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Cochise Stronghold Trail #279
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mini location map2013-01-17
29 by photographer avatarMAVM
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Cochise Stronghold Trail #279Tucson, AZ
Tucson, AZ
Hiking1.36 Miles 529 AEG
Hiking1.36 Miles      40 Mns   2.72 mph
529 ft AEG      10 Mns Break12 LBS Pack
 
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Cochise Stronghold West -

I made way to the Dragoons for a mid-afternoon outing / brief hike - finishing in the long late afternoon shadows. The West Stronghold of the Dragoons is the more remote side of this unique medium elevation range. The light was classic Arizona backed by a cloudless cobalt sky - not to mention much warmer temperatures than as of late! I stopped to relax along the way at the Council Rocks TH. I found a partially smothered / lightly smoldering campfire which could be evidenced by the light smell of smoke from a good distance away upon approach. After taking care to help the fire's extinction, I napped in warm sun for awhile as this area of the Dragoons is just so inviting...

After which I would make way to the end of FR688 and the Western Stronghold TH - there I found a group of three hikers just coming down from the divide (only the second group of people I've witnessed in the Dragoons in the past year). These guys had camped at Council Rocks TH the night before and had been freezing their butts off the previous four nights while minivan camping about the region. The campers were from Vancouver, Knoxville & Des Moines and had been looking forward to the warmth that winter in AZ brings... I turned them onto / suggested Slavin Gulch Trail for their next foray into the Goons. After a quick shadowed hike up toward the switchbacks and back down - I chatted a bit more with these chilly Arizona tourists at their campfire before moving toward Sierra Vista and home in the approaching dusk.
 Flora
 Flora [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Banana Yucca

water 1 out of 5water 2 out of 5water 3 out of 5water 4 out of 5 Tenneco Well 76-100% full 76-100% full
Windmill was pumping away. This is the most reliable, excellent water source on the western slope of the Dragoons. If it is not filled to flowing over and pooling about the tanks - there is an easily accessed spicket under the windmill that has never failed yet.
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The MaNtiS - Assume & be Damned!
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