Portal Rodeo Hiking Club: On Top of the World

With the reopening of the remainder of the Chiricahua Mountains in the Coronado National Forest last week the Portal Rodeo Hiking Club took the opportunity to get into the high country to view first hand the results of the fire along the Crest Trail.  On the drive to Rustlers Park everyone stopped to admire a Mountain King snake near the Basin Trail head, a beautiful animal.  Upon reaching Rustler's Park the group parked at the entrance before the gate (the camping area is currently closed) and hiked up to the Crest Trail and headed south.  The hiking club was met with a profusion of wild flowers carpeting the higher elevations of the Chiricahua Mountains.  After stopping for a break at Bootleggers Saddle the group headed on to the intersection of several trails at the base of Flys Peak.  One group of hikers continued along the Crest Trail to Anita Park while the rest headed to the summit of Flys Peak.  After lunch on top of Flys Peak and a decent down the south side to Round Park the group divided again with several hikers heading to Bear Wallow on the east side while several others hiked back along the Crest Trail on the west side covering about 6.5 miles with 1300 ft of elevation change.  The hiking map may be found here or in the sidebar.

Mountain King snake near the Basin Trail.

Along the Crest trail

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View from the Crest trail NW across the Chiricahua Mountains

Rustler Park along the Crest Trail (270) to Centella Trail (334)

Hiking back up in the high country with the Portal Rodeo Hiking Club.  The group met at the Silver Peak trail head and repackaged into 3 vehicles for the drive to Rustler Park on top of the Chiricahua Mountains.  Leaving Rustler Park the group of 8 and one dog (Pugsley) headed south along the Crest Trail (#270) stopping at the scenic overlook at Cima Park where a trail lead down and north back to the Bootlegger trail.  After photographs and and some liquids (at this point I noticed the time lapse camera had stopped working so no hiking video), the group continued along until reaching the base of Fly's Peak.  Here several trails intersect and the group headed east along the Centella Trail (#334).  Passing Tub Spring and the turnoff to Bear Wallow Spring the group moved out onto Centella Ridge.  Stopping on the south edge of the ridge the group found a nice spot for lunch looking east out over the Chiricahuas and the San Simon Valley.

After lunch the group headed back with one group heading to Bear Wallow spring and the loop around Fly's Peak and 3 others heading back the original trail.  Back at the intersection below Fly's Peak the party of 3 took the Long Park Trail (#42D) which intersect FS road 42D and hiked back to Rustler Park.

The total round trip was 7 miles and for those circumnavigating Fly's Peak the trip was 8 miles.  With less than 1000 ft of elevation change it was a lovely walk in the high country.  The map of the hike may be found on Google Maps or in the sidebar.

From Rustler Park to Centella Ridge

Cochise Head from the Crest Trail

Bracket Fungus

Bedding Planes on Centella Ridge

Barfoot Lookout atop Buena Vista Peak, Chiricahua Mountains, Arizona

It was crowded atop Buena Vista Peak when we arrived.  A work crew was already at work installing a repeater for Border Patrol communications and a mule wrangler with 4 animals arrived with another load of equipment shortly after we reached the lookout.  After the drive up into the Chiricahua Mountains from Cave Creek Canyon without seeing traffic then a quiet walk up a mile of trail, arriving to find a group of people and mules seemed like we had stumbled upon a secret meeting in the mountains.  The view from the fire lookout is spectacular and considering the ease of the trail and the minimal elevation change, this trail should rank high on anyone‘s list of Arizona New Mexico peaks to visit.

The trail to the Barfoot fire lookout is an easy 1.2 miles and gains less than 300’ in elevation between Rustlers Park campground and the top.  The trail starts at about 8500’ and ends at approximately 8800’ winding through tall Ponderosa Pines on a well maintained trail.  It is a short segment of the Crest Trail, trail 270, which is a series of trails running the length of the Chiricahua Mountains.

Google Earth screen shot of trail from Rustler Park to the Barfoot Lookout

Crest Trail to Barfoot Lookout

Stairway to Heaven on the way to the Barfoot Lookout

Secret Meeting at the Barfoot Lookout