Chiricahua Mountains, AZ - 09/08/06

[AZ_Husker]

I've been lurking on this site for a little while and it is awesome. Love the rigs:drool: and adventure-tourers here. I see a lot of people from Arizona and thought I would throw in some pics of the Chiricahuas in SE Arizona. Population is very sparce out east so you'll definitely find solitude. All the rain has been great and the streams are really flowing. I've only just begun to explore this area but will do more in the near future. I'm also very interested in the Chiva Falls trail I read about here.

Anyway, here are some pics while I finish my :beer:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p02c55d3a4b03018305ce027ae5e7f970/ed04b242.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p6a7140cc6b7e68f5cba9e353f51bb886/ed04aadf.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p74c104b33b6d1d399b898ff4b7e5e630/ed04a416.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p6129f3bb0176d9908e961b65f9c5d83f/ed04ae92.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p0fdb4df076452cebeebe2137572778a8/ed04a0fd.jpg

[articulate]

This ROCKS! Chiricahuas are fantastic.

Can you be a little more specific about wheres abouts you been down there? :)

!Salud!.... :margarita-smiley:
Mark

[Ursidae69]

I love the Chiricahuas, went there myself last spring. The bird diversity in SE AZ, specifically the Chiris, is higher there than anywhere else in the country.

[crawler#976]

Great pic's! The southeastern corner of AZ is awesome! So much to see in the Islands in the Sky...

[DaktariEd]

AZ_Husker,
Welcome to the forum! :wavey:

I am heading down there this coming weekend. Just a campout with a couple of friends. :camping:

I was thinking of going down Pine canyon from above on the way out.
Were you on that trail? How is it?
Which trail did you run?

Ed

[BajaTaco]

Welcome to ExPo :beer:

The Chiricahuas are some very special mountains indeed! Lots of solitude and history there. I think the optimal way to experience the best parts of these mountains is on foot with a backpack.

[Chris85710]

That looks like fun when its wet.

We went down from Tucson in June of this year, loved the area.(VERY DRY in June)
Not too many people use this part of AZ so it can be a very nice secluded getaway.

Not to hijack the thread but here are some more pics of the Chiricahuas.

http://www.chrisgrier.com/gallery/index.php?list=14&page=all

[Westy]

Excellent report. The Chiricahua part of the state is one place I have not been yet and your report and especially pictures is motivating me alot to get down that way.

love the last pic of the stream.

Thanks.

[AZ_Husker]

Thanks for the responses everyone.

Articulate, the pics were from Price Canyon Road and one or two spurs that I checked out along the way. It's SE of the forest off HWY80 around mile marker 400 (?) mas o menos. There aren't many roads so I slow down and look for the sign. If you stay on the main road, it comes to an end/trailhead for two or three hiking trails. I'll start logging data on my future visits so I can give more details.

DaktariEd, I don't think I have been on Pine Canyon road(FR357), but I have driven Pinery Canyon Road(FR42). FR42 starts just before the Chiricahua National Monument entrance on HWY181 and crosses all the way through the mountains, exiting through Portal, AZ. This is just a regular dirt road suitable for any car. The scenery rivals anything in Arizona. There is a general store/cafe/lodge at Portal if you need food :chowtime: or map. I'll be up in the area :smiley_drive: on Friday for sure, maybe Thurs also. Let us know if you find some interesting trails. There is several mining/jeep trails in the area.

Chiricahua National Monument:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/pcbe0fe8f57895d415e10f2fc8e8a4654/ed00ca60.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p895cd25b6bde5dcc3261d931f957f6fa/ed00c8bc.jpg

More Chiricahua:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p07c75b0ad07ad78c30b0bbbad012c4cc/ed00ce20.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/pae672ce180220d815d0c0028f592ad17/ed00cdb7.jpg
If you do come across these activities, please let me know :gunt: (seriously)
http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/pf1930adbb41f524fb8fd0275075aa14e/ed00cd18.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p2bc716505edf7ac8fe500e4a3d8aee80/ed00cc16.jpg

[BajaTaco]

Beautiful pics! I am missing the place for sure now ;) Got to get back...

[crawler#976]

If you do come across these activities, please let me know :gunt: (seriously)


As I sit here in my office, by chance wearing a U.S. Border Partol hat, (seriously!), I assume you are wearing one that is on active duty? If so, Thank You!

[AZ_Husker]

Crawler, I thank you, and it is my pleasure!

[Scott Brady]

Great pictures and cool cruiser! Nice to have you here :wavey:

[Signcutter21]

Chris, cool pics. We'll have to head up there and explore more soon. Jack Hand Pass is a fun little trail. I want to go check out the Horseshoe Canyon and Jack Wood Pass. So many little trails in the Chirachahua's and Coranado's in that part. The fair's this weekend and the g/f wants to go there. But if it's friday, i might have the "green flu" and can do both. Let me know. Later Mike

[AZ_Husker]

Mike, you have a PM

[beemerchef]

I've been lurking on this site for a little while and it is awesome. Love the rigs:drool: and adventure-tourers here. I see a lot of people from Arizona and thought I would throw in some pics of the Chiricahuas in SE Arizona. Population is very sparce out east so you'll definitely find solitude. All the rain has been great and the streams are really flowing. I've only just begun to explore this area but will do more in the near future. I'm also very interested in the Chiva Falls trail I read about here.

Anyway, here are some pics while I finish my :beer:

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p02c55d3a4b03018305ce027ae5e7f970/ed04b242.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p6a7140cc6b7e68f5cba9e353f51bb886/ed04aadf.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p74c104b33b6d1d399b898ff4b7e5e630/ed04a416.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p6129f3bb0176d9908e961b65f9c5d83f/ed04ae92.jpg

http://www.imagestation.com/picture/sraid214/p0fdb4df076452cebeebe2137572778a8/ed04a0fd.jpg

This is my first post here as I got turned on to this "awesome" Forum by a member on another Adventure Forum (motorcyles) that I belong to!!!
WOW!!! so much to read and take in...

Your thread jumped at me as I just finished, well, a year ago, spending 15 weeks above Portal... cooking for the Southwestern Research Center owned by the New York Natural Hisory Museum... was a great way to have place to stay... make some money... and explore!!!
It is an awesome Mountain... everyday I was taken away by its beauty and how about those pink hues!!!

I am getting ready to go back soon... as I am starting a 5+ year journey... compared to 6 months a year for the past 20 years I am hipped...
Was going to post some pictures... but there are too many, I will just post the links off my SmugMug Gallery... enjoy...


http://beemerchef.smugmug.com/gallery/573905
http://beemerchef.smugmug.com/gallery/396981


(Top Right, under "style" you can set it as a slide show)

This is what I am working on by the way... 42 days left!

http://beemerchef.smugmug.com/photos/95940879-S.jpg

http://beemerchef.smugmug.com/photos/86950102-S.jpg

http://beemerchef.smugmug.com/photos/21192898-S.jpg

It IS a Bronco...



Be well... have a lot of reading to do here!!!

Ara

PS: anyone can stop at the SWRC to eat... the food is good... interesting people... they also have a volunteer program where you work a few hours a week rading for room and board!!!

[Scott Brady]

Great pictures Ara. Chuck, our resident biologist will love those galleries.

Here is my contribution:

Most recent trip to the Chiricahua's (http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2004/chiricahuas_04/index.html)

http://www.expeditionswest.com/adventures/2004/chiricahuas_04/ExpeditionsWestChiricahuaA/images/Copy%20of%20chiri_4-30%20489.jpg

First Trip (http://www.expeditionswest.com/chiricahua/index.html)