Clean-Up Day

A few updates regarding April 5th:

• Meet at 7:00 am at the Lone Star Cafe on Hwy 92
• Drive up Carr Canyon to Comfort Spring Trail Head
• Hike down to Comfort Spring and then up Wisconsin Trail to Bear Saddle (about 4 miless)
• Clean-up area around saddle, Bear Spring, and another area just to north on Crest Trail
• There is a link to the new clean-up flyer on right side of this page

Some most excellent news is that arrangements are being made for someone to haul the bags out by horse. This will save us time - I was not looking forward to carrying the heavy bags out. I will post later this week when this arrangement is finalized. Looks like we will be able to leave the packed bags at Bear Saddle or a nearby location and the trash will be hauled out a day or two later.

Picture of Bear Saddle: The trash density is similar to this and extends a quarter of a mile down from the saddle. There is another area about three quarters of a mile north that has some piles of litter.

Bear Saddle - Ida Canyon

I threw my lower back out about ten days ago - during my Spring Break. That stunk! I had just got in my first 70 mile week and had big plans for the break to continue with high mileage and some great runs on the trails. Maybe it was the 70 mile week but the back went out when I bent over to take something away from my daughter before she threw it at my son - "Daddy has to go lie on the floor now." The back is better now - I couldn't wait to get out for a longer trail run.

Friday morning I got out for a 15 mile run and managed to complete a loop down Ida Canyon and up Oversite Canyon. Last time I attempted this I ran face-to-face with a large group of illegals and decided to turn around and go back. Great run - I am going to include this loop in longer training runs as it makes for a tough climb 2800 feet up to the Carr Peak Saddle. This was my first time running Ida Canyon and I was surprised to find the trail in great condition. On one section the trail was a bit overgrown and faint - this is where the illegal cut a long switch back and go straight up the ridge.

There is a spring about a half a mile down from the saddle. It was flowing but unfortunately there was trash littered in the waters and around the area. If there are enough volunteers next weekend - I hope to clean this area up along with the area at Bear Saddle. This spring is the headwaters for a favorite swimming area in the valley below. I take my children swimming there in late summer when the water is flowing after the summer monsoons.

Bear Springs

Crowded Trails this Morning

I was running up Pat Scott Canyon Trail to the Crest Trail this morning and stopped at the trail intersection to catch my breath. I looked down the other side of the ridge - towards Mexico - and saw a train of illegals hiking up about 100 yards from me. They were headed north (makes sense) and I was headed south. I stayed to watch - over 30 people and the last guy was dragging a sleeping bag behind him - I am guessing to cover the tracks.

As I went my way, I wondered what I would do if I came face to face with a large group like that on the trail. I figured I would use an "Ola Amigo", make a friendly gesture and go on by the group. I did not have to wait long to test my plan out. After reaching Bear Saddle, I headed south down the Ida Canyon Trail and planned to loop back to the Crest Trail. This was a new trail for me - I had started down this way once but the downed trees and lack of time turned me back after a quarter of a mile. Today I had the time and looked forward to completing the loop. About three-quarters of a mile down I came face to face with a group - the leader was about 30 feet away with the others (I could see 7) further behind.

I said hello and motioned that I wanted to go on by - he did not say a word but only nodded his head. He also had one hand behind his back and never did show the hand. I looked at him, looked at the others behind him and said Adios - I don't want to take the chance. I turned and ran the way I had come. He never did say a word to me - and in that hand was it rock, stick, or gun? I did not care to find out. He had a look of all business - with paying clients behind him.

I decided to head along the Crest Trail out to Miller Peak and back - this is familiar territory. I ran a side route that stays high to see how much litter had accumulated in an area I cleaned up last spring - quite a bit. About 10 minutes later I came across another group of about 20 people - this time the lead man responded with a hello and the nature of the area allowed me to give them a wide berth. I continued on to Miller Peak. At the top I stopped to enjoy the view and just below the peak was another illegal immigrant in the brush - he was a bit surprised to see me but did say hello. There was at least one other person in the brush and I did not care to go snooping around so left a short time latter.

The rest of the run was uneventful - made a side trip up Carr Peak and headed back to the car. This last bit - a much more popular route - I came across three hikers enjoying the day. It was incredible how many illegals I saw today - in the past I have encountered a few here and there but over 50 in one day and 4 separate groups?!! May have been that with the high winds the coyotes know that the Border Patrol helicopters are grounded and they take the opportunity to make the trip. Now I can say for sure that I have seen many more illegal immigrants on the trails in the Huachucas than other hikers or runners.

Busy Morning on the Border

It is finally getting light enough to run my 6.5 mile loop in Coronado National Monument in the morning before work. The early morning air inspired me to charge up the hill - as I crested the top and started down I was in for a suprise. I came around a corner and a border patrol agent was running towards me - we both stopped about 10 feet apart and he asked if I was a US citizen to which I replied, "of course." He let me know that I was pretty close to being tackled on the trail - too bad it would have made for a more interesting story. He radioed the others to let them know the suspect ID'd as a citizen.

There were about 5 agents prowling around - apparently a group of illegals had scattered in the area earlier that morning. The skinny agent was out front pounding the trail and the others were working their way around off the trail to close in on me. I'm glad they do not carry batman nets - I'm sure the agent would have fired a net at me if he had it.

I did suprise a small group of illegal immigrants in Ash Canyon last year - I came charging around a corner and they immediately left the trail and ran off into the brush. All part of the fun in running along the border.

Early Morning Run

I ran the same 15 mile route as last weekend - was not quite as magical without the full moon and clouds but I did take a camera this time to capture a few pics. I finished the initial climb about the same time as the sunrise. The peak on the horizon is San Jose Peak which is just across the border in Mexico.

At the Miller Peak Junction I stopped and poked around to see how much rubbish was in the area. I saw a suitcase - usually it is just backpacks. Yes - I did open it and no, there was not stacks of money inside only some peanut butter sandwiches. This area around Miller Peak is heavily littered - even the top of the peak is littered. The summit is another half of a mile from this junction but I did not go on up - the trails were rather icy so it was slow going in this area.

There are great views to the south and west near where the crest trail meets the Carr Peak trail. In the distance you can see a small lake - this is Parker Canyon Lake. Sometime this Spring I hope to convince my wife to load up the four kids in the mini-van and pick me up at the lake. I would run from the house to the lake - probably about 30 miles if I take the hard route up and over these mountains. When I lived in Carson City, NV I could run from my house up and over the Carson Range to Lake Tahoe. It was only about 17 miles to Sand Harbor - a great beach to meet at. I could soak my legs in the cold water and the kids loved swimming in the lake and playing in the sand. I would do this several times a year with friends and on my birthday each year - it was my day - so I would run to Tahoe and family would meet me there for a picnic on the beach.

It was enjoyable run - when I dropped of the ridge a helicopter was hovering around one canyon over. It did not look like the usual helicopter flown by the Border Patrol but I am guessing it was BP - they spent quit a bit of time closely observing a ridge. Here is the route as pictured in Google Earth - Looking from the South with Sierra Vista on the other side of the mountains.