Mark's Cycling & Hiking Blog
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups
  • Home
  • Mark's Cycling Blog
  • Contact Us
  • Boulder Canyon Posts
  • Cycling Event Meet-Ups

Slavin Gulch to a Mine

8/4/2021

0 Comments

 
Picture
Our group arrives on the western flank of the Dragoon Mountains to hike the Slavin Gulch trail to an abandoned mine.  With me were hike organizer Lorna, Bill B and Katherine.  A combination of very fit and very fun company.
Picture
This was my first time doing the trail and only my second visit to the Dragoons.  The recent rain has transformed the landscape and almost our entire hike would parallel a ravine that had a good flow of water.
Picture
The trail actually follows a road that had been blasted from the granite so copper and zinc could be brought down from the Abril mine..  Other than a few places, the trail is easy to follow.  
Picture
Several times we would check the ravine, looking for pools where, on our return, we could take a break.  We also marveled at a pattern found on some house sized boulders.  We couldn't guess as to how the unusual pattern was formed.
Picture
We were headed for a notch in a canyon wall where the canyon narrowed and the granite soared above us. Bill was setting a murderous pace and so every time I paused to take a picture, I had to run to catch up.  While the gang was checking out another possible pool stop.....
Picture
....I kept going so I could get ahead and have the luxury of not taking a rushed image.  I heard my name being called and after walking back to the group, discovered Bill had stumbled at a creek crossing, instinctively reached out, grabbing a handful of Bear Grass.  The razor edged grass left a deep cut in a finger.  Observing the blood loss, I said it appeared he might bleed out, ha, ha.  Bill wanted nothing to do with turning around so wrapped the finger with a paper towel and we......
Picture
....climbed higher.  The climbing portion of the trail is about 2.75 miles with an average grade of 9% so not steep but steep enough.  
Picture
There were many examples of balancing boulders and as usual, you wonder how it is possible they maintain their perch.  Note the one, upper right in the above image.
Picture
We passed the remains of an old building just before the trail levels and we start paralleling a ridge above us.  
Picture
The views to the southwest are great.  At about the 3.75 miles we....
Picture
......don't actually reach the mine but the remains of a wooden chute down which the ore would have tumbled.  As we refueled, I poked around a little and discovered what appeared to be a way to the ridge but our plans did not include this additional climb.  Later, I read a couple of hike reports and confirmed this was a way to reach the ridge where there is a forest road and the mine opening along the way up.  We began our descent.
Picture
Bill was in front, reached down to remove the stalk from I think a Century Plant and in so doing,  surprised a black tail rattlesnake that was laying beneath it.  After getting over the shock of the discovery which yes, was accompanied by the distinct buzzing, there ensued a discussion about the strike radius of a snake.  I had read a rattlesnake could strike about 1/2 of its body length but I was overruled by my 3 hiking buddies who insisted the snake could launch itself and strike at a much greater distance.  One of our group, who shall remain nameless, insisted she had seen video of a rattlesnake even standing on its tail!  Each of us then sprinted past the snake which was about 5' away and shoulder high after slithering up an embankment. Later, I read I was correct, 1/3 to 1/2 of its body length.
Picture
Flowering plants were in abundance as we continued our descent.  It really was like walking in an arboretum of flowering plants.  We found a large pool.....
Picture
....descended to its edge where I was happy to sit in the shade and take pics.  Lorna and Bill removed their shoes and socks and waded in, eventually reaching a spot where the water was chin high.  Once the refreshing break ended, we resumed our hike, finishing with 7.5 miles and 1700' of climbing.  Fun and beautiful day for sure.
0 Comments



Leave a Reply.

    Author

    Mark is a long-time cyclist, hiker, golfer and plays some table tennis...ok, it's ping pong.

    Categories

    All
    April
    California Riding
    Grand Canyon Backpacking
    March
    The Characters

    Archives

    November 2023
    October 2023
    September 2023
    August 2023
    July 2023
    June 2023
    May 2023
    April 2023
    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    November 2015
    October 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012
    November 2012
    October 2012
    September 2012
    August 2012
    July 2012
    June 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    October 2011
    September 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010
    April 2010
    March 2010
    February 2010
    January 2010
    December 2009
    November 2009
    October 2009
    September 2009
    August 2009
    July 2009
    June 2009
    May 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009

Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.