{"id":17336,"date":"2022-09-05T13:10:13","date_gmt":"2022-09-05T19:10:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/?p=17336"},"modified":"2022-10-20T10:11:23","modified_gmt":"2022-10-20T16:11:23","slug":"blowin-in-the-wind","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/?p=17336","title":{"rendered":"Blowin’ in the Wind"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/p>\n

It was September already, and there was only one of my regular crest hikes that I hadn’t tried since my May-June illness and loss of capacity. It was in the range of canyons over in Arizona, southwest of here, and was far enough that it involved an overnight stay.<\/p>\n

The last time I’d been up there was the end of January. We hadn’t had much snow, but there were some drifts that had enabled a test of my new waterproof boots.<\/p>\n

Now I was wearing those same boots during the summer monsoon, to help with creek crossings and fend off rain. It appeared that our thunderstorms were on the wane, but I brought the boots anyway, and was glad as I saw a layer of clouds over the mountains ahead. Then I remembered the creek crossings at the beginning of the trail, sometimes a challenge even at low flow, and was doubly glad.<\/p>\n

\"Clouds <\/a>
Clouds over the mountains, best to prepare for rain <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

The first half of the hike involves a steep climb from a lush riparian corridor at 5,800′, deep in the central basin, to a “pine park” at 8,000′, up on the shoulder of one of the range’s tallest peaks. It starts with three crossings of the range’s most famous creek, which turned out to be running high as expected, and up to 15′ wide. Trusting in my boots, I basically just ran across on submerged rocks, but at the second crossing I encountered a father and son who were wearing sneakers, and I helped them find a stick to make their crossing safer.<\/p>\n

Despite it being a holiday weekend and this being a popular getaway from Tucson and Phoenix, I didn’t see anyone else after that. The 2,000′ climb from oak scrub to mixed conifer forest is very steep \u2013 when I started hiking here 3 years ago I considered it one of my most daunting climbs \u2013 so with my current reduced lung capacity I approached it with a stiff upper lip. But it actually wasn’t too bad. I realized I was in exactly the same position I’d been in 3 years ago \u2013 having to stop often to catch my breath, I’d trained myself to climb more slowly so I didn’t have to stop as often. I covered the 3 miles to the park in 2 hours, which didn’t seem bad. And as usual, I was grateful for how much better maintained the trails are here than back at home. Fighting through monsoon overgrowth of shrubs and annuals has become a real chore this year, but there wasn’t nearly as much of it in these mountains.<\/p>\n

\"The <\/a>
The easiest of 3 crossings of the big creek <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Well-maintained <\/a>
Well-maintained trail through a corridor of oak scrub <\/div> <\/div>
\"Clouds <\/a>
Clouds drifting across the crest above <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Long <\/a>
Long morning shadows across the slopes of the interior basin <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Interesting <\/a>
Interesting roots of big alligator juniper <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Pine <\/a>
Pine park, the midway point, reached shortly after 11 am <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

Clouds were drifting back and forth over the crest, and the temperature was mild when I started out, but I was soon sweating through my clothes, and before I was even halfway up to the park, I was sweating so hard it was dripping constantly from my hatbrim, nose, and chin \u2013 another thing I’m getting really tired of.<\/p>\n

Then, as I continued past the park and rounded the corner into the big upper canyon, I was hit by a blast of cold wind, and quickly became chilled. This cold wind chased me for the rest of the climb, and my sweat-soaked hat and shirt didn’t dry out until I reached the end \u2013 so it was only the effort of climbing that kept me from being miserably cold.<\/p>\n

This second stretch of the hike is not quite as steep as the first half, and I was able to maintain a good pace until the last mile, when I really ran out of steam and had to stop often. It’s always been a hard slog \u2013 it originally took me 3 tries to reach the top. But today I was determined to go farther than ever before \u2013 to explore a little of the crest trail beyond the junction, into the other big canyon in the south of the range.<\/p>\n

\"First <\/a>
First view across the big canyon <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Start <\/a>
Start of the traverse toward the crest <\/div> <\/div>
\"Trail <\/a>
Trail crowded by oak and madrone <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Trail <\/a>
Trail climbs higher and higher across all those folds <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8644\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8645\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8646\" <\/a> <\/div>
\"Starting <\/a>
Starting to look like rain <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Burn <\/a>
Burn scar of the 2011 wildfire <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Looking <\/a>
Looking back down the canyon toward far southern New Mexico <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8658\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8660\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Trail <\/a>
Trail climbing still higher, through those low, dark rock outcrops <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8665\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Those <\/a>
Those patches of aspen seedlings, filling in the burn scar on the opposite slope, seem to be expanding year by year <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"My <\/a>
My goal is that saddle in the middle <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Cinching <\/a>
Cinching my hat down tight to keep it from blowing off <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8671\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Nearing <\/a>
Nearing the bleak saddle <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

In the bleak, burned saddle at 9,300′, the trail disappears in overgrowth of annuals, and makes a sharp turn to traverse the next peak toward the actual crest trail. It’s only because I’ve hiked it before that I know where to go at this point \u2013 there’s an almost invisible path through the shoulder-high ferns that you can only detect when you’re right on top of it, and even then you have to use landmarks ahead and behind to keep on track.<\/p>\n

But this traverse lies at the southwest head of the long, deep canyon, and today’s wind was out of the northeast, so the entire canyon was acting as a funnel, and all along this traverse I was subjected to gale-force wind, intensifying as I reached the junction saddle. I was only able to keep my hat on by cinching it down tightly over my ears.<\/p>\n

It’s always great to reach a new watershed, with new vistas \u2013 this hike progresses across 3 major ones \u2013 but it was so damn windy I couldn’t linger. I only explored about 300 yards up the crest trail before it was time to turn back.<\/p>\n

\"The <\/a>
The trail continues through those shoulder-high ferns to that stand of aspen seedlings \u2013 can you see it? <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Old <\/a>
Old spring box at the head of the canyon, where the wind is strongest <\/div> <\/div>
\"Crest <\/a>
Crest trail – very seldom used in this remote part of the range <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"The <\/a>
The big southern canyon – too windy here to linger! <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Hike <\/a>
Hike started at upper right, ended at red dot in lower left <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

My shirt and hat were finally dry, but now the wind was in my face as I started back down the big canyon. It’d been a grueling hike and I was feeling a little sick at first, running out of breath and having to stop occasionally, but after the first mile of descent I was okay. The lower I climbed, the wind gradually slowed and temperature gradually increased, until when I reached the pine park I was actually warm again.<\/p>\n

\"Everything <\/a>
Everything at risk of blowing away <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Looking <\/a>
Looking down the big “funnel” canyon from its head <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Re-crossing <\/a>
Re-crossing the ferns <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Crossing <\/a>
Crossing a talus slope on the way down the canyon <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8713\" <\/a> <\/div>
\"IMG_8716Pano\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Love <\/a>
Love these head-high grasses <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8723\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Willows <\/a>
Willows in a steep, dry drainage <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8729\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Shrub <\/a>
Shrub madrone along the trail <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"That's <\/a>
That’s my trail down there, rounding a bend into the pine park <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8736Pano\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Another <\/a>
Another interesting grass in the pine park <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8744\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Stone <\/a>
Stone gateway at the only drainage out of the pine park <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n

From the pine park, you’re descending a north slope in late afternoon, so you’re mostly in shade, with long shadows from the crest cutting across the slopes ahead, making wonderful patterns of light and dark. As usual, I was looking forward to burrito and beer in the cafe, but still lingered as much as time allowed, to admire flowers and butterflies.<\/p>\n

\"Patterns <\/a>
Patterns of sunlight and shadow on the north slope <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8752\" <\/a> <\/div>
\"IMG_8753\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8760\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"Moonrise <\/a>
Moonrise in the east <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8769\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8770\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div>
\"IMG_8766\" <\/a> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div> <\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

It was September already, and there was only one of my regular crest hikes that I hadn’t tried since my May-June illness and loss of capacity. It was in the range of canyons over in Arizona, southwest of here, and was far enough that it involved an overnight stay. The last time I’d been up […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":17371,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[71,49,112,59],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-17336","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-chiricahuas","category-hikes","category-snowshed","category-southeast-arizona"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/09\/IMG_8694.jpg?fit=1200%2C900&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17336","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=17336"}],"version-history":[{"count":9,"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17336\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17405,"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/17336\/revisions\/17405"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/17371"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=17336"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=17336"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/maxcarmichael.com\/blog\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=17336"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}