Chiricahuas

Just got back from a short backpacking trip to the Chiricahua Mountains. The warmup for Frank Church continues, and this was a very good trip.

The thing that struck me most was how easy the trails were to hike on, even with packs. I guess I’ve been doing too many hikes in the front range (Pusch ridge) of the Catalinas. Our last backpacking trip took us up and over Romero pass, which was not easy.

We camped at Anita Park (nearby Anita spring was running well, though we packed all the water we used) where the wind howled all day and night but the scenery was fantastic. The park (a meadow) was on the edge of a burned area, giving us shade and good views. We hiked out to Monte Vista lookout tower after setting up camp which took us through more beautiful country.

It was very interesting to see the effect of the extensive 1994 fire. Many of the areas look exactly like the burn area on Sutherland/Samaniego. It’s been 9 years and the recovery is slow going. Still, while the fire rages on in the Catalinas, the trip gave me hope. The ’94 Chiricahua fire was almost 30,000 acres yet much of the forest remains intact. The area is still beautiful and the burn opened up vast views. I never saw the area before the fire, so I can’t really say, but I’m not sure the fire is really detracting from the experience. They have done some nice work on the Crest trail but still the deadfall continues to be a problem. We didn’t bring saws, but hopping over trees on foot isn’t nearly as bad as dismounting and hopping them when on 2 wheels.

The next morning we did the short hike up to the high point of the range – Chiricahua peak at ~9785 feet. Then on the way out along the crest trail we took alternate routes to Booger Spring (dry), Flys Peak and Long Park.

Guidebooks and local knowledge claimed the Crest trail to be very popular and difficult to find solitude on. During the whole trip we did not see a single soul on the trail. Unless you count the ranger at the Monte Vista lookout, who we didn’t see, but I’m sure s/he saw us. I think we logged around 21 miles of trail.

If I have any energy left after the summer in Frank Church, I’ll definitely be going back out on the Crest trail.