CrowMac Creek

 Charleston was the home of the people who processed the ore from various mines in the area. It was established in 1878. Some histories state that Charleston was a peaceful town, others claim Charleston was more dangerous than Tombstone. The reality was that after the "gunfight at the OK Corral," and the "vendetta ride," the town and the area in general area became more peaceful. A large Sonoran Earthquake destroyed Charleston on May 3rd, 1887. The only traces of the old town are the remains of the old adobe buildings. Old photographs indicate that building materials were taken from the ruins such as metal and bricks were removed and used somewhere else. A large Sonoran Earthquake destroyed it on May 3rd, 1887.

 It was another cooler day for Southern AZ  Honey, Amanda, Jack and I hiked this challenging trail to Soldier Falls. The hike was only .6 miles (one way) but 75% of the trail was climbing over rocks. I had seen this location on Google Maps but I had never found the trail before. Amanda found the trail and shared the location of the trailhead with me. The view at the top was well worth the effort of the climb.

 It must have been about 4:00 when I heard the little jingle that announces some notification, and this notification was from a female on TikTok. It was from a woman named Betty with a series of numbers following the name. I wasn’t doing anything anyway, so I looked at her page. She wasn’t dressed sexy, and the pictures were of an attractive young lady dressed professionally.  We began texting, and I truly loved the way she made me feel. I loved the way she wrote and I appreciated all of the ideas she was sharing and I was enjoying what was happening.  And I still had another long day on the bus, so I just kept texting. We arrived in Dallas for a bus transfer ten minutes late for my bus, and this had increased my travel time by 10 hours. I slept little.  The next day we boarded another bus and this time I sat in the first set of seats on the bus and shared them with others off and on. I reconnected with “Betty” and began texting again. I enjoyed every word she wrote ...

 This morning Jack and I drove up Mescal Rd and looked for a trail. I didn't have much luck at finding a trail, but in driving through one of the places I found a camp area has been totally destroyed by all terrain vehicles . All camp sites have been used as race track digging up the sand in all areas, even around camp fire pits. It's a shame that there is so little respect for nature and for people who may have wanted to camp there. Of course, this type of activity may be viewed by the unclean as manly activities. To me, they are just jerks. I did get 2.5 hiking miles in and ultimately found a trail to try out on another day.

     I have been really frightened about what is happening in the US government. With our leader ignoring laws and the Constitution, his use of the DOJ to attack the people who stood against his illegal and immoral acts, his threats against anyone who may be a Democrat and his constant lying are causing many to feel concern and fear. Pope Leo has soothing words for us.        The Biggest Backfire in History    Click on the blue text.      Today, Jack and I had a short walk this morning, 1.36 miles. This afternoon I took a bike ride and pedaled 7.83 miles, then because of a flat tire, I had to walk another mile to get home.

After listening to what Trump and Hegseth said in their talk to the top brass of the military, I am very concerned about our Democracy as well as anyone's ability to express an opinion. The right to freedom of speech we have enjoyed, the right to express an opinion, is gone, that is unless we do not want to be arrested or even killed.  How do we deal with this? There's not much we can do, except to keep up with what's happening, say very little, find allies, and remember: "Loose lips sink ships!" That is, our own personal ships, including our families and friends. When I was in the Army, I took an oath to protect the Constitution and I never withdrew from that pledge. When I used to run, I was able to deal with any anxiety I may have had, and I was successful. I can't run anymore, so I will take hikes and mountain bike rides instead. Hopefully this should address the concerns I have now. Today was a short hike, .88 miles. But I did take a 4.83 mile mountain bi...

Yesterday I decided to hike the Guindani Trail at Kartchner Caverns State Park. It is a challenging trail on which a person hikes up uphill for at lease 2.5 miles. It continues upward from there, but at that point, I was not feeling well. The trail is like most AZ trails, rocky with some of the trail partially washed out. I was feeling a bit dizzy so I returned to the car. The dizziness increased throughout the day and the evening brought nausea.. I slept hard but was still feeling ill this morning. It is about noon and I have improved, but still a bit off my feet. I am hoping that I will feel better tomorrow. I hiked 5.5 miles yesterday.

  In spite of the fact that I have a vehicle that has good gas milage, I drive it as little as possible, walking and riding a bicycle instead. My hiking though, finds me wanting to drive to assorted locations along the Arizona Trail. Unfortunately the nearest locations are over 50 miles away, and putting those miles on my car causes a conflict between enjoying hiking in areas I’ve never seen and facing the probability of needing to purchase another car. Of course this is an option I do not desire. So I’ve decided to hike locally as much as possible. Of course there is more heat in town, and to avoid that discomfort I am starting my hikes before 7:00. That's AM. There are some areas that are wooded here in Benson and they make my hikes more interesting. Today Jack and I walked 3.03 miles. I walked as quickly as I could through local trails and for the first time since I was forced to stop running, I enjoyed the runners’ high. As mentioned in prior posts, I introduced Jacks gir...

       My best, only, hiking partner, with the exception of Jack, that is Amanda, has left to care for her brother in Alabama. Though I have enjoyed our hikes together, the distances I need to train for the big hike are not being met. She and Honey have been and will be my best partners, I will need to schedule my longer hikes, and the shorter hikes when I am not training.     In addition to those challenges, I have been overwhelmed with the news of the US falling into fascism. I never thought I'd see this country fall into the depths of authorism, we are now pretty much there.      I would have liked to push my fears aside with exercise, but it is so ridiculously hot. I am ready to begin real training in earnest, but not at 90+ degree days which will cook anyone outside. The sun's maximum heat occurs from mid Spring through Summer and mid fall. It's the 2nd day of Fall and it is 92 degrees. I had lived in Arizona from 1969 to 1978, 2001 to 2...

     Yesterday, September 1st, I decided to Take Jack out to the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead and to see if his front right paw is healing. We walked 3.86 miles with Jack's healing going well. It wasn't hot but not quite cool. Never-the-less, it was a nice easy hike. Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead

On  Wednesday, August 8, I decided that Jack and I would Hike 8 miles on the San Pedro Trail, about 20 miles from Tombstone. When we arrived at the Trailhead, I was surprised to find that Amanda and Honey had arrived as well. Amanda had wanted to take Honey to the river and let her play in the water. I'm sure that Jack was happy to share the event so we walked down and let the dogs play for a while. I took some video in the process, but there were three problems. First, I hadn't learned the video applications of my camera and there was some shaking going on, seriously reducing the quality of the videos. Second, the I need to convert the video to another format to insert into my blog, and third, the videos were too large to email copies to Amanda. Our wifi is quite slow. I will just give Amanda a memory stick with copies of the videos. When the dogs were done playing, Jack and I hit the San Pedro Trail. I had wanted to step up my miles to  7-8 miles, which would have been reaso...

I'd been looking through the Complete Guide to the Arizona National Scenic Trail, and I'm getting a little worried. I'm finding that I will need to hike 16 miles with a backpack on the first day to get to water as well as a place to pitch my tent. I am also. That way I will have some water available as well as camping sites for Jack, me and my tent. But the next day I will only have to walk seven miles. Hikers are warned about immigrants using parts of the trail. I am not as afraid of those who simply want to work in the US, but I am concerned about those who run drugs. In all of the time I hiked and backpacked, I never had to worry about immigrants and drug runners. I absolutely need to increase the miles I can hike with a backpack. I don't want to hit the wall (run out of steam.)                                                           ...

 It's Arizona and it is as hot as I've seen. Benson is 3600 feet in elevation, but there is no reprieve in the heat anymore. On Wednesday, Jack and I hiked 4.2 miles South from the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead. The sky had intermittent clouds arising from the monsoon conditions and it was a little cooler. Thinking we wouldn't need water for our hike, I didn't bring any with me. Bad idea.  Both Jack and I struggled with thirst, and we both appreciated the water I had left in the car. Today the sky is clear and blue but it is hot, and the best place to be is inside with cooling. Unless there are monsoons in the afternoon, it is too hot to hike. And most of the time it is too hot anyway.  Today I drove the 56 miles to reach the Coronado Memorial, which is where the trail to where the Mexican border begins. No one is allowed to drive to the border because of the construction of the border wall between the US and Mexico. So the only way I can start the trail at it's beginnin...

 I found myself awfully lazy for the last few days and my laziness has not subsided. So this will cover, in small part, the hikes of Monday, 8-18 and Wednesday (today), 8-20. On Monday, Amanda, Honey, Jack and I hiked six miles into Casa Blanca Canyon, but I've misplaced all of my photos for that hike. I can say that we hiked six miles, walked through 15 cows and about 8 horses. Without photos, that's about it. Today, Jack and I hiked 4.2 miles along the AZ Trail beginning at the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead. Now Gabe Zimmerman was the man who came up with the idea of creating the AZ Trail by connecting existing trails. But creating an 800 mile trail, even if using existing trails is no small feat. So Thank you Gabe, who unfortunately passed after being shot with Gabriella Gifford in 2011. 

  I am so lucky that I have a friend and hiking buddy, Amanda, to hike with me. I met her because her dog is Jack's girlfriend. Before I started training to complete the Arizona Trail, Amanda, Honey, Jack and I took morning walks here in Benson. Now we are extending our training to include segments of the AZ Trail. Amanda has all of the characteristics of an elite runner and I would have loved to coach her. When we hike, she kills me on the hills, but she looks back to make sure I am still alive.  Amanda is also a nurse, and at my age, it is a real benefit.  I do, however, pace myself and my recovery time is good. Amanda is a good friend, and that is as much as I could ever hope for. Yesterday, Amanda, the dogs and I took a 4.6 mile hike along the Oak Tree Trail which connects to a segment of the Arizona Trail. The trail climbs for about a mile, then drops 500 feet, which is okay except for the fact we had to climb back up. At some time I will need to carry a pack and las...

 It's been hot; too hot for hiking. Today I took Jack for a hike later in the PM and it was nice. I think I will continue on that tack. Here are some photos from the AZ Trail . While hiking on the AZ Trail, I missed the trail and kept hiking on a road. I wasted time and effort. My reading has stated that it is easy to get off the trail and without a good GPS, it may be more difficult getting back onto the AZ Trail. I will have one that works well by Wednesday. Prices have gone up twice, so I hope I can still afford one.

 Today, Jack, Honey (Jacks Girlfriend), Amanda and I took one of our regular hikes and I noticed that the cactus are blooming. These flowers dry up pretty quickly due to the extreme heat.

  There are countless possible hazards relating to hiking a long trail, and having "knowledge" of the particular trail on which I will travel is a highly valuable tool. At the very least, the GPS will show me where I am. Being a person who can be directionally challenged, the more I know about where I am, the better off I will be. But, there are many GPS units out there. All can be used, but finding the one that best fulfills your needs is vital. The GPS I'd really like to buy is the Garmin GPSMAP 67i. In addition to having extremely accurate location information, this device offers the ability to send a SOS. It can also let my support know that I need help, and where I am.   This unit not only uses the GPS satellites but others as well. When I hike through trees or when I am in a narrow valley, it is far more likely that my location may be incorrect. I have lost satellite access using apps on my phone, so I cannot depend on what it tells me. This GPS allows the use of ot...

I need to say that this movie, "Gerry" with Casey Affleck and Mat Damon is an intense movie that many will not enjoy. Let's just say that the movie is pretty dark, but it addresses what can occur when the participants head out on a hike and are not prepared. It reinforces some of what hikers should know before they take a hike. I've never been lost, but there were times when I had some difficulty finding my way.  With my anticipated hike of the Arizona Trail approaching, here are some of the strategies that these hikers should have exercised. 1. Try to avoid solo hikes. Having someone with you will definitely be an advantage if the other person is injured. It gives you another set of eyes, and that will help in finding your way. If one person is unconscious, the other can communicate with any search and rescue teams. 2. When hiking, always turn around from time to time to see where you've come from. You need to not only know where you are going, but from where you...

It's hot and I am tired of the heat. I've needed to increase my miles, but the weather is not cooperating. Yesterday, Friday, I was marginally successful at pitching my tent. But the adjustment lines that attach to the tent and then to a stake are confusing. The instruction video I watched advised me not to touch the knots, but some rascal before me appears not to have seen that video. I have trouble learning with videos anyway. I cannot understand why video creators always seem to have their hands covering what I need to see. Also, Mother Nature did not bless me with much visual memory, which means, by the time I actually attempt to do the task shown to me, I've forgotten how. So I am looking for written instructions. Never-the-less, I do have the ability to make what I have work. That was yesterday, and it was extremely hot. I was not only frustrated, but soaked in sweat. And the extreme heat continues today, threatening to continue through Tuesday. And then, who knows. A...

      The Presidio de Santa Cruz de Terrenate was a Spanish fort built in 1775 in an attempt to offer protection from the Apache. The fort was abandoned in 1780 due to the fact the Apache tenacity.     Yesterday, Amanda, Honey, Jack and I hiked a short 1.5 mile trail to see what remains of this fort after 250 years. And all that remains are parts of adobe walls, and a good story.          You see, the Spanish goals were to capture the Apache, teach them to be good Christians, and to train them to become effective slave labor. At the same time, the true reason for this Spanish conquest, their thirst for gold, continued.     Now the weathered remains of the fort still exist.

     Fairbank is a small Arizona ghost town established in 1881 as the nearest town that processed the ore mined in Tombstone.       Over the next 20 years, the ore ran out in Tombstone, but Fairbank survived with limited residents until the 1970s, when it became abandoned. A number of the old buildings still stand with the school house still standing and in good condition.                                                  Fairbank Jail                                                       Jack cooling himself in the weeds.           Today, visitors can walk the streets of Fairbank, view the old town and see many of the old buildings. For...

I know that successfully training for the Arizona Trail will require increasing my ability to hike 10-12 miles a day with a pack. Today I completed five miles at four miles am hour. Now all I need to do is hike at this rate with a pack for 12 miles.  This tiny stream coming from the last Monsoons and this is the only evidence we have of our tiny deluge. Tomorrow, Friday I hope to hike another 3 miles with Amanda and Honey.  On Monday, I will hike six miles. After that, who knows?

 So, in life, hopes and expectations don't always go the way we want, and my expectations seem to have been a little different than what I received. Amanda told me that she didn't feel comfortable spending the night outdoors in a tent. That's understandable. I grew up with parents who enjoyed camping out and when I was in my twenties and Sandy, my ex, grew up spending time in the outdoors. Amanda didn't have those experiences, so I can't blame her. Camping out can be scary. That being said, Amanda likes the hikes and has volunteered to help Jesse re-supply me. And that is very big. I am prepared. I have often camped by myself, so this is something I can live with. I have the "Far Out" App so I will know where I am on the trail, where I can find water, and decent camping areas. I have a charger to keep all of my electronics working, To back this up, I will have a good GPS unit that will verify what I am finding on the Far Out App.  As long as I get the nece...

  After promising to do everything I can to prevent injuring myself, I took a hike from the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead to the  Arizona Trail only to find that it is not well marked. The trail was carved deep as I walked to the pools under a bridge, watched Jack enjoy himself in the water, and continued on a path that seemed correct, but soon became a countless series of rabbit  paths. I put enough energy into my excursion, to basically over extend myself, then I returned home, and opened Google Maps. The correct trail turned to the right, and as expected, I turned left. I did find one AZ Trail sign . It was just in the wrong place. I did get to see a young (unidentified) hawk . The black spec to the right of the sign is Jack.