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| Hiking | 4.11 Miles |
1,748 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.11 Miles | 3 Hrs | | 1.90 mph |
| 1,748 ft AEG | 50 Mns Break | 12 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | After bagging Cochise Peak, I later traveled the off-road route that becomes the rocky road to China Peak toward mid-afternoon. I had eaten lunch and done due diligence below Black Diamond Peak for another day - gathering a water report at Gilda Spring in the process. The less than obvious spur from Middlemarch road (FR 697) is NOT to be taken lightly if you intend to travel it for any distance...as it is possible to make it all the way to the peak if you have a low track Quad or Jeep type 4x4. I advise against anything less if you want to make it to the Hot Gates that guard the entry to the Hidden Valley. There are only a couple of turn-out possibilities once the truly high clearance mega-chickenhead part of the route ensues...you'll want a heavy suspension and good tires or you could be in REAL trouble!
I chose to make my way toward the Gateway - turn things about for an easy exit upon returning - and then embarked into the western valley of the Inner Sanctum of the Dragoons. The Hidden Valley has many surreal points of view outwardly opening to the surrounding Dragoon rock formations, and it can seem like you are suspended in a very special, lightly traveled altered-dimension during the initial portion of the route...then it just continues that way only much steeper as the views really open up! This day was obscured by smokey haze in the distance - not especially good for a limited cell phone type camera. The normally visible island ranges (Whetstones, Rincons, Chiricahuas & Huachucas...) from the upper reaches of the Dragoons had all vanished in this haze.
You'll pass the remains of the San Juan mine as the real elevation begins...later, oddly morphed alien looking Century Plants surround the peak adding a nice punctuation to the apex. There are several spur routes along the way, so be certain to do your trail research. Avg. Grade 63.2% GPS Route Available |
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Smith Well |
Dry |
Dry |
| | | I spoke with the ranch hand responsible for Tenneco Well nearby. He informed me that in over 10 years he had not known of Smith Well to be active. Tenneco is robust and spring sourced...the most reliable water source in the area openly available without an open range tank, etc. | | _____________________
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