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| Hiking | 10.62 Miles |
2,101 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.62 Miles | 7 Hrs 8 Mns | | 1.86 mph |
| 2,101 ft AEG | 1 Hour 25 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | ABC car-camping trip to the West Stronghold was a big success. I often find it difficult to get folks from north of the Gila River divide to head south, but this time I had 10 takers for the scenic Dragoon mountains. It was great to have so many eager hikers to explore this granite boulder wonderland.
Day 1 we arrived and did Council Rocks (separate triplog) at sunset after finding a great campsite at the Stronghold Canyon trail head (there was a stroke of great luck). This meant that...
Day 2 started straight out from camp hiking up to the Stronghold Divide. The dry conditions made for a poor showing of wildflowers and dry creek beds, but even in the worst conditions these mountains are magnificent. As we hiked up the steeper grade of the West Stronghold trail, we were treated to plenty of birdsong and many turkey-vulture sightings, but no eagles (which I look for each time I'm here - they're supposed to nest at Rockafellow Dome). The sky was clear, with a few wandering clouds and amazing views in every direction - including off to the mountains where I'd hiked with Sirena the week before.
Half-Moon tank was nearly empty (quarter-moon as Angela called it). The East Stronghold campground was nearly full. Our group was split up for most of the hike, but everyone was able to move at their own comfortable pace, which always makes for a fun day. In the end, I decided that I prefer the hike starting in the West - that way you get the steep climb done early in the day and your views in the afternoon are amAZing!
We made it back to camp in time to relax, have a beer, and head back out to Council Rocks for another sunset photoshoot. Life certainly is good! |
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Wildflowers Observation Isolated
Almost none, really...dry dry dry! |
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Change will not come if we wait for some other person or some other time. We are the ones we've been waiting for. We are the change that we seek.- Barack Obama |
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