SKIT Day 35: Bushwhack in the Chiricahuas

Daily Miles: 12.4, Total Miles: 468.5

Today was excruciatingly slow progress with bushwhacking up the rest of Wood Canyon Park dodging tree overhangs, downfall, cat claw, yuccas and pointy agave. Then down into Indian Creek, the upper part of the canyon choked with flood debris, no really good route, just finding the path of least resistance and pain. I found water pools in a narrows section, fortunately more difficult for the cattle to reach. The lower part of Indian Creek has also had severe flash flooding, no doubt intensified my recent wildfires.

I turned up Whitetail Creek and found a scummy pond to filter another liter. By the time I got to Hands Pass, I was running low on water on a warm. sunny afternoon.

Rather than continue uphill to Shaw Peak and uncertain water, I looked at my maps and decided to head SW down the North Fork to Headquarters Windmill near Pinery Canyon. A few hours later, I was rewarded with a full trough and water flowing from a pipe. After a good rest and hydration, I continued up the Pinery Canyon Road, eventually camping off-road near the creek.