Aravaipa Canyon Preserve backpack, AZ, 10/24 to 10/26/19

Four day hikers and five backpackers (those with the tall packs) excited and ready for to explore  11-mile long Aravaipa Canyon, and some of its side canyons.  While not exactly a slot canyon with widths from 50 to 300 feet and canyons walls as high as 1000 feet,  Aravaipa canyon is a very impressive oasis in the desert.

Day hikers and backpackers hiked about 3 miles in, wading in and out of
Aravaipa creek just past Javelina canyon. Day hikers turned back and backpackers found a beautiful campsite on a sand bluff 4-5 feet above the creek.  

Very start of the journey before entering the narrower part of the canyon.

A well deserved rest and settled for the nite.

Not before enjoying a meal of fresh green beans, canned chicken and quinoa or couscous.  Forgot the smores.  Maggie took the lead and collected enough firewood to last us for both nites out.

Had a moment of excitement when John (above) lowered our food bag from a tree and scarred a mother and babies of coatis (coatimundis) from the stream.  They clamored up the side the canyon, creating an avalanche of rocks to tumble down.  No one got hurt.  

Ventured another three miles into the canyon after the first nite, past Horse Camp canyon (see map above.)  Didn't manage to explore any of the side canyons.  As you can see, there is no dedicated trail; we made our way along and in and out of the stream, and finding our way over the boulders.  How did we keep our feet dry you ask?  We didn't.  Our companions wore canyon runners that allows for water to stream out, and Jim and I had regular hiking boots with wetsuit booties that kept our feet comfortably squishy wet and warm.  Gaiters kept the sand and small rocks out. 

A great thanks to our companions, Maggie, Pete and John. Hiking Aravaipa  canyon had been on our bucket list for over two years.  Could not have done it without them.

Chiricahua National Monument, San Simon, AZ, 10/22/19

Day hike #2:  Nine of us set off to explore the many trails of the Chiricahua National Monument.  The monument is one of several "sky islands" in southeastern Arizona surrounded by desert grasslands.

The native Apaches called this area "The Land of Standing Rocks."

My camera could not capture the vast and diverse landscapes.

Little fellow sunning himself on a lichen covered rock.