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| Whitmire Canyon Peloncillo mtns, NM | |
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| | Whitmire Canyon Peloncillo mtns, NM | | | |
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Whitmire Canyon Peloncillo mtns, NM
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| no partners | | Car camped near Geronimo tank--I will post a separate photo group for the Geronimo trail drive, stopping at the incredibly lonely and scenic Cottonwood family cemetery, the New Mexico, Az border monument, and the plaque for the Mormon battalion at the pass.
I hiked on the "Clanton Trail" so said an old sign, off the road; just an arrow pointing down an old road going right into a wash. The now pack trail is in good shape, if you go on some wildcat trail you are not on it. It reminds me of the Galiuro trails before the giant cairnification. My destination was Whitmire canyon, where in 1996 a rancher's dogs treed a jaguar he took pics of, one of the first confirmations of the jaguar being in the US. Also this was a sort of exploratory trip for a journey into Skeleton Canyon in the future. I've looked at Skeleton canyon casually for a few years ---here is where the weirdness began---
Skeleton canyon--very historic, Geronimo surrender site, used to be accessible by 4wd before the ranchers gated it. I called the forest service in Douglas--- to be told there is no legal access, forget most of the canyon is on the forest. I called the PIO ( public information officer) for the border patrol in Douglas, to be told the ranchers don't like them in there and they do most patrol there by air and foot. I scouted things from the New mexico side, no access, and ranchers like their shotguns over there.
I spoke to a man who runs a dude ranch in the Animas Valley---
Me " I want to go to Skeleton Canyon"
Him " You don't want to go there, might be trouble. I fly ultralights and have been painted with a laser sight. And an instructor and his student flew over there and crashed and died; in Skeleton canyon. Besides, some of these ranch lands have been in the same family for many years, they know all about smuggling and how to keep it low profile" ( Implying shenanigans by the ranchers).
Me " I still want to go there"
So, I tried to get ahold of the rancher---no success there.
The above is over about a 10 year period, so I haven't been in a big hurry to get there.
Back to Whitmire canyon, it's a short 1.5 miles or less to get in there. At a saddle before you drop in note the Chalcedony which starts showing itself right on the trail. There is a lot in the canyon. Another old sign is in the canyon bottom. I just wandered in the canyon, it is broad and shallow, but with more water, and some slickrock pool areas. Thousands of flowers and neat rock kept me interested. I saw one big print; think it's a bear. The trees were mostly pinyon juniper and some short pine trees, and lots of manzanita. There are indications of a trail to South Skeleton canyon, the way I want will be up to Salt Canyon and into Skeleton via Pine tank.
I lost the trail twice, but recovered it no problem. I don't use a GPS but had the topo map with me and that was good enough.
A very nice canyon, well worth the short walk. Off trail here could be tough, with all the manzanita. |
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