Though I hiked up Miller Canyon then around Carr Peak and down to the Carr Canyon Road last fall to check out the damage from the Monument Fire in the Huachuca Mountains, I wanted to go back and drive up on the recently reopened road. I especially wanted to check out the Ramsey Vista Campground at the end of the road, as I didn't get to last fall. The road is in very good shape at present, but of course once the summer rains set in, it will get rutted and bumpy again as it usually does. Due to the fire compromising so much of the ground cover, there will be an increased chance of rock slides, especially in the area around Carr Falls, where there are tightly packed switchbacks.

Though the fire burned intensely around and below the Reef, the firefighters did a good job protecting the campground resources. It burned through Reef Townsite, but the only casualty was the group area ramada, which has been replaced. The western extent of the fire was basically at the end of the road at Ramsey Vista, which came through pretty much untouched.

New restrooms were built in both campgrounds, but they were in place before the fire. At Reef Townsite there had been two, which were removed, and now there just one between sites 7 and 8.

I have enjoyed many camping trips to these campgrounds over the past 25 years, and am very happy that they are still intact to enjoy again. The surrounding area, such as the hike up to Carr Peak isn't quite as pleasing to the eye as before, but it will recover of course. Another great hike, from Ramsey Vista over to Ramsey Canyon and beyond, was not affected by the fire.