Fort Bowie

Drove to the historic Fort Bowie ruins a couple of hours northeast of Bisbee for a short hike to see the remains of an early U.S. imperialist campaign. Fort Bowie was established in 1862, to keep the mail and stages moving between east and west, and to subjugate the indigenous inhabitants, the Chiricahua Apaches led first by Cochise, and then Geronimo. How appropriate in this age of U.S. aggression around the world, and racist oppression of people of color domestically, that we see how much treasure and effort we've spent, on just one of many campaigns, to erase a people and a culture. Makes you proud to be an "American." 

Ran into bovines of low morals on Apache Pass Road.

Remains of the Chiricahua Apache Indian Agency (AKA, genocide bureau).

Helen's Dome, named after an apparently well-endowed young woman particularly popular with the troops at Fort Bowie. 

Ruins of the powder magazine.

After the fort was decommissioned in 1894, the local townspeople scavenged building materials from all the post's many buildings.

Adobe walls of the cavalry barracks.

An obvious place to build: the only flat space in the triangular valley.

View from the Overlook Ridge Trail on the return hike.

A view of the Dos Cabeza Range, adjacent to the Chiricahuas. Oh, and that's my friend Ira's cabeza.

Cochise Stronghold East

Drove an hour-and-a half today to Pearce, Arizona, to hike the wondrous Cochise Stronghold (East) Trail. It's approached from the East, and hence the name, but we went over the Divide and down the west side just the same to add three more miles to the six. Just under 3 hours, 9 miles of great and changing views, and only about 2,000 feet of elevation gain. Weather in the seventies. Fantastic hike.

Reflection from an old water catchment.

The topography really opens up on the west side of the divide.

The bactrian curve (or Grand Tetons, if you want to be sexist).

Blackett's Ridge Trail - Tucson

Blackett's Ridge Trail is a steep (1,800 feet of elevation gain) 5.8 mile out-and-back, with great views of  Mt. Lemmon and the Wilderness of Rocks to the north, and also bird's eye views of both Sabino and Bear Canyons. This day started out with a fording of Sabino Canyon Creek, where the snow runoff overflowed the bridge with ice cold water. The 75 degree temps lessened the impact of the freezing water.

One of many false summits on this hike, goading you on.

Phone line Trail on the way to our ascent. 

Looking back toward the city.

Nope, not the top.

View from the summit.

View from the summit.

Muy verde palo verde.