trailhead is 12.7 miles south on UT 12, then turn right onto Calf Creek Road; a half mile to the trailhead. As we drove towards the trailhead, we stopped to take in the view of Calf Creek Canyon.
The Hike
Lower Calf Creek Canyon Waterfall Trail Hike.Pat.2022-10-21
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
‘Tis a popular trail – the parking lot had few spaces open in this narrow canyon when we arrived. After signing in, we started out on a well-used trail, to be greeted by the colorful canyon walls. About a half mile from the trailhead, we spotted the petroglyphs on the far wall that we had heard about.
Along the trail the canyon walls tower above us, with the spectacular colors of the various layers. And along Calf Creek, willow and other plants remind one that there is water in the Creek.
Of course, the attraction for this trail is Lower Calf Creek Falls. This is our first view of this 130 foot high waterfall. ‘Tho the day had been warm (we shed all but our last layer of clothing), the gallery around the falls was cool enough that we put a layer back on.
Statistics
Total Distance: 6.22 miles Elevation: start 5,341 ft, maximum 5,634 ft, minimum 5,331 ft Gross gain: 303 ft. Aggregate ascending 1342 ft, descending 1342 ft Maximum slope: 74% ascending, 61% descending, 5.2% average Duration: 4:52
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 on a 3-night camping trip into northern New Mexico (actually just across the state line into Colorado). We set up the R-Pod in the USFS Trujillo Meadows campground. Reservations are not offered, but there are 41 campsites so we anticipated that we would get one. And we did – there were only a few (<10) campers in the campground on our arrival and the host told us that the campground is not heavily used. After touring the maze of roads looking for the best site, we chose one near the entrance and on the highest point in the campground. The view from there was the best.
The Drive In
We drove from Albuquerque to Chama and continued on NM 17 up to the crest of Cumbres Pass (the highway becomes CO 17 as it passes into Colorado). For a good part of the way, Hwy 17 follows the tracks of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, aka Cumbres and Toltec Railroad to the crest where there is a small railyard.
Our campsite in Trujillo Meadows Campground. Atop a hill in the middle of the campground, we had great views in all directions.
Continuing past the crest for 1/4 mile, we turned left onto FR 118 (a good Class 3 road, tho’ there are some sections of serious washboard); in 2.5 miles turn right at the entrance to the campground. (Adjacent to the campground is Trujillo Meadows Reservoir. There are some sites that look down upon the reservoir and there is a road from the campground entrance to a boating ramp; we did not investigate either.)
The Red Lake trail is a bit further north on CO 17 — 6.4 miles from the turnoff to the Trujillo Meadows Campground. Turn left onto FR 113, a Class 3 road towards Red Lake — 3.5 miles. The road makes a sharp 180° turn to the left — parking is on the right up a short rise.
The Hike
Red Lake Trail Hike.Pat.2022-07-08
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 starts at an elevation of 11,000 feet – yes, the temperature was comfortably cool. It proceeds for 1/4 mile with not much elevation gain, through nice forest. About a half mile on we encountered our first stream crossing, easy with rocks for stepping stones. Here the trail takes on a bit more elevation gain, and we encountered more flowing water, even down the trail itself.
A bit further on (3/4 mile point) the trail begins to leave the forest behind, and at about the 1 mile point, the trail enters a wide open lush meadow with another small stream crossing. The trail continues it’s gentle climb and the meadow continues to open up ahead and around us with a few ponds off to the west.
We continue up to the top of the rise and decide we’ve come far enough so we find some rocks to use for dining. On our return trip, we heard running water. Taking a short detour from the trail we found a rocky slop with a series of small waterfalls, a nice scene to take with us as we return to the trailhead.
Highlight
The amount of water flowing across the meadow and down the streams was striking. It was such a contrast to what we encounter on trails in New Mexico. And the vista view across the meadows, with the lakes and smattering of forest made for -great- scenery. We’ll add this trail to our list for future hikes, with the goal of continuing on to Red Lake itself.
Statistics
Total Distance: 3.99 miles Elevation: start 11,003 ft, maximum 11,643 ft, minimum 10,974 ft Gross gain: 669 ft. Aggregate ascending 819 ft, descending 818 ft Maximum slope: 23% ascending, 23% descending, 7.3% average Duration: 3:42
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 3-night camping trip into northern New Mexico (actually just across the state line into Colorado). We set up the R-Pod in the USFS Trujillo Meadows campground. Reservations are not offered, but there are 41 campsites so we anticipated that we would get one. And we did – there were only a few (<10) campers in the campground on our arrival and the host told us that the campground is not heavily used. After touring the maze of roads looking for the best site, we chose one near the entrance and on the highest point in the campground. The view from there was the best.
The Drive In
Late afternoon view from the door of our RPod camper.
We drove from Albuquerque to Chama and continued on NM 17 up to the crest of Cumbres Pass (the highway becomes CO 17 as it passes into Colorado). For a good part of the way, Hwy 17 follows the tracks of the Denver and Rio Grande Railroad, aka Cumbres and Toltec Railroad to the crest where there is a small railyard. Continuing past the crest for 1/4 mile, we turned left onto FR 118 (a good Class 3 road, tho’ there are some sections of serious washboard); in 2.5 miles turn right at the entrance to the campground. (Adjacent to the campground is Trujillo Meadows Reservoir. There are some sites that look down upon the reservoir and there is a road from the campground entrance to a boating ramp; we did not investigate either.)
The CDT crosses CO 17 just below the crest of Cumbres pass, to the west; from the campground we returned to CO 17, turned right, back over the crest. Less than 14 mile below the crest there is parking on the south side of CO 17. The trailhead for the CDT going south is located there. For the trailhead northbound, cross the road and continue up and under the railroad trestle.
The Hike
Cumbres-Pass-CDT-North.Pat_.2022-07-07
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
I hiked this bit of the CDT last year while Pat attended a workshop in Chama, and for some time I’ve looked forward to revisiting it with Pat. Donning our packs and crossing the road, we walked beneath the RR trestle to the trailhead, where Pat signed us in. We then headed past the trailhead sign and into the woods; we were quickly above 10,000 feet elevation.
About 1/3 mile on, we left the woods behind, entering a meadow for a few hundred yards. Then it was onto hillside slopes for most of the remainder of the hike. Here we enjoyed a great vantage point to watch the Cumbres & Toltec steam locomotive and excursion cars climb the last few hundred feet elevation to Cumbres Pass.
The trail is well used, a smooth trail surface, little worn into the ground. We passed through open forest, occasionally with fallen trees. About 1.3 miles on we came to the first of two water crossings, nice flow of water but rocks ready for us to cross on. We continued on for 2.3 miles, enjoying fabulous views of the valley and mountains to the west of the trail.
Highlight
We have puzzled over how to convey to readers of this BLOG the beauty of scenery all around us on these hikes. I think Pat has found the answer in this video.
Statistics
Total Distance: 4.79 miles Elevation: start 9,965 ft, maximum 10,299 ft, minimum 9,965 ft Gross gain: 334 ft. Aggregate ascending 1,052 ft, descending 1,053 ft Maximum slope: 29% ascending, 25% descending, 6.4% average Duration: 3:37
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.
During a visit to family in Virginia, Pat & I returned to trails that we often walked when we lived there twelve years ago: the Noland Trail at the Mariner’s Museum in Newport News and the Riverwalk at Yorktown. These were a means for us to maintain a level of ‘fitness’, even ‘tho these trails are near sea level, not at 5,000+ ft is in New Mexico, and there is virtually no elevation gain on these trails.
The Hikes (Walkabouts)
The York River Riverwalk
York River Walkabout.PatValCurtis.2022-05-15
The Riverwalk begins in downtown Yorktown and follows the shoreline of the York River towards the American Revolution Museum at Yorktown. It a paved trail, passing under the Coleman Memorial Bride, then past the Watermen’s Museum, and up on the hill where there is a battlement dating from the Revolutionary War.
Oh, and Pat & I did take a 2 hour sail on the Yorktown schooner Alliance. That brought back memories of sailing on the York River and Chesapeake Bay.
The Noland Trail at the Mariner’s Museum
Noland Trail Walks.Pat.2022-05-18 & 19
Notes about the Google Earth screenshot: the graph at the bottom shows elevation of the track (pink area) and speed (the blue line).
The Nolan Trail is a well used trail familiar to us – we walked it often when we lived there 12 years ago. It follows the shoreline of The Mariners’ Lake (also known as Lake Maury), densely forested for most of it’s length. In many places it offers great views of the lake. The trail is generally smooth dirt, but with many exposed roots which have been painted with neon orange stripes — as a caution for unaware hikers? Nearby is the Mariner’s Museum with a major collection of maritime artifacts, “the largest maritime history collection in the Western Hemisphere” (Wikipedia).
Statistics
York River Walk, 05/15/2022 Total Distance: 1.50 miles Elevation: start 8 ft, maximum 51 ft, minimum 9 ft Gross gain: 42 ft. Aggregate ascending 170 ft, descending 157 ft Maximum slope: 19% ascending, 17% descending, 3.4% average Duration: 0:50
Nolan Trail Walk, 05/17/2022 Total Distance: 4.09 miles Elevation: start 33 ft, maximum 142 ft, minimum 14 ft Gross gain: 128 ft. Aggregate ascending 135 ft, descending 135 ft Maximum slope: NA% ascending, NA% descending, NA% average Duration: 1:40
Nolan Trail walk, 05/18/2022 Total Distance: 3.14 miles Elevation: start 34 ft, maximum 142 ft, minimum 10 ft Gross gain: 132 ft. Aggregate ascending NA ft, descending NA ft Maximum slope: NA% ascending, NA% descending, NA% average Duration: 1:28
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.
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
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.
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A new attraction near Capulálpam is the Mirador de Cristal de Ixtlán de Juárez, a glass-bottom balcony extending from the end of a ridge some 800 feet above the pueblo of Ixtlán de Juárez. We enjoyed a great view of the pueblo below and to the surrounding mountains.
