cochise stronghold info

I'm headed to the stronghold next week, just wondering where the best(closest,least expensive) place to get fire wood is, or should I bring the chainsaw? Secondly what are some of the sunny longer easy routes or domes? How long does it take to drive from east stronghold to west stronghold I am riding a civic (no really rough roads) I think she'd explode. Any other tips for the stronghold first timer? Thanks in advance.

Bring a chainsaw. There is plenty of dead wood out there to cut up.

You can walk down some of the tree-lined washes and find plenty of wood. Don't expect to find much near the popular camping sites. Drive a bit down the road, especially on the west side and look for a nice big wash with trees nearby. There should be plenty of dead fall along those washes. However, I usually do bring my own to lessen the impact on the area. Any Benson convenience store should have wood for sale.

Tony,

I haven't traveled between East and West Stronghold on Middlemarch Road, but have been told it can take as long as a couple hours. I was on the west end of Middlemarch last weekend, it is a good wide road and well graded, but very washboarded. The Forest Service road going into the West Stronghold (FS 687 I think) is pretty good and though rocky in spots, should be fine for a cautiously driven car. The East Stronghold has easier access.

We climbed Moby Dick on Whale Dome which is a pretty straightforward route and a lot of fun. It is south facing so a good choice for a winter day. It does require 2 ropes to rappel, and the overhanging rappel can be tricky if its windy (ropes getting blown away and snagged).

Have a good trip,

Nate

Good luck getting a civic out to the west stronghold (parking area for whale dome). better off just hanging out at Sheepshead/Isle of You.

I wouldn't bother with a chainsaw, there is a Safeway in Benson that has wood I think. Don't forget to bring in all your water.

Would the climbs on Sheepshead be too hot between mid-March to mid-April.

AB

roman d wrote:Good luck getting a civic out to the west stronghold (parking area for whale dome).

Yeah, this. While it's definitely possible, and I've done it in similar vehicles, it could incur some decent damage / getting stuck, depending how torn up the road is at the moment.

I'd recommend driving around, not through, especially in a 2wd drive car.

For firewood, there's no lack of it around (don't cut down any trees or anything), but you can definitely pick up wood at any gas station along the way (Benson should definitely have some), which might be a lot less work.

JST kiddin bout the chainsaw..dont even own one...sunny domes would be cool..driving around to the west side, how long does that take??

Be careful crossing the third or fourth cattle guard on Middlemarch road. It's been slashing tires. The tally so far (just that i know of) is 6 tires spread across just 4 cars. When you cross the guard, just be sure not to run any of your tires across the flat steel band in the middle. The tack welds are coming loose and it's flapping up on the Stronghold side causing it to chomp rubber.

vbr.d

Tony. The Sheepshead rocks. I think it is warmer than the other side? Camping there reminds me of The Needles. Chill, no fees, a few cool climbers. We took a civic there in fact. It's a short drive on a dirt road from Tombstone to the camping. Climbing approach is less than 1 hour and you can scope it from the camping.

PS

geir.com/climbs.html

climbaz.com/Backcountry/bac…

Great resources!

The road into the West Stronghold was recently redone. It's in great shape, you can maybe make it with a civic. Yes, watch out for the cattleguard, I've heard the same.

hey tony-

you'll have fun in the stronghold, it is beautiful and has some great climbing.

for travelling from the east side to the west side, it makes sense to drive around on the highways. it takes a bit over an hour to do, but your car will thank you. the main roads on the east and west side are usually not too bad. i've taken several low-clearance vehicles in to over the years and usually find that if you take it slowly and carefully most places can be driven to without grounding out.

ditto the previous route suggestions, particularly the routes on the southwest and west faces of the sheepshead.

Thanks for the info guys, I'm off to the Stronghold....

Blissab wrote:Would the climbs on Sheepshead be too hot between mid-March to mid-April. AB

Last March we got snowed on when climbing Ewephoria.