Miller Canyon

HIKE MILLER CANYON
Join the Muleteam this Saturday for a hike through lower Miller Canyon, a scenic wooded valley in the Huachuca Mountains. The trail has some water in the stream from snow mountain runoff. From lower Miller, we will hop the road and head up upper Miller for less than a mile and have a snack or lunch by the ruins of an old town (Parmerlee??). This is a very easy hike with a 5 mile round trip. Bring water and lunch. Dogs on  leashes ok. Back early afternoon. Meet 9am February 3 by the Old Bisbee courthouse fountain to carpool. Free, but gas donation is appreciated. For more details contact Jan 704-299-6614 or bolduc03@aol. 

SV people or others can meet on Miller Canyon Road, in large dirt parking on the left with restrooms.

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BACKTRACK - China Camp

14 hikers and two dogs gathered at the courthouse for the China Camp hike, a number which was quickly reduced to one dog after a loud fracas ensued between the dogs. One hiker joined the carpool at the Middlemarch Road and Hwy 80 intersection, out of two which were expected to join us there. Another hiker showed up at the parking location which was unerringly found without any uncertainty along the edge of Middlemarch Road. A deceptive pattern of roads at the parking location led the leader to clarify his dim memory of where the correct road was when last visited over 6 years before, by choosing what appeared to be the more heavily used of the roads seen.  When no one spoke up to object, the hike started out but was briefly delayed when the road quickly came to an end. This resulted in one faction taking advantage of the delay to widely spread out the party and keep it widely spread out not only to China Camp but all the way back as well-- behavior which did not serve the safety factor involved in hiking as a group instead of as solitary individuals.

On reaching the location of the remains of old China Camp, a campsite of tents was found among the old concrete foundations, and one truck with empty horse trailer was seen to be the only conveyance that the campers had in reaching the location. The transport must have left soon after we did and passed us by on the way back down the road during our return. We never did learn why a large empty horsetrailer was chosen to haul the campers and gear, instead of something more suitable for the extraordinarily rough road. Near the spot where we stopped for our lunch at the China Camp site, there were some watery mudholes and clearer pools among the rocks to show what is indicated on maps to be the site of either a spring-- or a well on some maps. No one seemed to be in the mood to look around for a well or some more reliable water source consistent with what was remembered from the earlier visit by the leader. One of the hikers decided to go on alone in the direction of China Peak but with an intention of doing whatever unfolded as opportunity revealed itself. The rest of us started out in separate small clusters for the uneventful hike back. The entire group came back together for a second time, closely gathered for the group photo at the end of the hike, which gave an impression of close conviviality. ---  Brad

More photos at Photos 2023-24. Try adding your own. 

Past seasons: Photos 2022-23 - Photos 2021-22

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CALENDAR 2023-2024

FEBRUARY

10 - San Pedro river: Little Boquillas ranch and beyond to the old car with Ken

17 - Sandoval family cross in the Mule Mtns with Lindsay

24 - Mt Ballard in the Mule Mtns with Deb

MARCH

2 - Guindani Trail in the Whetstones with Monica

9 - Juniper Flats in the Mule Mtns from divide to towers with Brad

16 - Fairbank hike and San Pedro riverside picnic with Doug

23 - Council Rocks in the Dragoons with Carol

30 - Hunter Canyon Loop in the Huachucas with Jim Poulin

APRIL

5-7 - Picacho Peak hike and campout with Sandy and Molly

13 - Old Bisbee art stairs with Larry

20 - Parker Canyon Lake and optional Sonoita wine tasting with Doug

27 - Miller Peak in the Huachucas with Carol

MAY

4 - Carr House hike & presentation in the Huachucas with Mike Foster

11 - Coronado Cave and season end potluck with Doug