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| Backpack | 17.00 Miles |
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| | Backpack | 17.00 Miles | 2 Days | | |
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| no partners | | Decided to go to the Galiuros versus New Mexico--no surprise there. The hike I had mapped out in the Gila I was not that excited about, but may still go in September. I drove the long rough road into Jackson cabin treated to a beautiful sunrise and threw my pack on for an overnight. It was hot and very humid, like walking in a sauna. The big spring box was dry but a short distance away a large metal trough was full of cool water at the cabin. I walked down the side canyon then up Redfield,enjoying the massive Oak and Sycamore trees and nice trail; to Hooker cabin. Something had torn the door off and it had been placed in the cabin. The log was loose papers, mainly looked like NOLS groups through the last year or so. I tidied that up so it wouldn't get blown away or wet.
I was feeling the heat and decided to do some exploring as usually I am hell bent on getting somewhere. On maps an old trail shows up continuing up Redfield canyon and exiting near the head. The more modern trail takes off a short distance up the canyon bottom from the cabin. I continued on upcanyon. Some poking around yielded some crude pictographs in an overhang
and a chokestone up the side canyon that held Negro Spring. I found trail remnants, animal maintained now. Most of the trail gone due to flooding taking away a lot of the bank, or piling old flood debris on it.
I was drinking lots of water and decided I better get to shade for a while. I climbed the catclawed deteriorating main trail up, noted some water pockets in some slickrock, and headed to the small saddle and kept on the trail while keeping an eye on the darkening sky, thunderheads rising. I wanted to be somewhere I could see a ways for the monsoons. The new fire restrictions boundary would not afford views so I didn't bother going there.
I found a small level spot off a saddle between a small cedar tree and a rock and set up there. I was experimenting with my new "summer" set up at least for desert hikes. No sleeping bag, pad with some light insulation, silk bag liner, no stove, just snacks and cold food. I had a new tent, Nemo single person, trail weight advertised at 2 lbs. I switched out the stuff sack and stakes for lighter ones I already had. Must say it did a good job---Pluses--- seems close to accurate weight, well made not too wimpy, plenty of stretch out room for me, clever design and plenty of venting of fly, nice small overhead headlamp storage area.
Minus-- the clever fly cut outs make me wonder how protective in wind, and it is semi freestanding, some staking at the foot is required.
About 30 min after I had everything placed the rain started. I battened down the hatches then the thunder and lightning and wind gusts arrived. During the day I had prayed for a breeze while I was hiking and sweating. I love being out in the monsoons, it rained very steady for about 20 min, water running off the fly. It broke and I went out to take a few pictures near sunset, then sprinted for the tent as more rain started. As I read it rained. I hoped for a good wetting for the fire. When I fell asleep I would wake periodically to a light tapping on the fly throughout the night. No condensation in the tent, despite in the morning packing up feeling like I was in the rain forest, everything damp.
Going back I checked out a few more nooks and crannies, in the volcanic rock. It was like 90 percent humidity. The canyon was so pretty with it's park like sections with much appreciated shade. Wish I brought some pruners for the catclaw. Saw large bear droppings and a large black furry behind galloping through the woods, I never had a chance at the camera.
Back at the car, the only one there. Driving out saw some folks on a quad, possibly from Muleshoe. As a side note, apparently the conservancy? had decided to remove the buildings associated the Pride Ranch. Wonder what the story on that is. I took a side road down to a fading adobe, and had a snack in the shade of the huge Ash tree there.
Another wonderful Galiuro visit, my heat tolerance didn't permit me to be there longer but I enjoyed what I did see and do. |
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