Gila National Forest - Dumm Canyon
Well, not so much, this stretch of Dumm Canyon from FR 157 downstream to the forest boundary is a fairly rough little hike. At first we followed an old road that passed by some very old cabin ruins as well as some cleared areas that are used for camping.
Then we went down into the stream bed following a very vague wildlife trail. Water soon appeared and it made a sweet little scene, but don't expect it to be a live stream (except maybe in the narrowest section) except in wet years.
Very quickly, we had to choose whether to go high up on the bank on the south side( to bypass the box), where a path seemed to lead or just get down onto the stream bed itself. We opted for the water of course. For the next mile or so, we were confined by limestone walls anywhere from 20-60 feet high. This is not what I had expected.The very straight sides of these cliffs were not visible when scouting this hike on Google Earth, which led me to believe we would have leisurely walk on dry banks with piñons, junipers and ponderosas.
Instead, we were scrambling around boulders, pushing through thick vegetation, and making many wet crossings. It was all good though.The amenities of the canyon with its babbling stream, tiny waterfalls, flowering willows and sinuous channels carved through the bedrock, more than made up for our struggles.
After picnicking by the transparent, if only slightly milky ( from the carbonate rocks so common in the area) brook, we continued down stream and found a lovely little cascade, followed shortly by the flow entering a channel of gray limestone bedrock very similar to places I've visited over on nearby North Percha ( Dumm actually flows into N. Percha) and Mineral Creeks.
Clouds moved over us for a time, which kept us from getting too warm, but the wind that was blowing gale all over the region, was non-existent down in our little box canyon.
Giant alligator junipers began showing up as the valley widened. So did the first spot that could have been used for camping, where we saw a long, long abandoned fire ring. When it looked like the canyon would narrow again before reaching our tentative goal of the forest service boundary, we called it a half a day, rested a bit and began our return. We decided against trying to find a cattle path up above, as none of the ones we had seen coming down to the canyon seemed particularly well trod, and who knows what direction they would ultimately lead. Bushwhacking with a pleasant stream where our dogs could drink and wade to stay cool, and we could listen to the little falls, beats bushwhacking on the slopes of the dry hills any day.
Close to the creek we found the ruins( really just one corner of timbers and a pile of stones that was the fireplace) of another cabin with abundant metal trash all around. This one would be real easy to walk by without even seeing unless you happened to kick one of the rusty cans. Sweet day.
NOTES:1. One of the nice things I noticed while hiking this canyon bottom is that it's too narrow and rough for cattle to pass through it. 2. The mile of FR 157 after crossing North Percha to get to our starting point, had seen some improvements after the Silver Fire, but now without maintenance it's just as crappy as ever (although mercifully wider). 3. The canyon is named for a 19th century prospector and ranch hand Albert Dumm who had cabin on the creek (perhaps one of the ones we saw).
Very quickly, we had to choose whether to go high up on the bank on the south side( to bypass the box), where a path seemed to lead or just get down onto the stream bed itself. We opted for the water of course. For the next mile or so, we were confined by limestone walls anywhere from 20-60 feet high. This is not what I had expected.The very straight sides of these cliffs were not visible when scouting this hike on Google Earth, which led me to believe we would have leisurely walk on dry banks with piñons, junipers and ponderosas.
Instead, we were scrambling around boulders, pushing through thick vegetation, and making many wet crossings. It was all good though.The amenities of the canyon with its babbling stream, tiny waterfalls, flowering willows and sinuous channels carved through the bedrock, more than made up for our struggles.
After picnicking by the transparent, if only slightly milky ( from the carbonate rocks so common in the area) brook, we continued down stream and found a lovely little cascade, followed shortly by the flow entering a channel of gray limestone bedrock very similar to places I've visited over on nearby North Percha ( Dumm actually flows into N. Percha) and Mineral Creeks.
Clouds moved over us for a time, which kept us from getting too warm, but the wind that was blowing gale all over the region, was non-existent down in our little box canyon.
Giant alligator junipers began showing up as the valley widened. So did the first spot that could have been used for camping, where we saw a long, long abandoned fire ring. When it looked like the canyon would narrow again before reaching our tentative goal of the forest service boundary, we called it a half a day, rested a bit and began our return. We decided against trying to find a cattle path up above, as none of the ones we had seen coming down to the canyon seemed particularly well trod, and who knows what direction they would ultimately lead. Bushwhacking with a pleasant stream where our dogs could drink and wade to stay cool, and we could listen to the little falls, beats bushwhacking on the slopes of the dry hills any day.
Close to the creek we found the ruins( really just one corner of timbers and a pile of stones that was the fireplace) of another cabin with abundant metal trash all around. This one would be real easy to walk by without even seeing unless you happened to kick one of the rusty cans. Sweet day.
NOTES:1. One of the nice things I noticed while hiking this canyon bottom is that it's too narrow and rough for cattle to pass through it. 2. The mile of FR 157 after crossing North Percha to get to our starting point, had seen some improvements after the Silver Fire, but now without maintenance it's just as crappy as ever (although mercifully wider). 3. The canyon is named for a 19th century prospector and ranch hand Albert Dumm who had cabin on the creek (perhaps one of the ones we saw).
Labels: fossils, ghost towns, hiking, waterfalling
posted by Devon Fletcher at
6:34 PM
3 Comments:
At the foot of Bald Hill and going left up Dumm creek is the old ghost town of Danville. You can find it on the 1880 census. There are lots of little community's along FR157 aka North Percha Road. The Reid ranch occupied this road from NM152 up to where the cabin is in front of North Percha creek. The also ranched up above to Dumm creek. Look up history for Margaret Reid Armor the goat queen. You can also find additional information on her and her descendants at the Geronimo Springs museum in Truth or Consequences.
Thanks Phil! I had read about Danville in " Black Range Tales" but never knew where it had been.
Devon, fyi my wife is the great granddaughter of Margaret. She and her now deceased mother and aunts hafe past on many wonderful stories. One story shared was about the grave you see on the side of the road (FR157). The grave belonged to a gambler known as Pet Louis. He was playing a card game at Percha tent city. The the owner of the tent who owned several was my wifes great, great grandmother Henrietta Gross-MacEvoy. As the story is told he was playing cards with Joseph Reid on his lap. My wife's great uncle who was just a young boy at the time. When Joe got off his lap and left the tent the card player Pet was found cheating and was shot dead at the table. The shooter quietly got up and left the tent, then got on his horse and rode away.
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