Portal, AZ - Rodeo, NM

Twenty-one hikers and six dogs parked at the entrance to Sulfur Canyon. The old road could be found from time to time, but a raging flood completely rearranged the bottom of the canyon. The creek bed is greatly widened and filled with tons and tons of rock rubble. Logjams of vegetation are everywhere. Sulfur Canyon clearly had the kind of flooding that we feared in Cave Creek Canyon. It must have sounded like a freight train as the water, rocks and vegetation roared downstream. The canyon still has a nice canopy after the fire. In fact, it looks pretty good. Adjacent hillsides range from being completely cleared of vegetation to looking quite scorched, with skeletons of dead shrubs. Manzanita, verbena and a few other flowers were in bloom in the canyon bottom.

Hikers walked various distances, as usual. When some of us walked the road and trail (and I use those terms loosely) as far as possible, we had a decision to make. In the past we headed up the hillsides, looking for a lunch spot. But this time the newly widened stream bed beckoned and we started picking our way up the rocky rubble -- carefully. The narrow canyon was beautiful with the threat of rain; there was thunder in the distance. We turned around at a stunning constriction of the canyon that housed a narrow chute. Several hikers -- Bill, Dirk and Craig -- went into mountain goat mode and explored the steep slopes above.

We had some sprinkles, but it never rained hard. Our transfigured backyard gave all of us a most interesting day.

Next week Craig will lead a DIFFERENT hike in Horseshoe Canyon. Meet at the Corner of Foothills and Portal Roads at 8:45 a.m. or at Lorraine's old house in Rodeo at 9:00 a.m. Craig will meet the group closer to Horseshoe Canyon.

Happy trails, Carol

Bruce Thompson’s Link To The Map Of The Feb 2 Hike - Hands Pass