Reflections in Cave Creek Canyon, Chiricahua Mountains

Astronomers with the All-Star Telescope star party are currently in residence at the Painted Pony Resort and today the group explored South Fork of Cave Creek Canyon.  About a dozen astronomers hiked up South Fork to Maple Camp and along the way we came across a small slot canyon on the west side of the trail.  Chimneying a short distance up the slot several reflecting pools were encountered.  While getting up and in was easy, coming down and back out proved a little more challenging, but it was possible to avoid the falling into the pools and still get a good photograph.

Of course the Panstarrs comet has been the subject of some interest and photography at sunset each evening and some photographs are posted here and here.

Small reflection pool off South Fork

South Fork Canyon to Red Rocks and Log Canyon

Ten hikers from the Portal Rodeo Hiking Club met at the Silver Peak Trailhead to sort out vehicles and then drove up South Fork Canyon to trail head.  South Fork canyon was full of birders, with many hanging out near the bridge in South Fork, presumably looking for the Trogons that had been reported. 

The plan was to hike up South Fork canyon to the Burro trail then up to Red Rocks where those wishing more adventure would continue down the trail to a point where it intersects a side canyon (Log Canyon).  Then proceed downstream to the next intersection and head back upstream.  Eight hikers continued past Red Rocks and dropped into Log Canyon while the remaining hikers waited and waved from the ridge top several hundred feet above.  Log Canyon contains several 8-10 ft waterfalls which were dry making the down climbs fairly easy.  These should be quite active during the monsoon season and a return trip would be well worth the minimal effort in accessing the area.  Upon reaching the next intersecting canyon the group headed upstream and within 30 minutes was rewarded with another Chiricahua Mountains waterfall.   Approximately 25-30 ft in height it is clear that a significant amount of water passes over this falls during wetter periods as evidenced by logs jammed against one another and only supported on one end by friction just downstream of the falls.  After finishing a snack the group headed back down the canyon eventually intersecting the trail in South Fork.  The route covered between 4.5 and 5 miles (GPS coverage was lost in Log canyon) and the elevation change was around 900'.  The map for this hike may be found here or in the sidebar.

Illuminated tree above the waterfall

Friction, a 20' log suspended over the creek bed

 

Close Friends

A waterfell in Log Canyon

Balancing Stones in the Chiricahua Mountains

The placing of stones to mark special places is a tradition in many cultures including ours.  We place stones at important sites like the Washington Monument at the seat of government and to mark burials .  Historically, standing stones and the megalithic sites are found around the world and the result of many cultural traditions dating back as far as 5000 BCE.  Whether a burial site, astronomical site, or other ceremonial use the common thread through all of these examples of rock placement is the recognition of a special place marked by a piece of the landscape in a manner that is recognizable to other members of the species.  In other words, someone at some time placed a rock(s) to mark, what they considered, a special spot and that location is easily recognizable to later visitors.

The Chiricahua Mountains were known as the "land of standing up rocks" by the Apache Indians who inhabited the area in reference to the unique naturally occurring pillar formations found in the Chiricahua National Monument.  But there are many other special places in the Chiricahua Mountains and the South Fork Zoological and Botanical Area of Cave Creek Canyon is just such place.  This richly diverse riparian area is flanked by high walls of volcanic tuff and is a favorite retreat for many visitors.  In acknowledgement of the uniqueness of South Fork a proof of concept balancing rock project was created.  At several points along the stream bed, where views of the canyon wall are visible, smooth rocks from the stream bed were balanced to recapitulate the view from that location.  At 4 locations balancing rocks were erected starting at the bench on east side of the parking area with one downstream and 2 upstream.  The balancing rock sculptures were comprised to 2 to 5 rocks, and only material within arms reach was utilized.  The works are unobtrusive and may easily be missed by the casual observer to the area.  In addition the works are all transitory, the next high wind or rise in the stream will obliterate all evidence of the balancing rocks and their locations.

These works illistrate several concepts:

First.  A marker of an special place.  A hiker coming around a corner of the trail frequently encounters unexpected views of the canyon in South Fork.  A balancing stone sculpture at these locations highlights these locations and acts as a marker for a special view.  Rather than signage or other methods of permanently marking locations frequently encountered, a sculpture invites the visitor to stop and figure out what is going on and enjoy the view.

Second:  The transitory nature of individuals.  The balanced rocks are not designed to be permanent additions to the landscape but rather something to be viewed, analyzed, and appreciated, then melt back into the landscape with time just like individuals.


Third:  Time. The use of eroded cobbles from the stream bed indicates that while even the mountains are not permanent fixtures of the landscape, in a geological sense, the time scale of change is beyond our capacity to observe.

Vertical panorama of Balancing Stones reproducing the 3 outcrops visible from this location.

Recapitulation of 2 outcrops with the taller on the right.

A single spire reproduced with Balancing Stones

A single balancing stone in the South Fork of  Cave Creek Canyon.

360 Panorama, Portal Rodeo Hiking Club - November 18, 2010

A 360 degree panorama from trail 240, the Burro Trail, in South Fork Canyon on the eastern side of the Chiricahua Mountains.  The images for this panorama were collected  on the weekly Portal Rodeo Hiking Club trip at the Red Rocks overlook, approximately halfway between the South Fork trail head and Horseshoe Saddle at an elevation of 6100'. The small areas of burned forest visible were the result of the widely advertised 2010 Horseshoe fire. Note there is minimal damage from this years fire along the Burro Trail in South Fork Canyon and grasses have grown over much of the forest floor where the fire passed through.  Also see Chiricahua Sky Island, Rodeo for images of the fall colors.

South Fork Trail to Burro Tail to Horseshoe Pass, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

Thursday morning the Portal Rodeo Hiking Club met up and headed up to the South Fork picnic area for the days hike.  Starting out on the South Fork trail, trail 243, the group headed up to Maple Camp.  The fall colors were still at their peak and the reds and yellows of the maples made a nice contrast to the green of the pines along the trail which winds along the streambed passing small waterfalls. After 1.2 miles, the group then took the Burro Trail, trail 240, climbing up to a sunny scenic overlook at Red Rocks  for a break and a view of the surrounding mountains.  A group of 5 then continued up the trail with no particular destination but as the group continued it was decided to complete the trail as far as Horseshoe Saddle.  Arriving at the saddle for lunch and photographs there was a discussion of possible day trip loop hikes that could be completed along this trail without retracing one's steps.  Then it was back down the trail and arriving back at the vehicles in the afternoon.  The total distance completed was 5 miles, one way, with about 2000' of elevation change.

A screenshot from Google Earth of the route to Horseshoe Saddle.

Slideshow of South Fork to Horseshoe Saddle hiking photographs.