Echo Canyon

HIKE IN ECHO CANYON
Join the Muleteam at the earlier time of 8am this Saturday for a hike on a top scenic trail
in the Chiricahua Mountains. It's an easy 4 mile loop through amazing closeup rock
formations and includes the viewpoint at Massai Point. Also, before the hike we will do a
tour of Bonita Campground in Chiricahua National Monument. Bring water and lunch,
but no dogs. Back late afternoon. Meet April 6 at 8am by the Old Bisbee courthouse
fountain to carpool (almost 2 hours each way). Free, but gas donation is appreciated. For
more details contact Brad at bradward.j3@juno.com or 432-2476.

Please note that hikers are not expected to return home until LATE afternoon-- as late as
6 PM-- so we should have plenty of time before leaving at about 4 PM for the drive back.
The campground tour is expected to only last until everyone wants to stop. -Brad

• 8am      • No dogs      • Campground tour before hike

____________


BACKTRACK - Rucker Gates
An early starting time, an overcast sky and the prospect of a long ride did not deter the spirits of 14 hikers and 5 K9 friends. Luckily for us the water level had considerably subsided from the week prior. We found the trail in excellent condition with only a few tricky water crossings. Lunch was taken at our usual spot by the switch-backs. Soon after, most hikers decided to press on toward the mysterious Rucker Gates. Our advance shortly gave way to a rigorous gymnastic exercise of going over and under some gigantic tree snags and scoured material. The higher water level made it impossible in most places to stay close to the creek bed. The reddish hues of the rocks, the rushing of the water, the wilderness and the ever closing in of the canyon walls made it an unforgettable afternoon. Kudos to the group for showing some true grit. -Guy

Weather: 69 degrees F,   Driving mileage: 70.7 miles round trip 
Hike: 8.1 miles,   Elapsed Time: 5 h, 59 min,   Ascent/Descent: 100 ft/842 ft

Many more photos mostly by Guy are at muleteam.shutterfly.com.
360º photo is at https://rebrand.ly/RuckerLogCrossing.



SIDETRACK - Photos
Remember: You can add your hiking photos to the Muleteam photo page (muleteam.shutterfly.com) by joining shutterfly with your email address.



CALENDAR - Need a hike for April 20!
Apr 13 - Brown-Ramsey Canyon in the Huachucas with Molly
Apr 20 - ???
Apr 27 - Miller Canyon in the Huachucas with John B
May 3-4-5 - Camp/hike - Chiricahua National Monument
May 11 - Last hike & potluck in lower Carr Canyon with Larry

Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry

____________

Rucker Gates

HIKE RUCKER GATES
Join the Muleteam this Saturday at the earlier time of 8am for a hike in the Chiricahuas. We will begin on Rucker Canyon trail, then follow a creek bed for 1.2 miles while walking under steep overhangs until finally reaching several grottoes. This is an out & back hike, 7.8 miles with medium difficulty. Bring water, lunch and maybe walking poles. Back late afternoon. Meet March 30 at 8am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to carpool (90 minutes each way). Free, but gas donation is appreciated. For more details contact Guy at gplaaster@gmail.com or 541-513-9775.

Trail variations may occur due to water level.
Creek bed walking can be slippery and require high stepping at times. Poles recommended.
Dogs ok, leashed if other hikers are present
Elevation: 6150-6698 feet   Elevation Gain: 700 feet

Driving Directions:
Double Adobe, N Central Highway, 191 to Border Patrol Station, right on North Rucker Canyon Road then on to East Rucker Canyon Road until you reach the campground at the end of the road. No high clearance vehicle needed.

____________


BACKTRACK - Wakefield Mine
Only a few hikers met at the Ironman, but quite a few more Mules were waiting at the Coronado Visitor Center. Once everybody was set in the right vehicles we headed over Montezuma Pass to the trailhead, via FR 4272. Finally 16 hikers and 3 K9 friends took to the trail. The Huachucas (Place of Thunder) was intensely mined in the past centuries, mostly for gold, silver, lead and tungsten. We took notice of a powder storage and pump house before traipsing up a rocky road to the flooded Wakefield mine. Lunch was enjoyed on the porch of Shadow Mountain cabin under the benevolent eyes of Saint Christopher, up on the hill. Later some brave souls ventured into a shallow mine abutted into the hillside. Continuing in a southern direction toward the Bear Creek Connector, we enjoyed the views of Sutherland Granite Peaks in the distance. Time running out, on Dan’s suggestion, we headed uphill in a western direction before joining FR 4272 and back to the parking area to the great annoyance of a herd of cows. Overall quite a fun day in this little forgotten corner of Arizona. -Guy 

Weather: 70 degrees F, Driving mileage: 73 miles round trip 
Hike: 5.6 miles, Elapsed Time: 4h 22 min, Ascent/Descent: 1179/1167ft

Carol C took the group photo, and many more by Carol F & Guy are at muleteam.shutterfly.com.
Elizabeth's 360º photo is at https://rebrand.ly/WakefieldMineHike

CALENDAR
Apr 6 - Echo Canyon in the Chiricahuas with Brad
Apr 13 - Brown-Ramsey Canyon in the Huachucas with Molly
Apr 20 - Florida Canyon in the Santa Ritas with Steve S
Apr 27 - Huachuca Canyon in Fort Huachuca with John B
May 3-4-5 - Camp/hike - Chiricahua National Monument
May 11 - Last hike & potluck in lower Carr Canyon with Larry

Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry

____________

Wakefield Mines

Because of continuing pain Steve Sklarow had to cancel his upcoming Sandy Bob hike. Thanks to Guy for filling in with this one...

HIKE TO WAKEFIELD MINES
Join the Muleteam this Saturday for a canyon walk in the southern parts of the Huachuca Mountains. It's an easy 6 mile hike with low elevation gain. Bring water, lunch and maybe walking poles. Dogs ok with optional leash. Back mid-afternoon. Meet March 23 at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to carpool. Free, but gas donation is appreciated. For more details contact Guy at gplaaster@gmail.com or 541-513-9775.

Getting there:
SV folks meet 9:30 in the parking area of the Visitor Center, Coronado National Monument. From there it's another 11.1 miles to the trailhead via Montezuma Pass. High Clearance vehicles recommended.

____________


BACKTRACK - Stair Hike
Because of Jan’s ankle injury, Molly lead Saturday’s hike in Jan's absence. Eleven of us started and finished the Bisbee Stair Climb hike. We followed the official stair climb route, with maybe 2 minor exceptions, and it was lots of fun and nice that we didn’t have to deal with the crowds and the fees faced by those who do it on official stair climb day. Some of us ate lunch at Veteran’s Park after completing the last stair case, while others went their own way. We wish Jan could have joined us and wish her a speedy recovery. -Molly

360 photo is at Rebrand.ly/StairHike, and all others are at muleteam.shutterfly.com.



CALENDAR
Mar 30 - Rucker Gates in the Chiricahuas with Guy
Apr 6 - Echo Canyon in the Chiricahuas with Brad
Apr 13 - Brown-Ramsey Canyon in the Huachucas with Molly
Apr 20 - Florida Canyon in the Santa Ritas with Steve S
Apr 27 - Huachuca Canyon in Fort Huachuca with John B
May 3-4-5 - Camp/hike - Chiricahua National Monument
May 11 - Last hike & potluck in lower Carr Canyon with Larry

Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry

____________

Stair Hike

HIKE THE BISBEE 1000 STAIRS
Join the Muleteam this Saturday to hike the exact route of the Bisbee 1000 Stair Climb. This climb involves a 4.5 mile course featuring nine staircases (1,034 steps) winding through Old Bisbee. Bring water, snacks and maybe a camera, but no dogs. Back early afternoon or drop out when you want. Meet March 16 at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to begin the hike. Free. For more details contact Jan at bolduc03@aol.com or 704-299-6614.

____________


BACKTRACK - River Picnic
Another great Riverside Gourmet Picnic hike. This was our 10th Annual Riverside Picnic Hike, and the second year where we changed the route to start on the west side of the San Pedro and walk only about a mile to the Presidio and our picnic site. We had 23 smart hikers and 6 even smarter dogs join in the fun, in what was billed as our "Most Civilized" hike of the year. As planned, a few stayed riverside and set up" beachcloths" (i.e., tablecloths) for the great food and drinks and smartly relaxed while the rest broke into two groups following the train tracks about a mile upstream: some crossing the river to Contention City, taking the east riverside south back to the picnic site, and the rest -not wanting to get their feet wet- turned around and retraced their steps to the picnic area on the west side of the river. John B surprised us with a poem celebrating Guy's big 7-0 birthday, and we also congratulated Joe Rice and Anne's twin daughters Liz (visiting from NYC) & Val (from Portland) on recent birthdays. For a variety of reasons, this was -and always has been- a very special day. -Doug

360 photo is at https://rebrand.ly/SanPedroPicnic
Other photos are at muleteam.shutterfly.com.



CALENDAR
Only 1 hike left to complete the schedule...
Mar 23 - Sandy Bob in the Mule Mtns with Steve S
Mar 30 - Rucker Gates in the Chiricahuas with Guy
Apr 6 - Echo Canyon in the Chiricahuas with Brad
Apr 13 - ?
Apr 20 - Gold Hill in the Mule Mtns with Steve S
Apr 27 - Huachuca Canyon in Fort Huachuca with John B
May 3-4-5 - Camp/hike - Chiricahua National Monument
May 11 - Last hike & potluck in lower Carr Canyon with Larry

Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry

____________

River Picnic

SAN PEDRO RIVER HIKE & PICNIC
Join the Muleteam Saturday, March 9th for our 11th Annual Hike & River Picnic. This is the most "civilized" Muleteam event of the year. We'll meet at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to carpool. It's an easy one-mile hike to the river. At that point, people can decide to stay by the river and set up for the picnic, visit the ruins of the 1770 Spanish Presidio or continue up-river another 3+ miles round-trip to the site of Contention City. We will all gather back riverside for a "gourmet" pot-luck picnic. Bring your favorite dish, wine or beer to share. Dogs love the river and are welcome. Call Doug (520-432-0307) with questions.

Directions
Sierra Vista types can meet us at the Fairbank parking lot. From there, we get on Route 82 across the river to the first right (N. Balance Rd.) and a couple of miles to the parking lot.

____________


BACKTRACK - Slavin Gulch
After a last minute hike substitution, and with an earlier start time, seven hikers and three dogs began the hike up Slavin Gulch. It was a beautiful, warm day and the stream was flowing! We had many water crossings, waterfalls and pools. What a treat! Two hikers decided to stop along the trail to relax, enjoy and sketch their surroundings. The rest made it to the usual lunch spot by the mine chute then returned mid afternoon. -Sandy

More photos by me, Carol & Guy are at muleteam.shutterfly.com.



SIDETRACK - Camp-hike info
For those of you who have an interest in the camp/hike on May 3 and 4 (departing for home on May 5) but have not made up your minds about what location would be most fulfilling for you--fulfilling being the total of various emotions like enjoyable, satisfying, healthful, mind-broadening, educational, etc--Brad has been accumulating a lot of information about the Chiricahua National Monument, particularly the Bonita Canyon Campground, and would be happy to share it with you in e-mail exchanges. Please contact him at bradward.j3@juno.com. Being specific about what your greatest concerns are will limit his response to more manageable proportions. -Brad 

Yes, dogs are allowed in the campground and some trails in the monument. Hike leaders and hike options to be decided. Thanks, Brad for dealing with reservations.



CALENDAR
Only 1 hike left to complete the schedule...
Mar 16 - Bisbee 1000 stair route in Old Bisbee with Jan
Mar 23 - Sandy Bob in the Mule Mtns with Steve S
Mar 30 - Rucker Gates in the Chiricahuas with Guy
Apr 6 - Echo Canyon in the Chiricahuas with Brad
Apr 13 - ?
Apr 20 - Gold Hill in the Mule Mtns with Steve S
Apr 27 - Huachuca Canyon in Fort Huachuca with John B
May 3-4-5 - Camp/hike - Chiricahua National Monument
May 11 - Last hike & potluck in lower Carr Canyon with Larry

Thanks for hiking with me,
Larry

____________