Portal, AZ - Rodeo, NM

Boy-O-Boy did all of you miss a beautiful hike!  The recent rains firmed up the 42 Road and cleared the air of any lingering dust.  It was crystal clear skies with a gentle breeze and warmer temperature than the forecast predicted.  Various species of native flowers lined the upper section of the road and if you liked the color yellow you would have been in heaven.

 

 

The Long Park Road was as rough as always, but we’ve had lots of practice driving those 2 miles this year.  It appears we had the whole top of the Mountain to ourselves.  The four hikers and 2 good dogs (visiting with their owner) got to the end of the road and headed off towards Fly Saddle.

 

It seems years since there has been water seeping out of the side hill along the trail.  The perennial grasses are forming seed heads because of the long monsoon season this year.  The bracken ferns have turned brown but there is no indication there has been a frost yet.  There are a few aspen clones just starting to turn yellow.  

 

 

I

 guess that in 2 weeks the fall colors will be at their peak along the trail and on Fly Peak… mark your calendar.  The lower angle sunlight in the aspen groves was magical, setting the silver bark glowing and filtering through the green and yellow leaves.

We found Tub Spring to be flowing a little after a mostly dry summer.  A huge fallen aspen partially blocked the trail there and the “corn flowers” were turning brown.  The aspen groves that line the trail had lots of various species of mushrooms of many shapes and colors.  

 

 

At the junction of Bear Wallow Trail, we took a break to enjoy the thick forest of conifers and the silence of a healthy forest.  The trail out to Centella Point was easy to follow now that the brackens are going dormant.  At the Point we had an early lunch and just enjoyed the view.  Enough water is flowing over Winn Falls that we could see it from the overlook and seeing the mosaic of aspen clones on the hillside made it obvious why we hike. 

 

Find Winn Falls!                                                                

We took our time going back to Long Park as the day was young and we were in no hurry to get there.  Just as we approached the vehicles, we were delighted to see and hear a flock of Clark’s Nutcrackers (a species of corvid usually found in the Rocky Mountains).  Every decade or so they move south, and we get to see their black and white colors and listen to their wild calls.  They are a nice addition to our bird community just as the hummingbirds are moving south.

 

Next week we plan to hike up Mormon Ridge and down Mormon Canyon on the west side of the Chiricahua Mountains.  It’s a long drive over Onion Saddle, past the Monument and south to West Turkey Creek.  We haven’t done this hike for a few years, and it’s time we get out of our rut.  Meet at Silver Peak at 8 AZ, 9 NM.  Because of the longer drive we will return later than usual so tell your people not to worry.  Remember to bring lunch, water, hat, sun protection, good boots and a sense of adventure.

Hike report from Al, photos from Elaine & Rose