Rustler Park and Crest Trail Hike and Birthday Party!

The Hike: 

Photo by Paul Hirt

     On Thursday, September 29, 2011 the Portal/Rodeo Hiking Group met to hike the Crest Trail  from the now open Rustler Park area of the Chiricahua Mountains of the Coronado National Forest.  The Forest Service within the last week had reopened the entire forest for hiking. Campgrounds still remain closed for now while restoration continues to make repairs to damaged facilities following this years Horseshoe 2 Wildfire. 

     This was the first time since the fire that the public has been allowed to hike all the trails in the forest. The Crest Trail and other upper elevation trails had been closed until the opening this last week. It was nice to be able to finally venture out along the crest of the mountains and see the burned areas that like the lower elevations are now carpeted with lush natural vegetation. Nice too, to be able to see the valleys on both the east and west sides of the mountain range. Something I  personally have not seen here before. 

     Where it was once scorched earth is now a profusion of grasses, ferns, and colorful wildflowers. As for the trees though it's a different story.  Most of the trees along the mountain crest trail area had been killed off and burned. Surprisingly though, there still are scorched but living trees that like down in lower elevations are putting out new growth at a rapid rate. It's like the forest missed out on the spring growing season so is now making up for lost time before fall sets in. 

The hike begins.

Linda scans the western slopes from Crest Trail.

Crest Trail 

     The new growth along the crest of the mountains was most evident with the new Aspen growth. Most are nearly half the height of what the older trees were before the fire. Those trees though were not as tall as they could be as they too were regrowth from another fire about 15 years ago.

Scottie by new growth Aspens.

     At approximately the 2/3s point of the hike the group divided into two smaller groups. One went up to Fly Peak and the other ventured farther out to Anita Park. I started out hiking with the Anita Park group which would be about 2.5 miles each way farther than the Fly Peak Trail. About a mile into the hike I noticed that I had somehow cut my right forearm?? Attempts to stop the bleeding while hiking were causing me to fall further and further behind the group, so I called to them that I needed to sit still for a few minutes so the wound would clot and not to wait as I would just go back to the intersection of trails. Bummed out from not making the long hike I returned and met up with Scottie and the two of us hiked back out of the Wilderness Area and back down to the parking lot at Rustler Park. The hike back had beautiful scenery and vistas along the trail back to where we parked.

Wilderness Area sign as we left the wilderness for the parking lot.

     Heading back to Rustler Park we passed scorched forest that had a carpet of green under it. There is sort of a surreal beauty to many of the burned areas where the forest is recovering from the fire. Charcoal black snags rising from a sea of lush green new vegetation. A surrealistic beauty from destruction!

Surreal Picture.

Western view from above Rustler Park.

The Party:

     Following the hike we all met back at Peg's house for a Potluck Birthday Party for Peter, one of our regular group hikers. His birthday he told me was actually September 3rd but this was the first time we all could meet following a hike. A party is a party though no matter when it's thrown!!  There were many others as well who were not on the days hike  for the party. Like I said a party is a party!!

Peg's House.

And the Party begins!!

Peg

     As with all birthday parties there is a cake. In Peter's case seeing as he was now 40 he needed two cakes with 20 candles on each.!! 

Pat with cake # 1.

And there Peter Blows!!

Time now for Morgan and Pat to cut the cakes!!

     That brings to an end the days events for my blog. Check out Bruce's Blog for pictures of the Gypsy Carpenters who were hikers and now performed into the late hours of the party!! The end of a long and fun day of hiking and partying!! - Roger

All pictures unless otherwise stated are by Roger McKasson.

Chiricahua Gallery Community Artists Show

     Rodeo New Mexico's local Chiricahua Gallery held the Opening of their Community Artists Show on Saturday, September 17th. This show included works of not only their own member gro artists but also works of other non-member artists from around the area. The show will be running from September17th through October 2nd, 2011.  Many non-member local artists contributed pieces of their work which were listed as either being for sale on not for sale.

     The show was well attended, especially in this downturn economy that has been made worse in the local area by the recent forest fire in the Chiricahua Mountains. Still, turnout was good, and all seemed to enjoy the variety of works presented for sale or just viewing. It is hoped this show will bring in more tourist and visitors to the area as well as customers for the gallery!! Hopefully too, there will be an increase in the local economy for all local businesses in the area of Rodeo, NM and Portal, AZ!!

     I should also mention the delicious food prepared for the event by local caterer and gallery officer Jackie Lewis. It was enjoyed by all!!  If you look around the images of the gallery you can see the variety of work that is present at this show. It also shows off the local talent we have in the area of both profession and non-professional artists and crafts persons. 

     I have just recently joined the gallery as a sitting member and had the first display of my work in this gallery at this show.  In the past I have supported the Chiricahua Gallery and even done joint Openings with them and was finally talked into actually joining them to display some of my works as well as at my own gallery. I probably should have done this a long time ago!!

     It was nice and a bit strange after so many years to see a section of the Chiricahua Gallery presenting a grouping of my artwork. I think my membership will be a plus for both of us now. 

     I encourage everyone who can to come and visit this show and maybe even find something to purchase and take home with you! It was nice to be back to writing about art in my art blog again instead of about hiking!! - Roger 

All Photographs by Roger McKasson.

HERITAGE DAYS

     On Saturday and Sunday September 10th and 11th Wildlands Network sponsored the third Heritage Days weekend at the Rodeo Conference Center in Rodeo, New Mexico. The event is set up to show how our heritage from the past is merged with the present. The event was kicked off on Friday night at the Chiricahua Desert Museum with a talk on Wildfire Ecology and social gathering.

     Saturday started off the two days of talks. This year the focus seemed to be on the recent fires in the Chiricahua Mountains Coronado National Forest. Talks covered the fire and how both nature and the U.S. Forest Service are working to rebuild the areas burned. Saturdays talks were well attended by many local people as well many presenters. Some of the presenters and representatives came from as far away as Southern and San Francisco, California. 

    

 Both days of the event included a Farmers Market so visitors could purchase local goods and freshly grown produce. There was also an event in a separate room for children to learn about the heritage of the area as well as a talk by local Landscape Architect Greg Magee on native plants. The children during their time created a large mural drawing giving their impressions of what they learned.

During the days there were several breaks for people to socialize and enjoy cookies and and drinks provided by the organizer. There was also a nice lunch that could be purchased in advance both days. Everyone seemed to enjoy the breaks and lunches as they could visit with the presenters for more information as well as socialize with others.

     Sundays talks were more towards the cultural aspects of our heritage. The Forest Service talked about the trails and natural springs in the mountains used by hikers, ranchers, and of course the wildlife of the area.

A talk were also given by long time rancher and businessman Edward Elbrock on the history of his ranch and the development of Conservation Easements that protect the large ranches from being sold off for development thus protecting the vast ranch lands as open space for future generations. 

     Former Arizona Fish & Game Warden and local Portal resident talked about the history of the Chiricahua Mountains and Portal. 

     Howard Topoff a local retired professor gave a light hearted semi-historical presentation on the American Museum of Natural History's Southwest Research Station. As usual everyone was very entertained by Howard's presentation!! 

    There was also a presentation by the newly newly formed local conservation organization, Friends Of Cave Creek Canyon (FOCCC) Someone said they should use the acronym to create the slogan "Meet the FOCCC"!! They were selling very nice T-shirts for their organization as well as memberships. If you are interested you can find out more about them at www.friendsofcavecreekcanyon.org. 

    

     The final two presenters were myself talking about "Our Artistic Heritage" and Rick Beno talking about Astronomy and its heritage to this area and the southwest.  My talk was about how our artistic heritage started back in prehistoric times by Native Americans doing art on the rock bluffs and caves in the area. In historic times our artistic heritage started with local hobby artist. Following them were the first professional artists and then the growth of galleries to what we have here today a very diverse and constantly growing group of very talented artists that consist of simple crafts people, fine art painters and bronze sculptors like myself, not to be left out the large number of professional writers and musician that make up our artistic heritage. Howard Topoff in his presentation pointed out too that all the artistic heritage here is also enter connected with the sciences that are taught and studied here. Art and Science he said always go hand and hand together.

     The 2011 Heritage Days was a big success and everyone is looking forward to the one in 2012.  Couldn't ask for better weather for this years Heritage Days and the location was perfect. - Roger

     

September 1st Hike: ASH SPRINGS AND ELSEWHERE

     It was the first of September and a group of hikers from the Rodeo/Portal Hiking group set out on another of the open trails in the Chiricahua National Forest over in the Portal, Arizona.  The hike started and also ended at Linda and Paul's beautiful home. Best looking parking lot around!!
     The hike headed up to the American Museum's Southwest Research Station where we acquired other hikers.  One on foot and two that drove on up the road a short distance to park and join the group. The hike was pretty much what we have done before, hiking up to Ash Springs and along other various connecting trails. Hiking is still somewhat limited to the lower elevation trails by the Forest Service because of the Horseshoe 2 Fire earlier this spring and summer. The fire has left the upper trails to dangerous to be open yet because of concerns for falling trees and possible monsoon caused flash flooding that can occur without notice.Therefore, the upper trails will remain closed until mid-October or later. Hopefully not later!!
     The hike was still a wonderful way to enjoy the forest as it recovers. Each new week seems to bring out new and beautiful wildflowers, some of which the long time locals on the hike had not seen before. Some have  rarely been seen even in the past!

Group Photo by Paul Hirt

     Leaving the open areas we moved on into the more forested area that was now carpeted in spots with lush fern groves and a clear running stream which we had to cross as we began the last half of the loop back to where we started. Just before reaching the end of our hike we were treated with fresh baked cake and ice cold lemonade at one of the hikers home, which was nicely placed right next to the ending of the trail!! 

The hike covered approximately 7.5 to 8.5 miles in total by the time we were back to Linda and Paul's house.  All in all the hike was a wonderful experience with lots to see along the way that was not there in weeks prior. As the forest continues to recover from the fires, we will probably be seeing more and more plants and wildflowers that only appear after a burn. It was nice to see that the once ashen appearance of the forest just following the fire is now being replace with lush green grasses, colorful wildflowers, and other plants.  Wonderful to also see the trees are for the most part putting out new leaves and growth as well!! We all are looking forward to being able to venture onto the upper trails in the coming months to see how those areas are recovering as well. Hopefully too, the Forest Service will soon reopen the campgrounds so the public can once again start coming for longer periods. - Roger

All photographers unless otherwise stated are by Roger McKasson.