| |
|
| | |
|
| Hiking | 6.60 Miles |
1,428 AEG |
| | Hiking | 6.60 Miles | 3 Hrs 23 Mns | | 2.12 mph |
| 1,428 ft AEG | 16 Mns Break | 15 LBS Pack | | |
|
|
| |
| Linked |
|
none
[ show ]
| no linked trail guides |
| Partners |
|
[ show ]
| partners | | This was the first of four days of hiking in SE AZ, staying at an Air BnB in the shadow of the Sulphur Hills between the Dragoon and Chiricahua Mountains.
The obligatory long drive meant a late morning start but the 6K' elevation helped provide pleasant hiking conditions with temps in the 70's. Since neither of us had ever been in the Chiricahua Wilderness everything was a new experience.
The Turkey Pen Trail allows no time to loosen up before the immediate 400'/mile climb followed by a steep descent, which was what this hike amounted to... the out-and-back hike included four steep climbs followed by four steep descents. The first half-mile my hip joints were a real pain but eventually faded away... or my brain felt it wasn't worthy of notice and put it into an 'ignore' box.
Other than a few spots where it was a bit vague the trail was reasonably obvious. Only when we took the short detour across Turkey Creek to visit the long-gone Fitch Corral did it take a bit of trail-finding, mainly because someone (an equestrian) had added a few pink ribbons where the trail WAS NOT.
The corral was pretty much all of nothing... some old rock walls that didn't seem to 'corral' anything and a fire ring with a wood 'bench' of sorts. Due to the late morning start we took advantage of the bench and shade for a relaxing lunch break. Upon heading back to cross Turkey Creek the trail was more obvious... and where it was expected to be.
I had the familiar hip pain again after the break but they dissipated quickly... only for squawking from the knees on the descents. But overall it wasn't that tough, with 98/130 the average & max HR.
After a long 45 mile drive to the Air BnB (1st 10 on very dusty gravel road) we were set to relax and cook some dinner... only to lose power. Oh great, without power there was no water... hmmm, seems to me it would be a good idea to have a pressure tank so at least some water would be available during a power loss. And yes, even a backup generator. While we were informed the outage was over a wider area, we could help but look at the power line to the house running through the middle of a tree which was whipping back-and-forth in the high winds... of which would be the case all week. On the drive back every afternoon we'd see large dust-devils in the open fields. |
| _____________________
| | |
|
|
|
|
|
| |
Route Editor
Route Scout
