Portal, AZ - Rodeo, NM

Thirteen hikers drove to where the Foothills Road meets the East Turkey Creek Wash and began the always very slightly uphill walk to where the wash meets the road into Paradise, almost 3 1/2 miles later. 

It was a lovely winter day with mostly bare vegetation but a few hints of life such as the barrel cactus seen below.

The geology of the region is very interesting and several us wished we could remember more of what geologist Sharon Minchak, from Albuquerque, shared with us in the past. It was clear that it is time to invite her for another visit. We were able to find the 1.7 billion year-old Pinal Schist, seen below. These are the oldest rocks found in this area. The prominent pinnacles in Cave Creek Canyon and the Chiricahua National Monument formed much later, the result of a volcano that exploded “only" 27 million years ago, long after the Pinal Schist basement formed. 

Once we reached the road that connects the Foothills Road to Paradise we sat and had lunch. We were all glad to sit as the stream bed is quite rocky. Some of the time we were able to walk on smoother, softer cow paths, a welcome change.

Near our lunch spot was an old grave. Hikers below are looking at the headstone which is so worn that it really can’t be read. But local historian Bill Cavaliere provides us with this description: 

“… Caspar Albert was a local deputy sheriff who, like so many in the area, also prospected.  The grave is located just off the side of the road, about two miles from the site of the former mining camp of Galeyville.  Due to the many years of exposure and wear, the inscriptions on the rock are today barely legible.  But upon close inspection one can still discern:  Killed by Indians – William Reese – Caspar Albert – Dec. 1885.  The two men were victims in one of the most notorious incidents in the Apache wars: Ulzana’s Raid.” There was a movie made about this raid and you can find more information online.

Retracing our steps and heading downstream we stopped at an old mine and some of us walked a short way into the shaft, carefully and with flashlights, of course. You can see the mine site by looking for the extensive tailings on the right as you walk up the wash. The Chiricahua Mountains are riddled with old mine shafts. Mining here focused primarily on silver, copper, lead, zinc and gold. The area saw varied success, with the Hilltop Mine being the largest, notable for producing wulfenite crystals.

Returning the cars after walking almost seven miles we all agreed that it had been a very nice hike even though some of us were already beginning to feel its effects in hips, knees and feet, due to the rocky substrate. 

Next week we will meet at the corner of Foothills and Portal Roads (Trash Corner) at 9:00 a.m. to carpool to Whitetail Canyon, about 30 minutes away. Here we will walk up Whitetail and then take a back trail into the Chiricahua National Monument. This trail is not on the Monument maps because it isn't maintained. But we take it every year and it is quite passable. The hike will be a combination of washes, old roads and trails and will total six or seven miles. There is some uphill involved but it is not particularly steep.

Happy trails!

Report by Carol

Photos by Carol, Elaine and Elly