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| Hiking | 12.00 Miles |
1,282 AEG |
| | Hiking | 12.00 Miles | | | |
| 1,282 ft AEG | | | | |
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| no partners | | | All the preplanning in the world doesn't mean things will go as planned. Chiricahua Peak seemed a reasonable first hike of a 10 day AZ vacation. It was my original intent to do an overnight camping near one of the meadows (parks) being that the day before I was accustomed to near sea level and not 8500 plus feet. Because I arrived at the trailhead too late in the day to capture meaningful distance, I decided to just do a day hike the next day to see how far I could get. A dozen or so deer were waiting to flee from my car as I pulled into Rustlers Park an hour before dusk. The musky smell of the pines is something I very much miss for the eastern forests lack the pungency. I didn't even bother to set up my tent laying my kit on the site's picnic table. This saved me the trouble of taking the tent down as around midnight the wind picked up and some rather large limbs fell about the camp. I sought refuge in my Nissan 'tent'. In the morning I unfolded mysel and sure enough, there was a small branch broken across the table. I packed a heavy daypack for possible emergency and struck out for Flys Peak. The altitude did have some effect on the initial short climb out of Rustlers Park so I paced myself. The trail descriptions mentioned The Rattlesnake Burn and that deadfall and ruin were to be expected. Trails have been cleared and the forest is in recovery. Aspen have taken hold in much of the burn and add a lush bright green between the stark black standing dead. I found it quite beautiful and ironically there are now nice views. I couldn't see the whole of the burn area, but it seemed to cover a few stripes through the area, leaving most of the forest untouched. Summiting Fly required a short break, but I made good time so I decided to try for Chiricahua. On the way down, four ravens were playing with the updraft. I had heard that the Chiricahua Raven had interesting vocalizations so I tried the "bird in distress" call to see if I could bring them in. Sure enough they were curious and came within 30-40' but continued their usual deep caw. I tried some calls of my own to see if they would respond differently and was treated to a 'conversation' of unchickenlike clucks and burbling sounds. *That* was different! Had I not another objective and more time, I'd have spent more time experimenting. I routed six or so deer on the rise beyond Round Park. The trail was clear and gradual all the way to the Peak and I made such great time I was able to take an extended break at Cima Park on the way back. The afternoon light was reddening by the time I was descending through the large ponderosa pines near Rusters Park. One hiker was coming up the trail, not 10 minutes from the Park and when it hit me. He was the only person I'd seen all day. |
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