Last night I camped in the chilly ravine of the Camp Grant Wash. This was a large wash, and that name seemed significant for some reason. A little research provided some detail.
Due east of the wash, Camp Grant was a military outpost at the confluence of the San Pedro River and Avaraipa Creek, serving as a point for controlling Native American travels and an overland freight route between New Mexico and California. In 1871 (post Gadsden Purchase), Tucson residents saw themselves as surrounded by enemy Apache. The settlement of the southwest had much hysteria surrounding the notorious brutality of the Apache — I’m sure some of the tension was rightfully so. A growing base of Apache at Camp Grant and continued Apache raids throughout Arizona made Tucson businessmen weary. In April 1871, a group of Americans, Mexicans, and Papago Indians (Apache rivals) attacked at Camp Grant, killing some 125 Apache women and children in what became known as the Camp Grant Massacre. Few Apache men were killed since the men were out hunting. President Grant demanded trial on those who perpetrated the attack — all 100 were acquitted citing the Apache’s history of raids. Man, the recent histories of Native Americans is a tough one to stomach, especially after hiking through so much of their former territory and relating to much of the sentiments that they had of the lands.
| 🗓️ Date | November 11th |
| ⇢ Mileage | 27.8 |
| 📍 Trip Mileage | 602.8 |
| ⛅️ Weather | Chilly, windy morning; high of 70°F |
| 🏞️ Trail Conditions | Rolling desert single track, some pavement through town, ATV two track |
I continued rolling through the washes and hills of the Tortilla Mountains towards the town of Oracle. It was a 17 mile water carry this morning to a trailhead cache box.
Trail turned to dirt road approaching Arizona Highway 77. On my map, I saw an opportunity to cut a couple miles and go directly through the town of Oracle, likely passing a bar or convenience store. Why not? After 21 miles, I made it to the Orehouse Hill Top Saloon, where I quickly hogged down a burger and a couple Cokes. After 30 minutes, I was back on the road.
I reconnected with the trail using the Cody Trail. Trail started up the Oracle Ridge towards Mt. Lemmon. I made another nine miles out of Oracle, for about a 28-mile, 6,500-foot climbing day. Camp was brutally windy and chilly; tent stakes wouldn’t hold in the hard packed, crumbly soil. My pitch failed twice last night in the wind, even with large rocks on the stakes.
Signing off,
Zeppelin
“Freak on a Leash”
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