SKIT: East Cochise Stronghold CG

Mrs. Haze and Ellie took me on the short journey to the East Cochise Stronghold CG in the Dragoon Mountains, my starting point for the SKIT. After a look around, we said our goodbyes and they took off. This left me to decide whether to hit the trail on a warm afternoon or take a campsite and picnic table. Such a rare luxury on a long hike, I opted for the latter. Much prefer an early morning start, especially with a climb right off the bat.

We stayed here on a camping trip a few years ago and did some day hiking. My sister told me that the Dragoon Mountains were one of my mother’s favorite spots. Not surprising considering her keen interest in Native American culture, history and archeology. This rugged country, a natural fortress, served as a refuge for the famous Chiricahua Apache Indian leader, Cochise, in the 1880’s but had been inhabited several hundred years before that.

Too late to take nap, I strolled around, took in the nature trail and found my starting point for tomorrow.

Late in the afternoon, a fellow camper walked by and said, “Hey, is that a Zpacks tent?”. Turns out he and his wife, both Triple Crowners, overlapped with me on the CDT. They were doing day hikes on some of the Sky Islands – small world.