December 11, 2020 Willcox, Arizona

 High of 58 and sunny. We hiked in Cochise Stronghold today.

Driving into Cochise  Stronghold in the Dragoon Mountains.  This rugged area served as a natural fortress for the Apache Indians of the Chiricahua clan led by Chief Cochise. For 11 years they eluded the army in these rocks. Cochise is buried here in an undisclosed location. Orange sycamore leaves in the spring and a dead agave that looks like a sun.

John on the trail. It is very lush with oak trees, pinyon pines, sycamore, juniper trees. A bit higher there are also bear grass, agave and yuccas.

John in the trail in the rocks. Beautiful fall sycamore leaves along the trail. 

Rugged rocky ridge. The whole area is covered in trees. 

A cement dam that says Blue Moon Tank built by the Green brothers. Looking down valley from the pass. 

John at the Cochise lunch counter enjoying a peanut butter sandwich. Rock pinnacles on the way back. 

Cool rocks. 

Even more cool rocks. 

Last light on the mountains. Coral bean seeds, manzanita leaves and berries, cholla fruit and int own the Fertizona fertilizer company. 

We caught a few of the sandhill cranes in Cochise Lake out side of Willcox in the sunset. Not as many as the last time we saw them, and they seemed to be leaving for a different night roosting spot.

John photographing the cranes in sunset. Flock of sandhill cranes.