First, this is not the Patagonia at the southern tip of South America, the land that stretches 260K sq.ml from Pacific Ocean to Atlantic, shared by Chile & Argentina. This one is less than 20 miles from the Mexican border. Just finding the trailhead for Red Mountain alone took us one hour! Once a kind local resident finally pointed us up the correct dirt road and driving carefully through six water-filled washes and tracks, the trek started.
Below: Where is the TRAIL? After scrambling a while and ready to abort the hike before finding the ‘right’ trail. Below: Fast forward; Finally found the right route to 5847-ft saddle after huffing up 1400 vertical feet. Time to reflect back on the beauty of groves of sycamore, juniper trees and rolling hills. AND P&J sandwiches. Partly cloudy, sporadic 35/40 ph. wind gusts and temps only in high 50s.Below: There is more to climb to where the towers are. Another 3-mls to climb at this mid-afternoon hour with the clouds starting to leak? NO, not doing it. Instead, chill, soak up the views of the town Patagonia and the Mexican side of Nogales at our feet below. Below: Hiking down, we notice craggy cliffs hanging over the trail…and above our heads. A lot of things that when you don’t look up and miss while you’re only concentrating on your boots. Below: Red Mountain memorial for Glen (Gooch) Goodwin (1958-2022), native rancher, mountaineer, fireman and photographer who worked at Red Mountain fire lookout. Horseshoes welded to form a cross mounted by an alligator juniper tree.RIPBelow: Life is good at the historic downtown Patagonia. Described by many as a ‘quirky’ old mining town with population of 903. Tours of history conducted by the city with working silver mines and growing wineries nearby.
NOTE:Now rising among my e-books on Amazon title, CONFIDENTIALLY in PERU will weave in-and-out the Andes Mountains despite the soft touch of a love story. HAPPY VALENTINES!
deetezellimountainstories 