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| | | Chiricahua traverse loopy thing, AZ | | | |
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Chiricahua traverse loopy thing, AZ
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| Backpack | 24.11 Miles |
5,525 AEG |
| | Backpack | 24.11 Miles | 49 Hrs 43 Mns | | 0.67 mph |
| 5,525 ft AEG | | 25 LBS Pack | | |
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| no partners | | Last month I got to go up Saulsbury into the Chiricahuas for the first time in 25 years, and now I got to do it again!
My friend Corey wasn't able to go with us in August, so he asked to go in September. We did a similar circuit starting in West Turkey Creek, ascending Saulsbury Thursday, spending two nights at Cima Cabin, and descending Morse Canyon this time instead of Pole Bridge. On Friday we did a day hike to Centella Point and summited Flys Peak.
Saulsbury Trail #263
See my August triplog for a more detailed description. Notable changes this time were: no more water in the creek, and somebody cleared the thicket of locust trees that we had to crawl through before. I'd brought some clippers this time but didn't need them!
Crest Trail #270, Greenhouse Trail #248, Cima Cabin
Not much different to report since last month, though I missed the sign for Greenhouse Trail because I was looking on the ground, and someone had hung it back up on a tree using cord. You can't miss it unless you are expecting it to be lying on the ground. 
Lots more rodent activity in the outhouse, with piles of nesting material accumulating on a nightly basis. BYOTP.
Booger Spring
We took a side trip to Booger Spring so I could show Corey where it was. The trail is totally clear and free of deadfall; I hadn't been through in a while; last time I was there I remember quite a bit of deadfall. It was nice not having to scramble over giant tree trunks. At the spring, as predicted the box was full. What I didn't expect was the overflow trough to have water in it, too. I stand by my estimation that Booger Spring is the best of the Crest.
Bear Wallow #333
I guess someone must have taken all the deadfall from Booger Spring trail and moved it to Bear Wallow. Last time I was on Bear Wallow there was no deadfall and it was clear the whole way. Now, just past Bear Wallow Spring moving toward Centella, there are many large downed trees covering the trail. Pink flagging tape marks the route, but don't go this way unless you're fit enough to scramble over a series of giant trunks.
Bear Wallow spring was full, though no flow across the trail as I've seen in the past. Every time I've been by here the lid is off; I left it as I found it.
Centella Trail #334
This is a really nice trail. I'd been on it once in the past to Centella Point. The leg east of Bear Wallow junction is quite lovely and varied, with patches of meadow, young forest, old forest, aspen groves... all punctuated with impressive views, especially to the south. The trail is in good shape with a few exceptions; minor deadfall here and there (nothing you can't step over), and one stretch through a meadow where the trail disappears in the wildflowers and grass. The aspens around Centella Point have definitely grown since I was last there, and the views are starting to get obstructed to the east and northeast. From the grassy clearing though you get a nice panorama to the south, southeast, and southwest. It's a great view.
On our return we took Centella to Flys Park. This is a cool, shady stroll through a densely vegetated tunnel of aspens and remnant old growth pine. There is an unmarked drainage about halfway between the Bear Wallow junction and Flys Park that had water flow and a useful pool by the trail. Tub Spring is a bit further west but was less useful.
Flys Peak Trail #337
After a brief debate about returning to Cima via the Crest or Flys Peak, we settled on the climb to Flys Peak. It was a bit of a workout but not too bad. Like Centella, the trail up from Flys Park is mostly a hike through an aspen tunnel, though the peak is still pine forest. There is a nice campsite, the foundation of an old lookout tower, and a log book. There are also lots of fascinating gnarly old trees and a halfway decent view to the west. We passed a couple hikers from Apache Junction on the way up, and chatted with them a bit when they met us at the summit.
We descended the south slope, which was badly burned. The trail is in good condition and easier to follow than I remember from a past trip. The trail does completely disappear in the last couple hundred feet as it enters Round Park, but you can see the sign and just walk toward it. It seems finding the trail headed up from Round Park might be a bit more difficult.
Crest Trail #270B
The only notable difference about this leg between my August trip and this one, is that the crime scene I discovered over a month prior was still there. That was a big disappointment, since I had reported it to the Forest Service who then reported it to law enforcement. Corey had a large enough trash bag with him so we gathered it all up and I lashed it to my pack, then tried to restore the area to a more natural state.
Turtle Mountain Trail #219
We passed the only other hikers we'd see all day, a couple headed in the opposite direction.
Morse Canyon Trail #43
In August I'd hiked out Pole Bridge, but we opted for a shorter route to the car and took Morse Canyon instead. It's probably the best maintained trail I've been on in the Chiricahuas. It's also really pretty, and mostly healthy pine forest with lushly vegetated burn scars yielding raspberries in season.
We hiked the road back to the shortcut to the car, and bushwhacked the rest of the way. Saw two deer while bushwhacking.
Overall a fabulous and enjoyable trip with lovely weather, though it was windy on Saturday. Dead quiet, abundant solitude, and amazing nature. |
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Autumn Foliage Observation Isolated
Aspens just starting to turn. |
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Wildflowers Observation Substantial
Huge meadows of wildflowers throughout the crest. Somebody did something about the raspberries, as I only found a half dozen in 24 miles. |
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Bear Wallow Spring |
Quart per minute |
Quart per minute |
| | | Spring box is full. As always it seems, the lid is off. |
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Booger Spring |
Gallon per minute |
Gallon per minute |
| | | No visible flow in the drainage but there’s plenty in the spring box, clear and easy to collect. Even the overflow box had some but it’s better straight from the spring. |
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Cima Spring |
Gallon per minute |
Gallon per minute |
| | | Some flow and large pool to collect from. Finally found the developed spring box. It’s got water but it’s easier and cleaner in the creek. |
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Tub Spring |
Dripping |
Dripping |
| | | Nothing in the tub but there is a trickle and small puddle on the trail. Not particularly easy to collect from but technically possible. There's a better spot in a drainage a ways down the trail to the east. | | | |
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Route Editor
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Linda had the plan so I could just kick back and go along for the trip. The weather was warmer than expected and the breeze cooled us down later on. I thought it might be cold but the temperature was nice and even a little warm at the end. The views were good and the trails fairly easy to hike. After hiking the Flatiron on Wednesday I wasn't sure if I'd do well at this higher elevation but I never really had any shortness of breath. Linda kept a nice steady (easy) pace and even took a detour so I could find some pot sherds. 
. Cool. The summits were all nice but the better views were actually on the trails along the way. Linda had 4 peak options but I only had 3 in me. Still a nice outing and the conversation and banter were quite enjoyable! 
Thanks to Linda for planning and driving and Wally for getting up so early and joining us! Like HAZ , you two rock!!
