Wolverines take on the Chiricahuas.
John,
The Chiricahua National Monument is in the Coronado National Forest about an hour and a half southeast of Tucson, AZ, and 50 miles north of the Arizona/Mexico border. It reaches just over 7000 feet in elevation, so this time of year it is cold and has snow. The overnight low was just below 30 degrees Fahrenheit; not as low as our snow camp in January, but cold enough for this desert rat.
(I don't really like sleeping in a tent. Did I ever mention that for me,"roughing it" would be staying in a four-star hotel instead of a five-star hotel? And "wilderness survival" would be staying in a Motel 6!)
Anyway, I digress.
The boys had a half-day of school on Friday, so we took the opportunity to get a jump on the four-hour trip down to the Chiricahuas. We got there with an hour of daylight left and set up camp. The next morning we got up at 5:30 a.m. to eat breakfast, break camp, and get to the trailhead for a nine-mile day hike.
It took us five hours to make the nine-mile loop. But when you consider it was 30 degrees, we started at 6900 feet, went down to 6400 feet, back up to 7000 feet, down to 5900 feet and back up to the original 6900 feet (and lots of other ups and downs, back and forth, to and fro, side trips, rock climbing and picture taking), then five hours is not a bad pace.
There were over 250 pictures taken between three cameras, but I've culled it down to a fraction of that for you to take a look at:
The Chiricahua National Monument is in the Coronado National Forest about an hour and a half southeast of Tucson, AZ, and 50 miles north of the Arizona/Mexico border. It reaches just over 7000 feet in elevation, so this time of year it is cold and has snow. The overnight low was just below 30 degrees Fahrenheit; not as low as our snow camp in January, but cold enough for this desert rat.
(I don't really like sleeping in a tent. Did I ever mention that for me,"roughing it" would be staying in a four-star hotel instead of a five-star hotel? And "wilderness survival" would be staying in a Motel 6!)
Anyway, I digress.
The boys had a half-day of school on Friday, so we took the opportunity to get a jump on the four-hour trip down to the Chiricahuas. We got there with an hour of daylight left and set up camp. The next morning we got up at 5:30 a.m. to eat breakfast, break camp, and get to the trailhead for a nine-mile day hike.
It took us five hours to make the nine-mile loop. But when you consider it was 30 degrees, we started at 6900 feet, went down to 6400 feet, back up to 7000 feet, down to 5900 feet and back up to the original 6900 feet (and lots of other ups and downs, back and forth, to and fro, side trips, rock climbing and picture taking), then five hours is not a bad pace.
There were over 250 pictures taken between three cameras, but I've culled it down to a fraction of that for you to take a look at:
Austin Turner (my nephew), Zak Rackey, Ryan Turner (my son),
Curtis Lunt, and Eric Durrant.
Hope those rocks don't fall on you if you move that boulder!
Hiking, hiking, and more hiking in the early morning hours.
The boys with Bros. Nik Rasheta and Brian Frost.
No turning back now.
Boys love rocks!
Getting ready to go into the Heart of Rocks.
Chiricahua National Monument
Fantastical rock formations everywhere you look.
Wolverines or Rock Monkeys?!
2-million lb. balancing rock.
Ryan with his cousin Austin, who will be an official Wolverine this summer when he turns 12.
Before the day is done, we will climb down into
this valley and come out on top on the other side.
Formations in the Heart of Rocks loop.
Rock steps throughout this beautiful trail.
Nik Rasheta and Brian Frost
Big rock formations.
Echo Canyon.
Tight squeeze.
Curtis Lunt in Echo Canyon Grotto.
Taking a rest before finishing the final leg of the journey.
I was impressed with everyone and everything on this hike. I'm sure everyone will sleep well this evening. And possibly in a few meetings tomorrow!
With that in mind, good night.
What amazing country. Would like to see it. You do such great things with and for these boys!!!!
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