Along the east face of the Chiricahua Mountains there are a number of small unnamed canyons that act as drainage for water from higher elevations in the mountains. This weeks hike with the
Portal Rodeo Hiking Club was along the east face and up one of these smaller canyons below Magnus Dome. Starting in Sulphur Draw 14 members of the hiking club and one dog headed south along the east flank of the Chirichuas hiking through open grasslands recovered after the Horseshoe 2 fire last year. Ungrazed, the grasslands appear to have recovered nicely with a carpet of grass over a foot tall across the lower slopes of the Chiricahua Mountains. The first stop was a wildlife watering station. Consisting of a large concrete apron connected to a underground cistern the watering station has a small open pool for wildlife. Continuing south along the slope with magnificent views of the San Simon Valley and the Peloncillo Mountains the group eventually started climbing up a small canyon. At the base of the cliffs the group stopped at the granary. Perched on a ledge in a shelter cave, the granary is a mud, stone, and wooden structure that was used for food storage sometime in the past. The presence of wood in the structure suggests it is of historic construction, possible Apache though no confirming pottery or other material was present. This site as well as other shelter caves in the area have been mapped and studied by the Forest Service as evidenced by survey pins.
Leaving the granary the group continued up the canyon past fading petroglyphs on the cliff walls to 2 shelter caves with evidence of occupation. Hidden behind large pieces of breakdown from the cliffs above and not visible from below these soot covered shelters were home to someone in the past.
The final stop for most of the group was another shelter cave even higher up the canyon with a keyhole view out onto the valley. At that point the group divided into 2 with the majority heading back down the canyon while a hardier group continued up looking for a route to the top Magnus Dome.
Although only 3 miles was covered, hiking across the steep inclines made the trip more difficult.
For a photograph from inside the granary please follow
this link.
 |
| Portal Peak from Sulphur Draw |
|
|
 |
| Granary or a room with a view |
|
|
 |
| A view through the keyhole |
