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| Hiking | 10.15 Miles |
2,029 AEG |
| | Hiking | 10.15 Miles | 6 Hrs 35 Mns | | 1.67 mph |
| 2,029 ft AEG | 31 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | Ginny and I took a three day Trip to the Chiricahua Mountains, since Ginny had never been we made the first day a hike in Chiricahua National Monument. We did a loop using the Mushroom, Big Balanced Rock, Sarah Deming and Echo Canyon Trails. This area never ceases to amaze me. There was only one other vehicle in the park when we arrived not counting the one park vehicle which was empty. We encountered a few other people later in the day but for the most part the park was empty. Didn't see any masks all day but a couple of people we did see would get to the side of the trail and turn away and look down when you passed by them. So sad that people are so afraid.
Trails in the monument are in excellent condition unlike many of the trails in the Chiricahua Mountains. The only downside to the trails are the numerous steps which take a toll on your legs and thighs by the end of the day. Don't know how else you would make a trail that has a lot of elevation change and control erosion without them though. Install escalators? The Big Balanced rock Trail is about the only fairly level Trail. Took two side trips from the loop the first being Inspiration Point and the other the Heart Of Rocks Trail. Both these trails are a must do if you are on the loop. If I was a kid again (my age not the way I act) I would of loved to have the Heart of Rocks as my back yard, my mother never would of found me. I would also like to know what glue they use to keep Big Balanced Rock, Mushroom Rock and Pinnacle Balanced Rock in place, They should not be standing. I chose going in the clockwise direction because the Echo Canyon Trail is so impressive and would keep our minds off of how tired we were. Views from Inspiration Point were good but the atmosphere was a bit hazy so you had to use your imagination to see the Rincon Mountains and Santa Rita Mountains.
There was a scant amount of water in places along the creeks but not as much as I would of expected. The weather was in the low 50's starting out at 0830 and in the upper 70's by end of the day. We finished around 3 in the afternoon and headed over the Chiricahua's where we would spend the night at Portal Lodge. The road over the mountain was in good shape and only one other car on it when we went through. |
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