Jim Martinez Backpacking

These are all very good things for backcountry camping trips, don't go without all of it.

CAMP STOVE
If you want the best backpacking stove you can get you need to get yourself a Trailstove, it also happens to be the cheapest stove you can get. It runs on wood and the design is extremely simple, that's probably why it's also the cheapest stove you can get.

TENT
Big enough tent, (or tents) to house all the people you are bringing. Cheap decent tents from Target or Wal-Mart will do just fine. Don't get tents bigger than they need to be since you have to carry them on your backs.

BUG PROTECTION
If you don't want to get eaten up by mosquitoes you'd better bring some mosquito coils or something of the sort.

WATER
You have to make sure you have plenty of water specially if you are in the desert. If you are in an area with plenty of water around all you need is a small bottle and a water filter.

MEDICAL KIT
Anyone going out alone into the woods without a first aid kit is crazy.

PICK A SPOT
You should build your igloo on a level surface where the snow is at least 3 feet deep. There should be enough hard snow for your igloo, if the surface snow is powdery there's probably hard packed snow a bit deeper. Large bumps on the surface of the snow it usually means that there is a large object below the snow such as a boulder or a large stomp, they can get in the way so it's better to pick as flat a spot as possible. Don't make your igloo bigger than it needs to be. Mark out in the snow where you plan to have the wall of your igloo.

CUT BLOCKS
Cut out blocks from the area which will be the inside of the igloo. The lower blocks should be about 1 foot thick, 3 feet long and 1.5 feet high, the higher blocks should be about 6 inches thick, 2 feet long, and 1 foot high. If you size the blocks as I have said above you will need approximately the following number of blocks:

Sleeping 1 person, 6 feet inner diameter: 30 blocks
Sleeping 2 people, 7 feet inner diameter: 40 blocks
Sleeping 3-4 people, 9 feet inner diameter: 60 blocks

Don't worry if you think you'll have trouble fitting, once the igloo is finished you can carve out a bit of space for your feet from the inner wall.
The hole resulting from your cutting will be the floor in the igloo so you want a sleeping area for each person as high up as possible, a general purpose area that should be a bit lower to allow for mobility, and a deep entrance hole that extends outside of the igloo. The entrance hole should be as narrow as possible while still allowing you to get in and out without too much discomfort. The deep entrance hole will absorb the cold air and release it to the outside while the warm air will rise and stay trapped inside the dome.

BUILD A SPIRAL CIRCLE
Place your largest and widest blocks in a circle around the hole where you have been cutting out your blocks, the blocks should be tilted in towards the center. Start with the block that goes on top of the entrance hole, the whole entrance hole must be traversed by one single block with plenty of support on both sides. Cut the blocks so they form a spiral, make sure that the block covering the entrance hole is the largest block.

BUILD WALL
Add blocks to the wall until you only have a small opening in the roof. Before you get to the point that it's hard to get in and out of the dome move any blocks not yet used to the inside of the dome so you can put them all up in one sweep from the inside.

TOP PIECE
When all the blocks are in place cut the final top piece to the right size. If you can wiggle it out from the inside and lower it down into position that's great, but if your hole is very circular this won't be possible, you'll have to put the block on top of the dome from the outside and then lower it down from the inside.

FINISHING
Fill any cracks with snow.
Make a little doorway over the entrance to keep snow out.
You have to make at least one air hole in the roof to ensure proper ventilation. Without good ventilation you could run out of oxygen, very dangerous.
Smoothen the inside of the dome to prevent water dripping.
Your igloo is now ready to be lived in, check your air hole periodically to make sure it's not blocked. If you've done everything right you will be quite comfortable.

Chiricahua National Monument

Twenty seven million years ago a volcanic eruption of immense proportions shook the land around Chiricahua National Monument. One thousand times greater than the 1980 eruption of Mount St. Helens, the Turkey Creek Caldera eruption eventually laid down two thousand feet of highly silicious ash and pumice. This mixture fused into a rock called rhyolitic tuff and eventually eroded into the spires and unusual rock formations of today.

The monument is a mecca for hikers and birders. At the intersection of the Chihuahuan and Sonoran deserts, and the southern Rocky Mountains and northern Sierra Madre in Mexico, Chiricahua plants and animals represent one of the premier areas for biological diversity in the northern hemisphere.

Of historic interest is the Faraway Ranch, a pioneer homestead and later a working cattle and guest ranch. It is a significant example of human transformation of the western frontier from wilderness to the present settlement. Faraway Ranch offers glimpses into the lives of Swedish immigrants Neil and Emma Erickson, and their children. The house is furnished with historic artifacts which not only give us reminders of our youth and our ancestors, but one can also trace the development of technology during the first half of the twentieth century. Acreage: 12,000 acres.

TRAVEL BASICS

Operating Hours, Seasons
Visitor Center: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily; closed Christmas Day. Peak season is from March - May.

Getting There
PLANE - Airline service to Tucson (120 miles) is available with rental cars also available.

CAR - Chiricahua National Monument is located 120 miles east of Tucson. Exit I-10 at Willcox, and follow State Route 186 36 miles to the monument.

Weather & Climate
Temperatures are generally mild with summer daytime highs in the upper 90s and nighttime lows in the 50s. Winter daytime highs range in the 50s to 60s and nighttime lows are typically in the upper teens or low twenties but can dip into the subzero range. Moisture is evenly distributed, half during the winter as snow, half in the summer as rain. Daily thunderstorms can occur from July through September.

Clothing: Sturdy hiking boots, with good ankle support, are highly recommended when hiking the trails. 1. During the summer, light clothing for warm days and cool nights is recommended. Rain gear is useful during the rainy season. 2. During the winter, wear warm clothing to cope with wind chill factors below zero, snow and subfreezing temperatures.

Accessibility
The visitor center and campground are fully accessible, including rest room facilities. The Faraway Ranch House can accommodate a narrow wheelchair.

Getting Around
Chiricahua features 17 miles of maintained trail in a monument that is 90% wilderness. Trails vary in degree of difficultly. The Echo Canyon Trail and the Heart of Rocks Trail offer spectacular views of balanced rocks, spires and pinnacles.

FEES/PERMITS

Entrance Fee
COMMERCIAL VEHICLE
$30.00 and up for One Time
Commercial rates 1-6 passengers: $30.00; 7-25 passengers: $45.00; 25+ passengers: $100.00.

INDIVIDUAL
$5.00 for 7 Days
Chiricahua NM entrance fees are now based on the $5 per person rate. Exceptions are commercial tour groups, and pass holders with their immediate family members. Individuals 16 years old and younger are admitted free of charge. 1/3/02

PER VEHICLE

Per vehicle fees are no longer charged at Chiricahua National Monument. 1/3/02

CAMPING

Campground (Bonita Canyon )
Open All Year
Bonita Canyon Campground has 25 sites available on a first-come, first-served basis. It features rest rooms with flush toilets, running water, picnic tables and trash pickup. There are no hookups or showers. Camping is limited to 14 days, and is restricted to the campground. No back country camping is available in the Monument. Camping fees: $12.00 per night; $6.00 with Golden Age Passport; $6.00 with Golden Access Passport. The Group Site is open to reservations, only. Call 520-824-3560 x113. It is limited to a minimum of 8 people and a maximum of 24. Rates are $3 per person, per night. Tents only - no recreational vehicles or pop-up trailers. There are no food services, vending machines, gasoline, or lodging in the Monument. Be sure you are well-supplied before making the trip.

FACILITIES

Visitor Centers
CHIRICAHUA VISITOR CENTER
Open All Year 8:00 - 5:00
Phone - 520-824-3560
Exhibits - Visitor Center with audiovisual program, exhibits, computer information station, book sales. Chiricahua features 17 miles of maintained trail in a monument that is 90% wilderness. Trails vary in degree of difficultly. The Echo Canyon Trail and the Heart of Rocks Trail offer spectacular views of balanced rocks, spires and pinnacles. A picturesque pioneer homestead, the Faraway Ranch, offers daily tours of the house and a chance to learn about the Swedish immigrant family that was one of the first to settle in the area. One can view animals and birds not seen outside the desert southwest. Mammal species include: Javelina, coatimundi, hog-nosed and hooded skunks, white-tailed deer, bears, and mountain lions. Birds seen include: Magnificent hummingbirds, Black-chinned hummingbirds, Scott's orioles, Hepatic tanagers, Painted redstarts, Yellow-rumped warblers, Red-faced warblers, and Black-headed grosbeaks.

CAMP STOVE If you want the best backpacking stove you can get you need to get yourself a Trailstove, it also happens to be the cheapest stove you can get. It runs on wood and the design is extremely simple, that's probably why it's also the cheapest stove you can get.
TENT Big enough tent, (or tents) to house all the people you are bringing. Cheap decent tents from Target or Wal-Mart will do just fine. Don't get tents bigger than they need to be since you have to carry them on your backs.
BUG PROTECTION If you don't want to get eaten up by mosquitoes you'd better bring some mosquito coils or something of the sort.
WATER You have to make sure you have plenty of water specially if you are in the desert. If you are in an area with plenty of water around all you need is a small bottle and a water filter.
MEDICAL KIT Anyone going out alone into the woods without a first aid kit is crazy.