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Hike For July 25: Whitetail Canyon - Up Indian Creek to the Monument.
Meet: Corner of Foothills Road & Portal Road at 8:00 am (AZ), 9:00 am (NM).
Carol Simon (520) 558-2433 casimon@vtc.net
Jonathan Patt (575) 654-3281 jonathanpatt@gmail.com
Elaine Moisan (520) 5581308 emoisan2011@hotmail.com
Hike report for July 18, 2019:
Six hikers met to walk along the Crest trail to Chiricahua Peak. On the drive up, they passed some wild Turkeys with chicks - always nice to see. Two vehicles made it up the rough (but cleared) Long Park Road, so the hike was about 3.5 miles each way. Lunch was enjoyed at the Peak!
The hikers found Delphinium andesicola blooming, our lovely mountain Larkspur - also Lonicera involucrata, an uncommon honeysuckle along the crest (photo below). Otherwise, things were very green but not many flowers. They found some ripe raspberries along the way (with more to come). Also, there were some big clouds & thunder as the group hiked back, but it left just a few raindrops on the vehicles.
Next week: meet at the corner of Foothills Road & Portal Road at 8:00 AM Arizona time, 9:00 NM time. The plan is to go to Whitetail Canyon and hike up Indian Creek to the Monument. Pie is promised at Al’s house for those who complete the hike (no pressure).
Build A New Trail - All Welcome
Jonathan recently sent out this message about trail building in South Fork on the following weekend:
Join a group of volunteers along with Wild Arizona and the Coronado National Forest to begin construction of a trail reroute connecting the South Fork trailhead with the existing trail, bypassing the former roadbed damaged by Hurricane Odile, which can be difficult for many to walk due to uneven terrain and seasonal flooding from the creek. We will be using hand tools to clear and construct a new sustainable trail corridor on the bank along and above the roadbed. People of all abilities and experience levels are encouraged to participate, as we'll be doing a variety of tasks ranging from using pruning loppers and small hand saws to clear vegetation away from the new corridor, to constructing the new trail surface with a variety of digging tools. Any necessary training will be provided on location as we're working. Come out and participate in helping reconnect this popular trail to the new trailhead!
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Addendum:
We recently took the time to review safety items that hikers could carry to help either themselves or another hiker in the case of an accident, or when getting lost, or even just out later than expected. Our group has quite a good safety record (and we never lost anyone permanently) but accidents do happen and some of our hikes are in rugged, remote territory. Here is what we recommend everyone carry:
Space blanket
First aid kit
Matches with fire starter
Whistle
Signalling mirror
Extra layers of clothing
Extra water
Extra food
Knife or multi-tool
Flashlight or headlamp with fresh and spare batteries
Map and compass or GPS
Hat and sunscreen
It is good if someone in the group has:
Lightweight splint
Rope
Duct tape
Cell phone
We have used almost all of these items in various situations. Prepare yourself to be part of a solution.
The 62 Highest Peaks, Mountains, Hills, And Lookouts In The Chiricahuas
(Tabulated by Ray Brooks)
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Photo Gallery Of Hiking Club - Click On Any Photo To Begin. Use Arrow Keys At Bottom Of Slide (Or Your Keyboard) To Advance Slide
