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| Patagonia Mountains exploration, AZ | | -
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| | Patagonia Mountains exploration, AZ | | | |
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Patagonia Mountains exploration, AZ
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| no partners | | Spent the weekend accompanying my sister in the Patagonia Mountains on part of her Coues Deer hunting expedition, mostly in the "driver" role. This was an area I had never been before, so I was excited to see it.
Started out off of FR4684, near Walnut Well. Hiked up to the top of a hill, didn't spot anything (other than a coatimundi). After about an hour here, were drove around a bit, and then headed over to Flux Canyon Road on the other side of the mountain. At the junction of FR812 and FR4685 (just to the west of the Hermosa mine), we saw a doe headed up the canyon, so we decided to head up the side road. This was really a pretty canyon, with stands of Ponderosa and Chihuahua Pine in the bottom, and oak on the slopes. About a mile up, we spotted two bucks crossing the road, and they just sat there looking at us... Unfortunately my sister didn't have her gun ready, and they scrammed by the time she got out of the car. They probably didn't know how close they came to death in that moment! Decided to explore the rest of the way up the road, and there was actually a spring there with a little trickle. Headed back to camp after this.
In the afternoon, we headed back around the mountain, and walked part of the way up FR4701. This was another nice shady canyon, just over the ridge from where we were earlier in the day. Saw a pretty big arch up on the ridge separating the canyons. Headed back down as it started raining. Decided to head further south, but the rain got heavier and heavier, so it just turned into a scenic drive down to Duquesne Road and down through Sycamore Canyon.
Sunday morning, we headed back to FR4685, hoping to see more deer there. Spent a couple hours in the canyon, but nothing this time. Hiked a little bit past the end of the road where the canyon narrows, and there's a nice little pour off that could be pretty cool when it's flowing. Also found a pretty odd little religious shrine across from a mine. Saw a few more little arches on the south side of the canyon. As far as hikes go in this area, it would probably be pretty worthwhile just to park at Flux Canyon Road and walk up the road, and beyond. Saw a band of coatimundi in here as well. After we gave up here, we started heading back down, and saw a deer bound across the road. It was moving. We decided to check out FR215 on the way back, and found a nice little overlook that we thought might work for glassing.
Sunday afternoon, we headed around the mountain to check out Soldier Basin. It looked like a potentially decent spot for deer to hang out, with a couple of springs and some clearings. Took FR4698 in, and it was fun, a legitimate Jeep road. Lots of wooded areas and clearings, it was definitely where I'd hang out if I were a deer. Saw another group of hunters in there too. Headed down to the end of the road, where there was an old structure...and also a group of yahoos with a UTV blaring music. The reason for the lack of deer in the area was no longer a mystery. At the pass where the road starts dropping into the basin, we found a migrant trail along the crest that could be a decent hike. Headed over towards Guajolote Flat, and saw no deer, but another coati. We had called it a day, but I decided to head further out FR58 in Corral Canyon, where we saw a couple of bucks with the last gasp of daylight. Just as she was taking aim, a group of hunters in one of those obnoxiously loud side-by-side came by and scared them off. Boo.
Monday morning was my last little jaunt on the trip, and we headed back out Flux Canyon, and sat at the overlook for a bit... But it was windy and drizzly and kinda miserable. My sister wanted to go down in the canyon, so we drove further down. Nice spot there, some foundations (probably an old mining camp), and a shady canyon. This one would probably be worth exploring further up and down the canyon on foot. Drove back up towards the mine (saw another coati of course), then down FR5785 to Flux Mine. Saw a few deer heading up the other side of the canyon, but they turned out to be does. After this, we decided to check out Three R Canyon. Drove a ways up FR215 and turned around (same number as the Flux Canyon offshoot; they don't connect on the map). Took 4679 down to 235, and then followed that the rest of the way out.
Have to say, the Patagonia Mountains are pretty, but there's not much (or anything?) in the way of hiking trails, and you can't throw a rock without hitting a mine. It's a great area for 4x4 travel, though, and there is a ton of seclusion. |
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