Mural Hill

HIKE TO MURAL HILL
Join the Muleteam this Saturday from Old Bisbee to the edge of the high flat-top mountain best seen from the traffic circle. This trail of desert path and unused dirt road is a mostly uphill walk with a short, steep scramble to the top and thorny in places. It's about 7 miles total with a wonderful view from the crest. Bring water and lunch. Back mid-afternoon. Meet Jan 5 at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to start the hike. Free. For more details contact Larry at sunstudio@cableone.net or 224-4951.

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BACKTRACK - Joe's Canyon
The hike today to Joe's canyon to be led by Joe was postponed due to an accumulation of white stuff falling from the sky. Instead three brave souls of dubious intelligence hiked the city trail. While cold the views were awesome. -Joe

And one hiker showed up at Joe's Canyon, and she hiked to the ridge and back.



SIDETRACK - Photo reminder
Muleteam photos starting from 2000 are at muleteam.shutterfly.com. You can add your own hike photos to the page by joining shutterfly with your email address. Pretty easy.



CALENDAR - Jan 12 needs a hike NOW!...Anyone?
Note the changes: one hike was cancelled and one shifted.

Jan 12 - ??????
Jan 19 - Parker Lake & wine tasting with John W
Jan 26 - Little Boquillas ranch with Sandy & Ken
Feb 2 - ?
Feb 9 - Oversite or Ida Canyon in the Huachucas with Brad
Feb 16 - Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoons with Molly & Sandy
Feb 23 - ?
....

Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry

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Joe's Canyon

HIKE JOE'S CANYON TRAIL
Join the Muleteam this Saturday to hike from the Coronado Visitor Center through a very scenic valley in the Huachuca Mountains to Coronado Peak for a view of Mexico. This is a continuous uphill trail returning down the same way for a total of about 6.5 miles. Bring water and lunch but no dogs. Back mid-afternoon. Meet Dec 29 at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to carpool. Free, but gas donation is appreciated. For more details contact Joe at Joseph@rekindleyoursoul.com or 320-282-8857.

Optional meeting place is Coronado Visitor Center parking lot about 9:30.
If it works out with carpooling there could be a separate optional hike to the Mexican border.

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BACKTRACK - the Cross
Twenty-one hikers and five dogs gathered for this year's almost Christmas hike to the cross. A more beautiful day could not have been ordered! At the top, Larry took our weekly photo, setting up the timer and running as fast as possible, without tripping, to join us in the picture. We took our time at the cross breathing in the beautiful surroundings and enjoying the camaraderie of our fellow hikers. Some folks detoured down the hill on a lesser known path both steep and rocky to take in the Martin Luther shrine, but we were all reunited at the trailhead. Many of us re-grouped at High Desert and enjoyed a delicious lunch and good conversation. Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah, Feliz Navidad, Joyeaux Noel, Frohliche Weihnachten - Wishing all a Happy Holiday! Thanks, Larry for keeping the Muleteam happening:) -Jan

Cool group photo below and one more is at muleteam.shutterfly.com.



CALENDAR - Feb 2 or 9? Anyone?
Jan 5 - Mural Hill in the Mule Mtns with Larry
Jan 12 - Parker Lake & wine tasting with John W
Jan 19 - Florida Canyon trail in Mt Wrightson wilderness with Steve
Jan 26 - Little Boquillas ranch with Sandy & Ken
Feb 2 - ?
Feb 9 - ?
Feb 16 - Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoons with Molly & Sandy
Feb 23 - ?
....

Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry

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Bisbee Cross

ALMOST CHRISTMAS EVE HIKE
You are all welcome to join the Muleteam on Saturday, Dec 22 for a short hike to the Cross above Old Bisbee. This is a local hike and mostly easy (except the short ascent to the Cross) with the very best views of Bisbee. Meet 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to begin the hike. Bring water. We'll be back to High Desert by midday for those who want to have lunch or who have afternoon plans. Contact Jan at bolduc03@aol.com or 704-299-6614.

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BACKTRACK - Zacatecas/potluck
The Zacatecas hike had 21 people on a cool cloudy day. When we reached the area that recently burned Charlie & Marty turned back to attend to the potluck at their house later. Others joined the potluck, and about 30 of us enjoyed the good food and company of old & new friends. Thanks to our hosts for this annual pre-holiday event.  -Larry

Susan took the photo below of most of the group, and more are at muleteam.shutterfly.com.



CALENDAR
Dec 29 - Joe's Canyon in the Huachucas with Joe
Jan 5 - Mural Hill in the Mule Mtns with Larry
Jan 12 - Parker Lake & wine tasting with John W
Jan 19 - Florida Canyon trail in Mt Wrightson wilderness with Steve
Jan 26 - Little Boquillas ranch with Sandy & Ken
Feb 2 - ?
Feb 9 - Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoons with Molly & Sandy
Feb 16 - ?
....

Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry

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Zacatecas potluck

ZACATECAS HIKE & POTLUCK
Join the Muleteam this Saturday for a hike along Zacatecas Canyon and into the Mule Mountains with views of town and the recent burned area. Loop trail is about 3 total miles with some uphill areas and rough footing. Bring water and a dish to share for an optional potluck lunch after the hike. Back early afternoon. Meet Dec 15 at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to carpool. Free. For more details contact Charlie at charles.winters@oneonta.edu or 607-435-5041.

More Details...
Meet at the fountain to carpool or go directly to Charlie & Marty's house to drop off potluck dishes and begin the hike. The address is 232 Brewery Gulch. For those who may want to come to the potluck only, the hikers should be returning about 11am. Bring a friend.

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BACKTRACK - Mt Ballard
Eight hikers and two dogs began the hike on a cold morning of mostly blue skies but where a lot of low clouds hovered around higher peaks. No clouds were low enough to cover our destination, but our views from the top looked down on high ground that was obscured in some directions by clouds. This demonstrates that clouds can be kept in existence by other conditions than elevation alone. Temperatures warmed up by the time we had our lunch, to where only a little added clothing made us comfortable enough that lunch was not at all a hurried affair. Our break was brightened by some scintillating conversation about, among other topics, details of Homer's Iliad and observances of Hanukkah in the United States. On the way back down, some of the steeper sections of the trail descending just below the top of the highest ridge on its north side, were muddy enough to make the trail slippery enough to be tricky where damp dirt and large rocks were mixed in sequence. No one was in a mood to get organized into a side party to Fissure Peak, so everyone arrived back at the trailhead within a few minutes of each other around 1:30 PM, making for a total time of about 4 hours including lunch. This is somewhat less time than easier hikes we do of twice the length but a lot less elevation change. Partly what makes this hike a lot more challenging for hikers who believe only how little time a hike of such short length should take, is that difficulty depends at least as much on steepness of climb as on distance alone.   - Brad

Larry took the group photo below and more at muleteam.shutterfly.com.
Elizabeth took a 360˚ photo at this link - rebrand.ly/MtBallard



CALENDAR
Dec 22 - Hike to the Cross above Bisbee with Jan
Dec 29 - Joe's Canyon in the Huachucas with Joe
Jan 5 - Mural Hill in the Mule Mtns with Larry
Jan 12 - Parker Lake & wine tasting with John W
Jan 19 - Florida Canyon trail in Mt Wrightson wilderness with Steve
Jan 26 - Little Boquillas ranch with Sandy & Ken
Feb 2 - ?
....

Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry

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Mt Ballard

MULETEAM ASCENDS MOUNT BALLARD
Join the Muleteam this Saturday to hike to the highest point in the Mule Mountains, west of the 'divide' with unusual views over long distances. This is a natural path with several steep sections-- about 3.4 miles total. Side trip to Fissure Peak possible. Bring water and lunch. Back early afternoon. Meet Dec 8 at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to carpool. Free. For more details contact Brad at bradward.j3@juno.com or call 432-2476.

Comments from Brad
There is some divergence of opinion about which access to use to reach the trail from where we will be parking at the top of the Divide Road above the tunnel. The approach used last year along much easier terrain, may be blocked off by more fencing-- to be determined on a planned scout a few days before the hike. 
If still as unobstructed as it was last year, this access is preferred, though access leaving from the remains of the old Banning Stage Road at the other end of the parking area, is considered by one hiker to be best because it avoids both old and new fencing. This leader is skeptical because of the extremely steep, confined (at the end of fencing), loose, and minimally marked terrain possible along this access as it climbs up the hillside to reach the better-defined trail.  
Brad most likely will not be at the head of the hike and those well ahead of him will take the risk of taking a wrong turn for which he will not be responsible, and getting the group going in the wrong direction. Any side hike off to Fissure Peak will need to be organized separately during the hike, and Brad can't be responsible for making sure they have returned safely. This precaution is based on what happened last year, when those going to Fissure got back over an hour or so later than the rest of us-- approaching dusk.

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BACKTRACK - Garden Canyon
A nice sunny day for the 9 hikers and three dogs who made the trip. The hike started at least a half mile lower in the Canyon than in the past to get a closer look at the remaining fall colors. The stream along the Road had ample water adding to the scenery. Despite the lower start, most of the hikers wanted to lunch at the Crest Trail making for a long hike. However, the lunch spot was delightful as usual. -John B

What with one thing and another, we never got a photo of the whole nine-person group yesterday. With apologies to Gary, Gretchen and Brad, who were already gone, here is a post-hike 360 photo. -Elizabeth  rebrand.ly/Garden-Canyon



SIDETRACK - Shirt Deadline
The final order for Muleteam denim shirts will be placed tomorrow, Monday, Dec 3.
See details from the link below, and place your order by email or phone/text 520-224-4951.
Muleteam shirts are only offered every few years. They are no longer available online.
For shirt photos and more details see the post at http://muleteam.blogspot.com/2018/11/muleteam-shirts.html.

CALENDAR
Dec 15 - Zacatecas hike & potluck with Charlie & Marty
Dec 22 - Hike to the Cross above Bisbee with Jan
Dec 29 - Joe's Canyon in the Huachucas with Joe
Jan 5 - Mural Hill in the Mule Mtns with Larry
Jan 12 - Parker Lake & wine tasting with John W
Jan 19 - ?
Jan 26 - Little Boquillas ranch with Sandy & Ken
Feb 2 - ?
....

Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry

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