Coronado Peak & Mexico

Today was my last hike of the season before heading back to single digits in Iowa. I decided to combine the Coronado Peak hike up Joe's Canyon Trail and the Yaqui Ridge Trail to Mexico. I wanted to thumb my nose at Trump's border patrol from an illegal crossing of my own—into the state of Sonora. I have a great lunch spot looking down at the fence stretching to the western horizon. A beautiful day, with temps rising to 64º. A nice little 4-hour hike—9 miles but only about 2,400 feet of elevation gain.

A few remnants of snow at the trailhead from the previous week's snow, a sign there would be much more at higher altitudes and in the shady spot.

This was the view of the Huachucas from Hwy. 92. 9,500-foot Miller Peak (center) would have to wait until another day. My hike was on the far left portion of the range, with a maximum elevation of around 7,000 feet.

The southern exposures were mostly bereft of snow.

A northern slope exposure.

Coronado Peak (left), my first destination.

0.7 Miles to Montezuma Pass and the Border Patrol presence, then another 0.3 miles up to the Peak.

I hiked the right fork up to Coronado Peak (about a mile) before returning and taking the Yaqui Ridge Trail down to Mexico.

Looking northwest from Coronado Peak. The Coronado Monument is named after Francisco Vasquez de Coronado, a Spanish explorer who mapped this area in the late 1500s, setting the stage for further explorations and land grabs.

Looking south from the Peak, with Mexico in the background.

Down from Coronado Peak and on the Yaqui Ridge Trail. This trail, with it's southern exposure, was completely snow-free.

Someone rightfully took the tin snips to this fence. My usual lunch spot is on the knoll about 500 yards in the distance. it looks down on this fence as it disappears into the horizon.

The fence from the Mexican side of the border. It curves around and over the hills before straightening out as it heads west (yellow oval).

Ironic commemorative stele celebrating U.S.-Mexican friendship.

I decided against heading over to my overlook for lunch as I didn't want to disturb the grazing cattle. There is a ranch down in the valley and the cows sometimes wander up here for lunch as well.