Portal, AZ - Rodeo, NM

Hike For December 3 -  To Be Decided By Hikers
Meet: Silver Peak Parking Lot at 9:00 am

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 Nov. 27, 2020, from Carol Simon

     At long last I had a hiking day free from the responsibilities of helping a 1st grader and 4th grader with online schooling. I was going to see my friends, which is not easy during these COVID times. And one other hiker showed up! WHERE WAS EVERYONE???

Rolf and I had a lovely day. First I introduced him to the Cliff Rose Trail at the Southwestern Research Station. This is a short but steep trail that takes 10 minutes to walk. The reward is a stunning view of the canyon and surrounding area, including Silver Peak and Mt. Sceloporus. (We think this is the only peak in the U.S. named after a lizard.) At the top of the trail is a substantial bench that allows hikers to sit and ponder their surroundings in comfort. 

We then walked some of the unnamed adjacent trails a bit and want to go back to explore more. This trail system passes through the lovely and open oak-juniper woodland that is typical of this elevation. Again, views were very impressive and are right in our backyard.

Next we moved to the Ash Spring trail, which is always easy to find and follow. It may be THE trail in our area that is consistently in the best shape. We found only one downed tree and scrub overlapping the trail wasn’t a problem since it refuses to rain here. Starting on the Greenhouse Road we walked to the trailhead and then followed the trail out to Ash Spring. Three small ponds there are known to have Chiricahua Leopard Frogs and I saw one dive into the mud  as I approached. It was not a good basking day for frogs with temperatures in the low 50s. But it WAS an excellent hiking day with bright sunshine, blue skies and fluffy, white cumulus clouds. 

We continued past Ash Spring, looping around to Herb Martyr Campground. Here we borrowed a picnic table and ate our turkey sandwiches, which were greatly enjoyed. Rolf’s had stuffing and cranberry sauce inside and mine had mustard, tomatoes and pickles.

Driving back down the Herb Martyr Road I passed four Coues White-tailed Deer and three Montezuma Quail scurried across the road in front of my truck. Nine Gould’s Turkeys completed the wildlife display. It was a very good day to be out. Hope you went somewhere nice too.

Next week, on 3 December, meet at the Silver Peak Trailhead at 9:00 a.m. to decide where to hike. 

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Chiricahua Trail Crew Volunteer Agreement

If you do not have a Volunteer Service Agreement on file with the Forest Service, submit one. Submitted forms don't expire until you terminate them.
DOWNLOAD THE FORM.  Print it, fill out, sign in block 35, and date. You can scan a signed document and e-mail it to veronica.forrest@usda.gov. You can also mail the form to Veronica at the Douglas Ranger District Office:
    Veronica Forrest                 1192 W. Saddle View Rd.Douglas, AZ 85607

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