By Robert Samuelsen
As you enter the historic Vail community, there is a sign that declares Vail to be an Arizona Trail Gateway Community. In southern Arizona, the 800-mile Arizona Trail – Mexico to Utah – roughly follows SR 83 from Patagonia to Vail before summiting Mica Peak in the Rincon Mountains. Perhaps the most accessible and hikeable portion is from the Gabe Zimmerman Trailhead on Marsh Station Road to Colossal Cave Mountain Park at the end of Old Spanish Trail. This well-maintained section is 7.5 miles long with modest slopes and classic Sonoran Desert environs. It’s a trail suitable for families as long as you are properly prepared.
Both ends of the trail are in riparian habitat. The perennial Cienega Creek anchors the southern end and the intermittent Agua Verde creek anchors the north. Both have Anasazi artifacts proving thousands of years of human habitation and substantial biotic diversity with over 80% of known desert wildlife species present. Of particular note though, is the Agua Verde Castle, a beautiful and unique private residence build by the Durham family. Their castle is replete with turrets, a ship, and a train, and can be easily seen on a nearby hilltop about midway on this section of the Arizona Trail. (Note: The castle is a private residence so please honor their privacy.)
On my recent excursion, I was resting and admiring the impressive creativity of this castle when I heard screeches and saw dive bombing birds ahead of me. As I took a few more steps forward, I quickly learned that I was the subject of these kamikaze kestrels. With each pass, these mobbing falcons got bolder as I feigned and ducked to avoid direct impact until I realized that they were probably protecting their brood! Once I quickly escaped uphill from this harrowing experience, they eased back their attacks victorious against their human intruder. My quick escape then led me into two other near-death encounters! During my escape, my attention was focused on the scary sky rather than the even more perilous path as I nearly stepped on a surprised venomous reptile lizard and an angry serpent! The startled Gila monster hissed at me but quickly scooted away under a nearby creosote bush and the gopher snake slithered away into some rocks. Was I a victim of a conniving ambush? Did the critters collude to capture me? Perhaps but more likely it was a coincidence and I was protected only by their innate self-preservation instincts!
There was also one section of trail filled with funnel-web spiders – hundreds of them! These spiders create webs that are open at the mouth of a silk tube and the spider sits in the narrow funnel waiting for prey. When an insect lands in the funnel mouth, the spider rushes out to capture the scrumptious intruder. Some species of funnel-web spiders are dangerous to humans but here in the United States, they are only scary because of the creep factor.
Hiking in the desert comes with fascination and peril. Even a simple hike can entice dive-bombing birds, rouse lazy lizards, scare sunning snakes, and encounter a colony of speedy, eight-eyed arachnids. Ultimately, I’m fascinated with the peril.
Rob Samuelsen is an executive and adventurer supported by his long-suffering but supportive wife!
