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 Pk. possible. Bring water and lunch and optional hiking stick for the downhill return. Back early afternoon. Meet Jan 28 at 9am by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to carpool. Free. For more details contact Carol at chandlercarolpsk@gmail.com or 413-667-8760.

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BACKTRACK - Warren Area

Seventeen hikers and one dog had perfect weather – sunny and cool – for the hike from Galena to Gold Gulch racetrack. We were especially fortunate this year to have local naturalist Doug Danforth guide us through LaVerne Williams Park. He showed us many of the things that he had written about in his December 1 Observer article about the park, reproduced below. There was even one plant, a verbena, flowering in January! From there we continued on to Gold Gulch, with the longest stretch being along the old railroad trackbed in Warren. On the way back several intrepid explorers left the racetrack by an alternate route and made better time than the leader!  - Elizabeth

Doug’s Flickr album of photos he took at LaVerne Williams Park last fall is at park photos. And this is what he wrote in the Observer:

I have spent a few days visiting LaVerne Williams Linear Park getting to know this little piece of Chihuahua Desert. I was surprised by the diversity of plant life there. Even though early November is not the best time to look for wildflowers, there were many plants still blooming. Consequently, there were a few lingering butterflies and other insects visiting them. The limestone bedrock areas held many little niches for cacti and wildflowers. It was a veritable rock garden of interesting plants. One wildflower new to me was Parry’s Sage. This foot tall member of the mint family produces tiny bright blue flowers in a woolly inflorescence. It was quite popular with passing small butterflies which eagerly sipped nectar from the small receptacles. Also tucked into the limestone bedrock were Fairy-Duster plants with their last few remaining pink powder puff blossoms. Along the path were occasional spotlights of the bright pink flowers of Gooding’s Vervain. 

Birdlife was varied, although most birds stayed hidden in the inaccessible denser vegetation below School Terrace Road. A Curve-billed Thrasher gave its whistled “whit-whit” call from a hidden perch and a Ladder-backed Woodpecker could be heard giving its rattle call from a distant Agave stalk. One interesting sighting was a Cactus Wren stealing nesting material from a Verdin’s nest even while the Verdin was attempting to refurbish its nest with a feather it had collected. Both these birds build covered dome-like nests. The Cactus Wren builds its football-sized nest among the branches of a thorny plant, most often a cactus. The much smaller Verdin tucks its fist-sized nest in the thorny branches of a mesquite or Acacia. 

Besides being a treat for the eyes, the park can be an olfactory experience as well. Cane Beard Grass seed heads when crushed smell like blueberries.  The leaves of Kidneywood when rubbed smell like tangerines and the foliage of Lemon Beebush smells of lemons. Project Wildlife-Bisbee has received recognition of LaVerne Williams Linear Park as a  National Wildlife Federation “Wildlife Habitat”.

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SIDETRACK - Photo Changes

Before the page disappears save your favorite photos from muleteam.shutterfly.com.

Current season Muleteam photos are now at Photos 2022-23.

SIDETRACK - Thanks and (hopefully) Last Call

I want to thank everyone for chipping in and volunteering to lead so many of the Muleteam hikes this season. The 2022-2023 season has 28 hikes in six-and-a-half months. We are about half-way, and there are only two dates that have not been spoken-for. That is incredibly impressive, and shows what a great, committed term we are. 

So, let's go out strong. February 11 and March 25 are open. How about volunteers from those of you who have not led or committed to a hike so far? Please, either go through the long list of hikes we’ve taken in the past or - better yet - volunteer to lead a hike that you love. 

Email (reiniger@wyoming.com) or call (520-432-0307) me (Doug) and agree to lead a hike on February 11 or March 25. 

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REMAINING SEASON 2022-2023

FEBRUARY
4 - Cochise Stronghold in the Dragoons with Doug
11 - ?
18 - Laura's Loop & City Trail in the Mule Mtns with Laura
25 - Guindani Canyon in the Whetstone Mountains with Monica

MARCH
4 - Fairbank and riverside picnic with Doug
11 - Mural Hill in the Mule Mtns with Larry
18 - Joe's Canyon in the Huachucas with Brad
25 - ?

APRIL
1 - Council Rocks in the Dragoons with Carol
7-8 - Chiricahua overnight at Turkey Creek with Carol
15 - Parker Canyon Lake and wine tasting with Doug
22 - Wood Canyon Plus with Lindsay Susan and Deb
29 - Hike and Carr House presentation with Mike Foster

MAY
6 - Palominas San Pedro hike and farewell picnic with Ken