Ward Spring Hike?

[SA Bill]

Never done this hike. Sounds like not many people do. Thought I'd do it next month.

Any hints?
  Thanks!
    Bill

[Roy]

Did it several years ago.  Pretty much a straight shot, although the brush was so thick I never did get to the spring itself.  The last bit is not a good hot weather hike.  Pretty closed in; no breeze and the sun turns the rocks into an efficient oven.  The first 90% is out in the open, great views all around, pretty easy walking.

[Goldilocks]

I did this hike in January.  It is a straight shot but I agree it is really difficult to get to the spring itself.  I didn't make it, either. 

I started too late in the day and the shadows make it pretty dark right up by the spring.  It is definitely on my list to do again, though.  It's very pretty up there.  It isn't too long or difficult, either.  There are some very interesting rock formations as you get closer.  My avatar pic is from that hike.  For some reason, I made it blurry when I re-sized it and it is really much prettier than the picture shows.  There are supposed to be some other springs in the area that are interesting to explore if you have the time to go beyond Ward and walk along the dikes for a while.  I don't have a good topo but I would imagine you could track one down or even ask at the VC. 

Enjoy!

[RichardM]

We did that hike in November, 2006 and didn't make it to the spring either. We were running out of daylight and the nasty, sharp, pointy stuff was getting pretty thick. Definitely not a hike for warmer days, but otherwise it was fairly cool. Long pants will help keep the blood donations to a minimum.

[SA Bill]

Yikes! Zero for three from those who have attempted this one. It really must be a bushwack to turn you all around. Is there an alternative approach to the spring area that wouldn't extract so much blood? Guess I'll see if I can find a topo showing that area and see if there are any options. Sounds like this one is not the "cake walk" some of the sites on line seemed to make it out to be. I'm looking forward to giving it a try!! 

Thanks for the info!
   Bill

[Goldilocks]

Bill,

you can do it.  I didn't make it because I was unprepared for how quickly it got dark once you are in the wash and you do have to duck under and push through some brush to get there.  Just know what you are facing and plan for enough time to get there and you will be fine.  It isn't really a bush whack as the trail is pretty clear but you do have to push your way through in a couple of spots.  While is isn't a "cakewalk" it is a fairly simple hike. Have fun!

[badknees]

Yikes! Zero for three from those who have attempted this one. It really must be a bushwack to turn you all around. Is there an alternative approach to the spring area that wouldn't extract so much blood? Guess I'll see if I can find a topo showing that area and see if there are any options. Sounds like this one is not the "cake walk" some of the sites on line seemed to make it out to be. I'm looking forward to giving it a try!! 

Thanks for the info!
   Bill

Went in 05' and it was pretty easy. I agree somewhat thick around the spring. Good exploring up behind the dikes, but just about all bushwhacking . Good views of Burro Mesa

[RichardM]

Yikes! Zero for three from those who have attempted this one. It really must be a bushwack to turn you all around. Is there an alternative approach to the spring area that wouldn't extract so much blood? Guess I'll see if I can find a topo showing that area and see if there are any options. Sounds like this one is not the "cake walk" some of the sites on line seemed to make it out to be. I'm looking forward to giving it a try!! 

I was willing to push on, but we just flat ran out of time. If it gets too thick in the streambed, you could probably scramble up onto one of the ridges and go cross-country the rest of the way to the dike and spring.

[Roy]

My mistake was starting too late and the heat got to me while I was trying to find a way through the brush.  Get going early in the AM and you should be fine.  Or just do the first part.  As you climb up the rise towards the base of the mountains, you get some really excellent views back to the west and off to the north.  Well worth it.

[Goldilocks]

I agree.  This would be much better as a morning hike.  In September it will be hot in the afternoon.  There is a lot to see and the views are spectacular.  Take lots of water and plan for plenty of time. 

[Al]

Bill, next purchase  . . .

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/product/standard-item.jsp?_DARGS=/cabelas/en/common/catalog/item-link.jsp_A&_DAV=null-cat601749&id=0015652941653a&navCount=0&podId=0015652941653&parentId=cat601749&masterpathid=&navAction=push&catalogCode=XJ&rid=&parentType=index&indexId=cat601749&cmCat=netcon&cm_ven=netcon&cm_cat=Google&cm_pla=Cabales%20chaps&cm_ite=netcon

You'll be glad you did on that hike . . .

Al

[Al]

For only $20 more I'll take Cabelas' word for it (or go for the original Bore Hide chaps, on right) and either way lose the wax!).

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_942885&id=0039954943126a

Al

[Al]

Incredibly boring is good?  That's me.  Cabelas has an incredible range of stuff.  These pants look almost ideal!

http://www.cabelas.com/cabelas/en/templates/links/link.jsp?type=product&cmCat=Related_IPL_941125&id=0005088940563a

I will stop now.  The gear heads among us should check this out though.

Al

[tjavery]

We did this hike last year over Labor Day weekend. Yep, the first part of the trail through open desert is very easy.



We started off about 5:30pm, and the temps weren't too bad. Late afternoon is quite nice - the sun hits the west-facing Chisos and makes for some beautiful colors.

Getting through the wash, as stated before, wasn't easy. I ended up with a few cactus thorns in my shins and scraped my leg pretty good on a dead branch sticking up from the ground. Of course my injuries were mainly a result of trying to keep up with a 2 1/2 year old 

Shortly before we reached the dikes, we ditched the wash and climbed up to our right. Although we had to scramble a bit, it was a little easier than wading through the grass, cactus, and bushes in the wash.

We stopped at the dikes and had a picnic dinner. The thick greenery behind my sister, wife, and son here is the wash. The terrain drops away steeply, although you can't really tell that from this photo. We could see water down in the wash through the trees.



The views headed back were really nice. I'd go back just to hike the open desert portion of the trail and watch the sunset. I didn't get a good shot looking south or west when we hiked back, unfortunately, but it was nice. The views east towards the Chisos were nice too.

On the hike back, we encountered a rattlesnake shortly after hiking out of the wash section of the trail. So we hauled butt back to the truck. I snapped this shot after everyone had calmed down.



Here's the east view not too long before sunset. You can see the dikes converging on the wash in this photo.

[Robert]

On the hike back, we encountered a rattlesnake shortly after hiking out of the wash section of the trail.

Same thing happened to me when I did the hike. I think this iis one of the few times I've seen a rattlesnake in the park. We made it through the brush to the spring and I explored a little ways past. Lost my water bottle in the bushwack.