Horsehoe 2 fire-Chiricahuas

[RedRoxx44]

Coming down from Catalinas today and saw big smoke--- so far it's about 22K acres that I can find out and it has backed into the South Fork of Cave creek. That fall spectacular may be gone. The research center has been evacuated. Appears human caused. Forget the guns--need to take people's lighters and matches away from them when it's dry like this.

Perimeter Map http://hikearizona.com/map.php?QX=773
Inciweb http://www.inciweb.org/incident/article/2225/11545/

[rwstorm]

My sentiments exactly, not sure I'm ready to see Rustlers Park denuded. I did hear a few trees survived but it can't be good.

Look at my photos Shawn and you will see it's bad.

[Cheerycow]

Thanks for the photos.
I am anxious to see the high country in the Crest trail area.

[rwstorm]

I am anxious to see the high country in the Crest trail area.

I may hike part of the Crest Trail Thursday or Friday.

[Cheerycow]

I am anxious to see the high country in the Crest trail area.

I may hike part of the Crest Trail Thursday or Friday.

I would very much appreciate your input and especially, any feedback on the Centella area would be extremely important to me. Thanks in advance!

[rwstorm]

I would very much appreciate your input and especially, any feedback on the Centella area would be extremely important to me. Thanks in advance!

The Centella area is simply wonderful. Unfortunately, if I go I won't be hiking from Rustler, but rather from West Turkey Creek up to the Crest either via Mormon Ridge or Canyon. I would hit the Crest around Chiricahua Peak, head south past Paint Rock over to Monte Vista, then back down Morse.

[Cheerycow]

Undserstood.
Any feedback concerning your hike would be great.
Thanks!

[whereveriroam]

Sad looking pictures of the Rustler Park area. Looks like it crowned the whole area which will bring many years of falling trees. At least the ferns have sprung up so the soil is still good.

[goldmandesigns]

@RWStorm
Planning on backpacking the Chiricahuas this April 12,What are the best back country areas that did not get to much fire damage???

[Cheerycow]

The east side of the mountain is the general side of things that I'd suggest...the fires on the west side and the top of the range got out of control. But, it was very mosaic so there are patches of not-so-bad burns in many places and bad burns in many areas. You will have a hard time avoiding the burn areas but there are still lovely areas. Let us know what you do and what you find.

[rwstorm]

@RWStorm
Planning on backpacking the Chiricahuas this April 12,What are the best back country areas that did not get to much fire damage???

I really can't answer that question as I didn't get to check out much of the area, except where I could drive (such as Rustlers Park). It definitely got torched there. When I was standing on the ridge near Rustlers looking down toward Portal, it didn't look too bad, but that could be deceiving from such a distance. The most popular backpacking is along the Crest Trail south out of Rustlers, and I know the trails were worked after the fire. Perhaps someone else can add some info.

[azbackpackr]

Hey, CheeryCow, you been lurking all this time? ;) How goes it?

[Cheerycow]

Hola Liz!
I check in from time to time but I either don't have much to add or am fearful for reprisals! LOL! I always enjoy my visits and you often have fun things to say. I love how you fearlessly wade into hotly debated topics!

This Forum is hard to figure...some Sub-sections sit forever with no activity and a few areas are quite active. I finally realized the smart thing is to look at the top of the main page for "Recent topics" and "Hot topics." Otherwise I was looking at whole sections with no new activity.

I have been quite busy lately with too many non-nature things. I need to get away! I was up in Sedona recently to visit relatives but alas, no hiking. I forget how lovely the scenery is up there!

Back on topic: Several times this winter I have visited the areas off of the 4x4 road that leads away from Methodist Camp area. That crazy mosaic burn pattern is so hard to figure out...a few massively burned trees next to un-touched trees. But the whole area had a fairly intense amount of mud flows. The road is VERY rocky and rolly down there!

[azbackpackr]

Just click on the link in the upper right hand corner of all pages. I mean, the link that is to the right of where it says "HAZ Forum." It will say "3 posts" or "25 posts" or whatever. I never click on anything else unless I am seeking a specific older forum thread. Otherwise I just look at what is newly posted. What I mean is, I almost never click on "HAZ Forum" unless I am going to start a brand new thread, or I am looking for something specific and want to reopen an old thread and comment on it.

I find myself not jumping into very many frays these days!

[Cheerycow]

Thanks Liz!

[azbackpackr]