Council Rocks

COUNCIL ROCKS TALK & HIKE
Join the Muleteam this Saturday for a hike in an area of the Dragoon Mountains with huge boulder formations. The moderate 2 1/2 hour hike will include a bit of bushwhacking and rock scrambling. We will begin with a talk by Charlie Onehorse Hill about the native history and sample indigenous foods. Bring water & lunch. Back late afternoon. Meet Feb 1 at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to carpool (about 90 minutes each way). Free, but gas donation is appreciated. For more details contact Carol at chandlercarolpsk@gmail.com or 413-667-8760.

Sierra Vista area people can meet the group at the beginning of Middlemarch Road to follow to trailhead or possibly more carpooling. Just let Carol know you plan to do that.

More Details:
Leaving Bisbee we will follow Charlie Onehorse Hill up to the west side of Cochise Stronghold and gather at the first entrance with the green gate. After a short hike up to Council Rocks Charlie will talk about the native history there handed down through oral tradition with the Apaches, Cochise and Geronimo. The site includes the ancient petroglyphs. You will also be able to sample some of the indigenous foods available in the area. After an hour long discussion Carol will lead a hike through the rock grotto and wash, then circle up over the hill and back down joining the trail that leads back to the parking area. The hike will last approximately 2 1/2 hours with lunch break included. The hike is moderate with a bit of bushwacking and rock scrambling. The bushwacking area has been heavily grazed and is fairly open. -Sara and Carol

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BACKTRACK - Bob Thompson

A beautiful day in Ash Canyon.  Before we started up to Ben Morgan’s mine we stopped to bow our heads at his grave - the first man married in Bisbee.  It was December of 1880 and the ceremony took place in a tent. None of the group even broke a sweat as we trotted up the hill and the view into Mexico and the source of the San Pedro River was magnificent.  Some folks wanted to know why we weren’t going all the way to the top of Bob Thompson Peak - they wanted some more exercise.  This account from a group that earlier made the ascent serves as an explanation, even though John W., Susan and I have done it - just because we could, I guess.
"From the saddle at the ridgeline [above Morgan Mine] to the summit of the peak, the path is very difficult to follow and is over loose gravel along a very steep mountain face. I would not call it passable. We had to move hugging the ground and using all hands and feet. There were some moments when I was genuinely afraid we would slide down the mountain".  -Richard

In the photo Bob Thompson Peak (mid-back row) is also one of the group. All other photos are at muleteam.shutterfly.com.

CALENDAR

Feb 8 - Slaughter Ranch & San Bernadino national wildlife refuge with Alice
Feb 15 - Florida Canyon in the Santa Rita mountains with Steve Sklarow
Feb 22 - Boston Mill on the San Pedro River with Ken
Feb 29 - Clark Spring/John Cooper trails in the Huachucas with John W
Mar 7 - 'Patio Peak' in the Mule Mountains with Brad
Mar 14 - ??
Mar 21 - Annual San Pedro River hike & picnic with Doug
Mar 28 - ??
......

Thanks for hiking with me,

Larry

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