Journeys: Carr Peak, AZ

The day before Mom and Lewis Bolte drove down to Sierra Vista from Phoenix, temperatures were in the 70's, clouds were an afterthought, and I had not thoughts of adverse weather in the near future. When I woke up Saturday morning and looked out of my bedroom window at 4800 feet up to the mountain peaks at 9200 feet, I saw a blanket of fresh snow and dark clouds moving in. I was not sure how the day would turn out, but Mom and Lewis arrived at 1100 nevertheless and we loaded up in the borrowed Hyundai to make our attempt on Carr Peak in the Huachuca Mountains of Southern Arizona.

We followed AZ 90 through Sierra Vista before turning on to Carr Canyon Road and began a dirt road ascent to the Reef Town Campsite at 7200 feet. During the climb we were dazzled with many dizzying views of Sierra Vista and Cochise County and the cliff bands standing guard below the peaks.

The Carr Falls (left side of the photograph).
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Mom on top of the Carr Falls.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Fortunately, even though the weather looked severe at the top of the mountain, at the Reef Town Campsite parking lot, things were still tame. Mom, Lewis, and I parked the Hyundai, packed up our day pack threw on our leather jackets and pearls and set off for the peak. The signs posted at the trailhead told us that we had three miles of trudging to the peak and it did not take long for the snow to set in.

"This is definitely farther than 3 miles, Charlie."
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Panorama of the Huachuca Mountains.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

As we continued our ascent the weather worsened. The dark clouds swirled over the peak and down on us bringing an unexpected April blizzard in the desert. We passed a couple that was descending and heard their story of stopping 1/3 of a mile from the peak at a trail junction because the snow seemed too heavy. We smiled, nodded, and continued on. We were not cold, tired, hungry, or afraid of what was ahead...just amazed at the natural world around us.

Last clear shot to Sierra Vista before the clouds hit.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Icy pine needles frame unexpected conditions.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

At 8500 feet we were in the cloud bank. The snow, which was more like miniature hail, drizzled around us. Trees were suddenly white and frozen with jagged ice daggers clinging to their sides. Tiny spring flora peaked through ever accumulating snow on the ground. At 8800 feet the trail left the east face of the mountain and edged around the south face just under the peak. As we came around a bend in the trail, everything changed, the trail was now disappearing in snow, the ice on the trees was thicker, and suddenly the wind was an aggressive enemy. Hand became frozen while snapping pictures.

Mom strikes a pose in the howling wind.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Desert mountain blizzard conditions.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

We were now at the 1/3 to the top mile marker and we did not hesitate to press on. The wind worsened as we hit the top of the ridge and turned east to hike out to Carr Peak and there was no longer the friendly tree to protect us. But we did have the safety of a few rocks.

Mom and Lewis enter the last 100 yards.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Ah! The top! We should get out of here!
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

Heads down we three hiked towards the top. The miniature hail pellets now pelted against all exposed skin with an annoying sting. Thirty yards from cresting the peak, Mom and Lewis took up temporary shelter and I ran to the ugly roundish peak to snap a quick picture before running back down. We picked up and got off of the ridge as quickly as possible to escape the terrible wind.

On the way down.
Photograph by Chuck Bolte.

When we got back down below 8500 feet, things started to return to normal. The snow continued to pelt, but the wind was now a lamb. We were leaving our April winter wonderland.