Dragoons

Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

Does anyone have any information about this area? I can't seem to find anything. Mary

Sande J · Posted: 1/20/2005, 7:30 pm Post subject:

Heat spent some time there not too long ago, so I am sure he will share it with you. Try searching the Cochise Stronghold for a little history on the area. Last time we were in Tombstone, the Dragoons appealed to me from the distance...still trying to get there myself.
I feel a trip comin' on. Surprised

SJ
_________________
And this our life, exempt from public haunt,
Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stone, good in everything..
-William Shakespeare-

RedRoxx44 · Queen of the Walkabout Joined: 15 Jan 2004 Posts: 1167

I've hiked the trail thru the Stronghold to the pass and over the top then back. It was nice with nice views and good bouldering everywhere. I think a little over 7 miles?? Horses use it too so expect some poop.

Developed campground on the east side, secluded car camping elsewhere.
Other than that--I'm clueless.
_________________
You can rest when you're dead

CatValet · Posted: 1/20/2005, 11:40 pm Post subject:

Cochise was buried in the East Stronghold. There is a West Stronghold too, accessible from near St. David or from a side road off Middlemarch Pass Road. Very pretty scenic area. Start with a NFS Coronado map then zero in. There used to be a wolf run along the western edge which ran from the Mule Mtns up to Texas Canyon and from there up to hiking areas in the Galiuros which RedRoxx has described here. When researchers were looking for any trace of Mexican lobo still entering Arizona, this was one of the places they focused on. Probably not since the 60's but still a nice hope. Old time ranchers used "coyote getters" which used a .22 blank to shoot a poison pellet into the foot that stepped on them. Probably got and an occasional dog and maybe a wolf or two. Wolf is mucho smarter than Br'er Coyote at avoiding things touched by humans.

Between this area and the Chiricahuas, it is easy to see that Cochise had an eye for real estate, both defensible and aesthetic.

Shihiyea · Joined: 20 Oct 2003 Posts: 1135

Thanks, this at least gives me a start! Mary

Nighthiker · Joined: 05 Jan 2003 Posts: 1714

The area on the west side of the Dragoons does not have much traffic as the south and east. Take not of the terrain, Mexican highland lots of walnut trees. Several years ago was a an old adobe ruin on the west side, visited council rock and look for white house ruin but lots of catclaw. I have a friend that has 20 acres on the west side adjacent to the national forest. Instead of driving farther south to Middlemarch, I can take Ranch road but it is private. Get a Coronado map to plan your access and a 7.5 USGS topo map to explore the area.