Portal, AZ - Rodeo, NM

Hike Report for Jan 9, 2025 - Granite Gap

 

The Portal/Rodeo area got a shallow layer of snow overnight and temperatures typical of a winter storm.  The mountains on both sides of the valley appeared to have gotten a bit more but still not enough to make much of a dent in our moisture deficit.  Still, very pretty to see snow in the desert.

This hike we had two returning winter hikers from the mid-west, one visiting from Idaho and one (regular hiker) made an early morning drive from Tucson to be with us.  Seven of us met at Granite Gap on Highway 80 in New Mexico and parked a short distance from the road. 

 

 

 

There was about ½ inch of snow with several sets of quail tracks showing they were up earlier than us.  We hiked our usual route to the west, weaving around bushes and cactus and stopping to admire the beautiful rock formations capped with snow.  This section of the Peloncillo Mountains is comprised of granite unlike the rest of the range.  It has a similar appearance to the Texas Canyon Summit along Interstate 10 west of Willcox only without the rest stop.

 

 

At the west end of the wide canyon, we circled north around a ridge and then back east in the next valley.  The lack of rain the past few years is really showing in the stressed shrubs and cactus.  We did find a few stunted half-shrubs with flowers.  The isolated split rock had some little puddles of water from melting snow. 

 

 

              

Qiviuq (muskox) wool is 8X warmer than sheep wool - from Ulukhaktok, Northwest Territories.

      

After a short break we continued northwest to the old jeep road.  The clouds parted as we hiked and soon coats were coming off.  We had lunch leaning against a granite cliff and enjoyed a warm winter afternoon.  Two hikers headed back to the vehicles and the five remaining walked to the saddle for a limited view toward the north.  Once there we turned around and returned to our cars really enjoying the sunshine.

 

 

Next week will be another desert hike in the Peloncillo Mountains.  This one will be a few miles north of I-10 in Ward Canyon, which parallels Little Doubtful Canyon.  We will meet at Trash Corner at 9 AM and drive north on Foothills and Noland Roads.  North of the freeway there will be more dirt roads to a parking spot on the edge of Doubtful Canyon Wilderness, managed by the Safford BLM.  Bring a hat, water, lunch, good hiking boots and maybe gloves.  We’ll probably not start hiking till about 10AM, so the temperature should be warming.  There is no “trail” but most of the hike is in an open wash and along an old road but probably there will be some brush to push through.  Come and see some new country!

Hike report from Al, photos from Elaine, Eskild & Carol