Historic Fort Huachuca Arizona | Buffalo Soldiers | Apache Wars | Huachuca Peak

Описание: Fort Huachuca, originally Camp Huachuca, was established in 1877 as a frontier outpost during the Apache wars.    / @flynnhikes   Soldiers patrolled the mountains and valleys, escorted travelers, protected settlements and fought Apaches. Fort Bowie, to the east, was another nearby frontier outpost with an interesting history that you can learn about here:    • Fort Bowie Arizona | Battle of Apache Pass...  

Cochise, one of the most well-known Apache leaders, negotiated a peace treaty in 1872 for his band of Apaches, and he died in 1874 in the Dragoon Mountains. In 1886, Geronimo surrendered. This, for the most part, was the end of the Apache wars. As a result most of the 50 or so garrisons in the Arizona Territory were closed, but not Fort Huachuca. Why not Fort Huachuca? Because the Fort is very close to the U.S.-Mexico border, and there were all sorts of ongoing issues at the border with cattle smuggling and other illegal activities. Then in the early 1900s U.S. troops helped contain instability during the Mexican Revolution when there were skirmishes and deaths on both sides of the border.

Buffalo Soldiers played a critical part in all of these military actions. Their service is much larger than what I had time to describe in this video, and you can find lots of additional information online.

This hike to the peak is 8 miles with 2,800' of elevation gain, but it'll be longer if you park farther down the road than I did.

Another route to Huachuca Peak:
McClure Canyon Trail to Huachuca Peak    • How not to crawl under a log | Huachuca Pe...  

If you don't have a DoD ID card you’ll have to stop at the office by the Van Deman gate, have a quick background check done, and get a pass. The pass is usually valid for a year. Do a quick search online for the documentation you’ll need; requirements change over time.

If you want complete, accurate and interesting details about trails in the Huachucas, pick up Leonard Taylor's Trails of the Huachucas trail guide (2019) and the accompanying Trail Map of the Huachucas. You can buy them at Ramsey Canyon Preserve, the Sierra Vista Ranger District Station along Hwy 92 south of Sierra Vista, the Coronado National Memorial, the San Pedro House, the Carr House, and Territorial Book Sellers (7th/Lenzner) in Sierra Vista.

Birds heard on this hike: canyon wren, Cassin's kingbird, coppery-tailed trogon, spotted towhee, western wood-pewee, sulphur-bellied flycatcher, painted redstart, brown creeper, white breasted nuthatch, bridled titmouse, Bewick's wren

From Tombstone, Fort Huachuca is an easy drive about 20 miles west across the San Pedro Valley.