Join the Muleteam this Saturday to explore some unique art & unusual views by way of Bisbee's most interesting stairs. Be prepared to climb at a reasonable pace with planned stops for less than 4 miles. Bring water, lunch and probably a camera, but no dogs. Back early afternoon or drop out when you want. Meet March 17 at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to begin the hike. Free. For more details contact Larry 224-4951 or sunstudio@cableone.net.
Similar but not the same as the route last year - with new surprises. The hike will end midday at the Muheim house where you will have the options to picnic on the lawn for lunch, tour the house for a $4 donation or just head on back home.
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BACKTRACK - Heart of Rocks
At about 8:10 AM six hikers left the courthouse in two vehicles for the Heart of Rocks hike in Chiricahua National Monument last Saturday. Enough Senior Passes were available to provide all six with free entrance to the NM, but at the entrance we found that no fee was being charged, with or without passes. The reason for this was never determined, but possibly it was related to some kind of centennial year for opening of certain Parks and Monuments. Chiricahua NM may have opened in 1918-- sounds about right.
At the Massai Point trailhead two others joined the hike, making a final total of 8 hikers. We all hiked together as far as the side trail to Inspiration Point, where we split into two groups-- one intending to return after getting inspired at the point, and the other going on to complete the Heart of Rocks as originally planned. The reason given for three of those returning early, was to arrive back in Bisbee in time for the Return of Turkey Buzzards Parade or something like that. There are so many bizarre events held in town these days, that it's hard to keep track of all of them. One had an event in Tucson that prevented completing the whole hike-- though one wonders why any of the hike was fitted into those Saturday schedules at all. Doesn't seem likely that a revelation came suddenly that no time was available to fit in both.
Another unstated reason may have been the uncertain weather. Though the forecast was definite about no rain expected until late Saturday, the sky became heavily overcast with some wind along the higher elevation sections of the hike. No moisture of any kind-- even a light misting-- was encountered at all on the hike, and up to a couple of dozen other hikers were met along the hike route. Lunch was eaten in a sheltered spot down in the drainage where the two ends of the H of R loop come together. For me, in spite of the shorts I was wearing, the temperature was perfect while on the trail and only a little cool while stopped, especially with a light windbreaker on. Noone complained about getting so cold that we needed to cut our lunch break short, so we took our time. Though the loop can be done in either a clockwise or CCW direction, we decided that the CW way we chose was the correct one because all the formation name signs were turned to face that direction of travel.
We stopped briefly at the Visitor Center which was crowded close to capacity with bustling activity, to pick up some pins provided for hikers in the backcountry. We were lucky to find one last unoccupied parking space for us to park in. Several CC Sheriff's Office vehicles and Search and Rescue personnel were there-- one vehicle not finding a space-- apparently because of someone who suffered a minor medical episode along a trail, which was easily attended to. We did not see the "victim", who must have been somewhere other than where we were.
Our only moisture of the day was a light sprinkling on our windshield after we had begun driving back on US 191 near Elfrida. Arrival back in town was shortly before 4:30, with plenty of daylight left. -Brad
Two 360 photo links from the hike. Click on 'Fisheye' in the upper right corner of the photos to experiment with 4 modes. Below is a screen shot of one.
https://rebrand.ly/InspirationPoint
https://rebrand.ly/EdRiggsTrail
CALENDAR
Mar 24 - Council Rocks in the Dragoons with Loretta
Mar 31 - Hunter Canyon in the Huachucas with Jan B
Apr 7 - San Pedro hike and riverside picnic with Doug
Apr 14 - Slavin Gulch in the Dragoons with Sandy
April 20-21-22 - Silver Peak camp-hike in the Chiricahuas with Brad
April 28 - ?
May 5 - ?
May 12 - Possible last hike & potluck. Any suggestions?
Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry
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Muleteam archive photos - muleteam.shutterfly.com
Muleteam & Bisbee gifts - cafepress.com/bisbeegear
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