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.

Granary/Canyon Hike on August 25, 2011

     Eight of the local Rodeo/Portal Hiking group met this day to hike up and check out a Ancient Native American Granary in a small cave at the base of a large bluff in the Chiricahua Mountains. It was a morning hike so as to beat the heat that was to come in the early afternoon. The 8 hikers and one small dog made it up to the granary.

Founding checking out the granary. Two hikers and the dog went back to the house we staged at while the other six myself included ventured on up the canyon to look at other sites and views of the canyon. At the mouth of the canyon were large rocks with pictographs on them. On up in the canyon were steep slopes and lush grasses and wildflowers. The early morning light made for a beautiful hike with stunning view of both the canyon and valley to the east!! Here are some sights and views!

At the upper end of our hike we found a beautify large cave. No pictographs in it but something big lives there because of a large disturbance on the cave floor where it lays! Fortunately it was not home so we were able to photograph inside for "Caves Beautiful"! :)  

We all will have to come back to this canyon again as we only explored a tiny portion of it and there are yet more interesting and beautiful sights to see there I'm sure!! - Roger

August Sunset 8/20/11

     One of the many things about living here where I do is the abundance of beautiful sites in nature. Perhaps the most common and spectacular sights are the sunsets here. Nature often pulls out all the colors of the palette when she finishes off a day here. Painting the sky as no other artist can, we can only gaze in awe at the beauty that is created with shapes of the clouds and the constantly changing array of colors as the sun sets and darkness come to cover the landscape at the end of the day.
   It is said that the Southwestern United States has some of the most beautiful sunsets in the world. I'd have to agree!! Here are a series of pictures from just one nights sunset a few days ago. Enjoy!! -Roger

August 18th McCord Trail Hike

Picture by Pat Owens

The local hiking group from Rodeo and Portal ventured out once again yesterday on another Thursday hike. This time the group hiked up the side of the Chiricahua Mountains using the McCord Trail. Because of all the recent rains the trial was very overgrown with native annual wildflowers and grasses. A good thing with just having major fire in the area this spring and summer. So nice to see the forest greening up once again!

The hikers went from the Portal Post Office up along an old roadway to the McCord Trail then from there proceeded up the side of the mountain on that trail. Because of all the recent monsoon rains the mountainside as mentioned was covered with a rich growth of native annual wildflowers and grasses. Such a nice sight to see following the recent destructive forces of the wildfire earlier this spring and summer. Growth was so lush in parts that the trail was hard to follow but after some wrong turns we eventually made it to our destination, a natural rock shelter that was once used by ancient Native Americans. On the underside of the main ceiling rock were many pictograph's. (Go to Chiricahua Sky Islands blog on my links, to see all the pictures of them taken by DiAnn). The group enjoyed the break and took group pics and just relaxed enjoying the spectacular views from there.

Following our time enjoying the view we began our trek back down the mountain. Once reaching the bottom some of us spent time relaxing by the bird feeders at the Cave Creek Ranch. Cave Creek Ranch is a very beautiful location to stay while visiting the Portal area. I highly recommend it if you like beautiful settings and wildlife.  Also enjoy the many other places to stay in the Rodeo/Portal area as well.  From there we walked on back to where we parked our vehicles and as we did we could see and hear the thunderstorm over the mountains coming alive with the sounds of thunder rumbling through the canyon as the storm cloud continued to rapidly grow and spread across the mountains and valley area. It would later drench many parts of the mountains and the surrounding area with  much needed rain.

Come visit and stay at our many resorts and B&B's in both Rodeo and Portal. Visit our galleries, especially mine! :), and the shops and restaurants too!!  - Roger

All photos unless marked are by Roger McKasson.