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| Backpack | 23.00 Miles |
4,800 AEG |
| | Backpack | 23.00 Miles | 32 Hrs | | 1.15 mph |
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| 4,800 ft AEG | 12 Hrs Break | 40 LBS Pack | |
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| no partners | | The mission was to check out Ash Creek and Devils Canyon, a back country destination on the Rez a few miles north of Arvaipa Creek.
The landscape here consists of rolling hills, rocky bluffs, and numerous washes and canyons. The area is dominated by Sonoran Desert flora for the most part, and quite hot, despite an average elevation of 3500’.
The best place in Arizona to find bull skulls, bones, and dead cattle in various stages of decay is on the San Carlos Indian Reservation. There are dead cattle on the roads, dead cattle at the water holes, and dead cattle on the trails. Hardly do you escape the putrid odor of one decomposing animal, before coming across the stench of yet another, miasmas filling the air. Whether the loss of livestock is the result of poor management, predation, or disease; I know not, but it has led to a high density population of turkey vultures.
About three hours into the hike my mojo disappeared and did not return, despite many breaks and a halfhearted pace. It was at this time that the vultures began to follow me. Vultures are very good at reading body language and will key in on a stricken animal long before it expires, drifting in the heavens like retched Fates, arbiters of the thread of life.
Having a gaggle of vultures following you around the desert can be annoying at times, and unnerving at others. Did the vultures know something that I was unaware of? Was it a sign of pending doom; my last hike? Devils Canyon is definitely a place where a guy could get into trouble, but all was smooth sailing. The uglies flew low to the ground every time I sat a spell, checking me out with their beady eyes, hoping that I would keel over, only to be disappointed in the end.
Depression Canyon was one of the first destinations. Other than a couple of nasty raspberry thickets, there was nothing depressing about this little canyon at all: it is easy walking and shady. The name likely has its roots in the Apache Wars, with the old Fort Grant Military Reservation eight miles to the west. The distorted landscape here makes for an excellent place to disappear, and no doubt, it was used for that purpose
The rest of the hike was spent walking Ash Creek and checking out water holes. There are a few bears within the green belts but we did not cross paths this time. It was a quiet weekend, without the need for redaction or omission, but that is how it goes north of I-8. |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
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Depression Canyon |
Pools to trickle |
Pools to trickle |
| | | Lower mile has water year-round. Cattle fouled in places. |
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Devils Canyon |
Pools to trickle |
Pools to trickle |
| | | Water can be had here in the summer, pools every twenty yards or so. nice spring halfway up. | | _____________________
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