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| Hiking | 4.30 Miles |
1,494 AEG |
| | Hiking | 4.30 Miles | 5 Hrs 49 Mns | | 1.40 mph |
| 1,494 ft AEG | 2 Hrs 45 Mns Break | | | |
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| partners | | It was HAZFest Winter 2012. What to do in one of our favorite mountain ranges in AZ? I printed out a couple options, what I called Plan Bs. But Wendy had a slightly different idea where I chose the lesser hike of Cochise Peak, she chose Black Diamond Peak and so Black Diamond Peak it was. Next, it was our hike to El Charro for carne seca and prickly pear cactus margaritas. We split the big plate. It was delish! 
Saturday morning, even though Wendy woke up with a sore throat and a cough  , she said "Let's hike". We headed to the Dragoons from the east side via Dragoon Road, Pearce (don't blink) and over the pass on Middlemarch Road. It's definitely a bumpy ride and when you turn on 4393, well it's much more difficult so we only went in a little ways before parking Bu. We geared up and started walking up and up and up  the old mining road. In about 1/2 mile from where we started the views to the north toward the Stronghold and east started opening up. Lilo was leading the way though and hurried us on  .
Once we got to the end of the mining road (after hanging a left over the roller coaster part - I presume this was done on purpose by someone?) we arrived at the saddle. We could see views to the SW that were just a teaser to what was coming up. I thot we were hiking to the peak directly to the south of us so had that in my head while we were re-reading the directions as there was not a trail here or any cairns. After re-reading the hike desc when I got back, he called that Peak part of the southern spine of the Dragoons.
We could both see the game trail through the tall golden grass as it flanked this side of Black Diamond so off we went. You're walking on a very slanted path and some areas are a bit precarious at times but nothing unmanageable. Little did we know this would seem a piece of cake compared to what waited for us on the ridgeline and summit routes. The cane chollas were wearing their big and beautiful yellow fruit  . It was such a sight; plus the cholla themselves were pretty good sized.
And of course, once you get to the middle of this 1/2 mile stretch, your views to the Huachucas and Whetstones are really something  . Plus you get an incredible view of Rincon Peak. It did get a little windy and cool here but soon we were at the south saddle where across the way you could see a mineshaft entrance and tailings. There also happened to be a big pile of snow right there. It was now time for lunch so we found a sheltered area and lucky for us the sun stayed out and the wind died down.
After lunch, your task is  up the fairly steep ridge (fortunately not far). And while this had some little challenges the most difficulty was still ahead (but what you don't know....  ). I did pass by what I presume was a mining stake. I also encountered two little colorful rainbow cactus (before death begins: http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=124805) where the middle was missing. Wendy tells me this is how they die  . And soon we were at the top where we knew the false peaks would present themselves. And they did, one after the other, after the other, after the other. This is not necessarily a bad thing. It was the obstacles we encountered like trees, cactus, exposure, narrow routes and climbing at times (that would be climbing up, under, through and over stuff  ); that was the bad thing.
It was when we got to the last peak before the peak, we both looked at each other. I was thinking, how could that last peak be so far away  ? Wendy wasn't feeling the best either plus she was not liking the exposure (although she really didn't say anything and I didn't want to mention how well I thot she was doing for fear of jinxing her). I gave her every opportunity to back out as I would have no problem coming back here again. But you know how it goes when you're that close, you buck up and forge ahead  .
Moments later, well not really moments, but a little bit and some exposure later, we finally found ourselves on the Summit  . The sun came out and there was virtually no wind. And the 360 vistas from here were nothing short of pumpkin amAZing. Let's see how I do (you can see on Video 2 as I did a 360): We'll start with the mountains directly in front of us as we face east: Dos Cabezas, Pinalenos, Cochise Stronghold, Whetstones, the snow covered Huachucas, the Mules and the snow covered Chiricahuas. Now is that something or what!!!
We did enjoy the summit for about 10 minutes before gathering our stuff and heading back over the peakline where once again we encountered the trees, cactus, exposure, narrow routes and climbing at times (that would be climbing up, under, through and over stuff ). And as always on this type of hiking, it is easier going back as you know the route a little better and your angle of vision is clearer (the angle was slightly down).
And then there's the steep decline down to the saddle  and it wasn't easy either. Both of us were thinking on the trek back how this would not be the best place to hike during snake season  . Interesting enough though, I came right by the mining stake I had seen earlier and the two little dieing cactus. I had a little trouble with the navigating as we got closer to the saddle when I went a little low and left where you need to stay a little high and right. But we found the area with the tree where we had our lunch. We had decided earlier that we would need to get a picture of our Black Diamond poles on Black Diamond Peak with the Black Diamond mineshaft in the background. The sun was totally not in the right place for this so my pics didn't turn out that well.
Once we were done amusing ourselves with our wittiness, it was time to make our way on the trail. This time we both went too high and just as we were yelling for Lilo to join us, we realize she is on the right trail just below us so we followed her. This would happen again as we tried to get from the north saddle back to the road. Lilo would keep us on the straight and narrow  . Our walk across this slanted 1/2 mile section went much quicker this time. The sun was really making the grass glow as well as the rock outcroppings above us. We hiked the last mile on the mining road in a 1/2 hr discussing coming back to this area with Gary and King Gilbert for camping. We would hike Cochise Peak and with Gary we can visit Council Rocks. Yep sounds good to me. 
Video 1: hike up the old mining road to the saddle, over the western flank to the south saddle - http://youtu.be/pYYSF7KVC-c
Video 2: up the ridge, along the summit, at the summit and back down - http://youtu.be/pYYSF7KVC-c |
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For me, sometimes it's just as much about the journey as the destination.
Oh, and once in awhile, don't forget to look back at the trail you've traveled. |
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Route Editor
Route Scout
Middlemarch road was in good shape, though not super-fast through the pass. Once we turned off onto 4393, things got notably rougher. I might have made it in further with Bu if I'd been more adventurous, but we were here to hike afterall. We parked just a ways past the parking area described in the write up and headed off on foot with Lilo in tow.
