Mt.Graham Ice Cave
Posted: September 28th, 2018, 3:05 pm
Stores and provisions have been squirreled away in our Chinook for over a month now, awaiting a compelling destination to escape an unusually hot Summer. Our moment finally came when I was alerted to an undeveloped campsite at the end of an obscure Forest Service road that dead-ended along a spur on the west flank of Mt.Graham. Here a deliciously cool alpine climate beckoned, along with the opportunity to explore new terrain within an easy day’s drive from home.
My informant had no problem flinging his Jeep along the Forest Service road but he cautioned us fogies, handicapped by a lumbering Chinook, to take care in a few spots. The crux section turned out to be an axle-deep bog oozing mud after recent rain. Here the Chinook’s mass provided sufficient momentum to carry us through after we threw caution to the wind.
After that we had no problems reaching the primitive turnaround site nestled amongst pines where prior campers had thoughtfully completed a crude rock fireplace. Somehow it’s just not camping without a crackling log fire, as long as it’s not indoors or escapes into the wilderness! Next morning I was sufficiently refreshed by strong tea to climb a rock outcrop above the Chinook to get a better view of formations flanking Soldier Creek, where a mythical Ice Cave had been marked on an old map.
The site is kind of secret as it has no official recognition by the Coronado National Forest Service. Furthermore, the cave is not obvious from a distance, so finding its location is even more challenging. I judiciously made mental note of a probable location under a granite bluff that now attained priority status on our visitation list for the next day.
The bluff turned out to be a short hike down from Soldier Creek Campground and sure enough there was a cave tucked underneath. Well, not a cave really, but more of a deep fissure or crevice between blocks. The entrance was hidden under a chockstone and a few contortions led inside where the absence of ice was a bit of an anticlimax, although the interior was still cool late in Summer. The crevice continued ominously into darkness where exploration without flashlight and rope was unwise. I conclude the Forest Service doesn’t publicize this interesting feature for obvious safety reasons.
I returned to daylight and scrambled up a rock slab to join my wife who tethered our unruly Schnauzers while admiring the splendid view across Soldier Creek. This spot definitely has become one of our top destinations on Mt.Graham. Maintenance was required on the way home at a car wash with high-pressure spray to remove caked mud jammed under the wheel wells after our brief slalom through the bog. Once again, our Chinook has proven nimble enough for mountainous boondocks that some might view as an indulgent boondoggle.
My informant had no problem flinging his Jeep along the Forest Service road but he cautioned us fogies, handicapped by a lumbering Chinook, to take care in a few spots. The crux section turned out to be an axle-deep bog oozing mud after recent rain. Here the Chinook’s mass provided sufficient momentum to carry us through after we threw caution to the wind.
After that we had no problems reaching the primitive turnaround site nestled amongst pines where prior campers had thoughtfully completed a crude rock fireplace. Somehow it’s just not camping without a crackling log fire, as long as it’s not indoors or escapes into the wilderness! Next morning I was sufficiently refreshed by strong tea to climb a rock outcrop above the Chinook to get a better view of formations flanking Soldier Creek, where a mythical Ice Cave had been marked on an old map.
The site is kind of secret as it has no official recognition by the Coronado National Forest Service. Furthermore, the cave is not obvious from a distance, so finding its location is even more challenging. I judiciously made mental note of a probable location under a granite bluff that now attained priority status on our visitation list for the next day.
The bluff turned out to be a short hike down from Soldier Creek Campground and sure enough there was a cave tucked underneath. Well, not a cave really, but more of a deep fissure or crevice between blocks. The entrance was hidden under a chockstone and a few contortions led inside where the absence of ice was a bit of an anticlimax, although the interior was still cool late in Summer. The crevice continued ominously into darkness where exploration without flashlight and rope was unwise. I conclude the Forest Service doesn’t publicize this interesting feature for obvious safety reasons.
I returned to daylight and scrambled up a rock slab to join my wife who tethered our unruly Schnauzers while admiring the splendid view across Soldier Creek. This spot definitely has become one of our top destinations on Mt.Graham. Maintenance was required on the way home at a car wash with high-pressure spray to remove caked mud jammed under the wheel wells after our brief slalom through the bog. Once again, our Chinook has proven nimble enough for mountainous boondocks that some might view as an indulgent boondoggle.