The Stronghold - Dog Friendly?

My fiancee and I were planning on heading down to the Stronghold and maybe Mt. Lemmon for the next week and then realized the cacti might be a problem for our dogs. Any thoughts? Are we asking for trouble or is it doable? They are well-conditioned crag dogs, stay near the packs, don't bother anyone/wildlife, etc. but they will be off leash some and I'm worried about them walking around cacti when they're use to the woods around Boulder/Denver. Thanks for any beta

Jason

Jason, there is not a lot of cactus in the stronghold or most of the climbing areas on Mt. Lemmon (there is some, though). Most of the cactus that might cause trouble for dogs (cholla, prickly pear, barrel, saguaro) are at lower elevations than these areas. There are some small specimens of prickly pear, not the large patches in and around Tucson.

It really depends on your dogs. If they run around a lot and chase after critters, then they might get themselves into trouble (the rodents like to burrow under some of the sharper flora). If they are pretty chill, they won't have any problem just walking around.

Tip: bring a pair of needle-nose pliers (like a Leatherman) as well as tweezers, just in case. The pliers especially if you take your dogs anywhere that has cholla.

Also, most of the climbing areas on Mt. Lemmon are outside of wilderness areas, so dogs are fine. But there is some climbing in the designated wilderness, please don't take your dogs there.

Have fun!

The jumping cholla can be a problem if your dog likes to chase after rabbits, and birds, and such. I haven't climbed in the area, but have spent quite a bit of time hiking at Mt. Lemmon, and in the Stronghold/Southeastern AZ. with a friend, and his dog. On several occasions his german shepard suffered with the jumping cholla after running off to chase something; one time she was covered so badly that it required an expensive emergency vet visit, and lots of shed tears from her owner who felt her pain. The cacti, especially in Southeastern AZ is no joke! The goat heads are pretty nasty too! There's some pretty harsh ground covering that exists in the region; I was told it was due to the land being so overgrazed. I've explored fairly extensively throughout the California, Arizona, Utah, and Nevada deserts, and IMO, Southeastern, AZ, although gorgeous, is the most annoying as far as exposure to nasty cacti, and thorny weeds.

Have fun! We're also planning a climbing trip to Cochise Stronghold in December. : )

I've climbed in the Stronghold hundreds of times with my dog. No problem. The only cactus that can be a real pain is the cholla, and i see very little of that in the Stronghold.

You don't need to worry about it.

Ditto Bobby's, Geir's, and Eric's comments. The only time my girls have gotten into cactus has been on non-climbing-related hikes, and I take them to nearly every crag at which I climb.

FYI - in addition to the needle-nose pliers, a plastic comb is also very helpful for removing cholla clumps from dogs, shoes, people, etc., since you can't grab hold of it with anything without transferring the stickers.

You two, and your dogs, will *love* it here.

When I was at Isle of You a few weekends ago there was family there who had three dogs which they left in kennels at their campsite in that closest camping area to isle of you. There were other non-climbers camping there too. Later that day the climbers found us at sweet rock and said one of their dogs was missing. Apparently someone had stolen it. It was a pitbull, so maybe high risk for stealing, and left unattended at their campsite, but nonetheless it might be something to keep in mind if you take your dogs down there.

eMurdock wrote:"Also, most of the climbing areas on Mt. Lemmon are outside of wilderness areas, so dogs are fine. But there is some climbing in the designated wilderness, please don't take your dogs there." Not true. Dogs are fine in the wilderness. Only certain areas prohibit dogs due to bighorn habitat or for other reasons. Those areas are signed. Designated wilderness does not necessarily preclude dogs.

Keep an eye open for rattlesnakes in the Stronghold, too. I have seen them mainly on the west side (for example on the way down the descent from Moby Dick) but they might be on the east as well.

Your dogs will be fine. Bring some tweezers for the cacti. Your dogs will learn after a few days in the dessert. The area's you plan to visit do not have a lot of cactus.

Pete Hickman wrote: Later that day the climbers found us at sweet rock and said one of their dogs was missing. Apparently someone had stolen it.

Rattle snakes should not be a problem now I think it is cool enough that they will stay away. But in the hot months for sure watch for them.

There is a shot you can get for the rattle snakes, it gives them some extra time to get to a vet if bitten. As well as snake classes too which are always good.

Dogs are never welcome by some. Unless your a responsible dog owner. Which is very rare.Most owners tend to forget that not everyone likes their dogs. So just be courteous.