When walking down to visit the Nature Conservancy's Patagonia-Sonoita Creek Preserve for birdwatching twice during our time here in Patagonia, AZ, we passed a Nature Conservancy hiking trail outside the gates of the preserve. Although there is a fee to enter the gated part of the preserve, this 3.8-mile loop, named after Arizona naturalist Geoffrey Platts, is free to hike. So, after our week's pass to the preserve expired, we knew we'd have to head down to hike this trail. We measured the distance of the road down to the trailhead from where we're staying in town, and it's 2.3 miles round-trip. So by walking there and back, we'd end up with a nice 6.1 mile hike. Before arriving at the trail, we saw a couple of mule deer in the trees right by the side of Blue Heaven Road. Barry managed to get a photo of one checking us out before they scampered away. The Platts trail is moderate in difficulty with a few short climbs and some loose scree and talus when going up and down the ridge. We wished we'd brought our hiking poles for a bit of assistance, especially when picking our way downhill on the rocky terrain, which can get slippery. Although we'd hoped to do some bird-watching, the trail climbs up into a barer, more desert-like area, so birds were few and far between. We saw many more birds while walking on Blue Haven Road with its varied trees and shrubs on the way to and from the trail. Birds may have been lacking, but views certainly were not. Once we'd climbed up high on the ridge, we could see the beautiful Patagonia mountains on all sides. We also had great views looking down on the town of Patagonia, and see the tops of the huge cottonwoods that are now completely leafed out in spring green all over the valley. Stunning! We had the trail almost to ourselves. There was a solo photographer up high on the ridge, and we passed a group of four hikers doing the loop in the opposite direction, but that was it. If you're in the Patagonia area, don't miss this beautiful hike!
13 Comments
Bill Paul
5/23/2014 11:54:03 am
Geoffrey Platts was a childhood friend of mine, originally from Harrogate, Yorkshire, England. He was drowned in the Verde River in December 2000. I hiked this trail in April 2003, after attending a dedication of a bench in his honour in Cave Creek, Az. We have recently opened a Facebook group in his memory, which you can find at www.facebook.com/groups/DesAdvocate.
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4/14/2021 09:34:18 am
Hi, Bill, I used to know you when I lived in Harrogate. I was Geoff’s girlfriend for couple of years. I knew your parents, who were friends of mine- Foster and Kate Fell. ( your mother had a poodle I loved as a little girl!) We lived in Follifoot at The Priory - maybe you remember! I had kept in touch with Geoff after remeeting him one summer with my husband when he was in Harrogate, and indeed we took him out to lunch July or August 2000. It was a shock to learn he had drowned. I live in New York now but spend every summer in Harrogate. I always remember his birthday, April 14th as my birthday is on a 14th too. So today I mentioned him at breakfast and then spontaneously googled him and found this! Sorry for the long account, but I was so touched to learn if this. All the very best. Jennifer
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William Michael Kelso Paul
4/14/2021 12:52:40 pm
Of course I remember you well as 'Jenny Fell'. I also remember your father Foster, and also Bob Holt, who was another of that 'gang'. Your father was a great friend of my parents, and I remember visiting your house in Follyfoot, When you took Geoff out to lunch in 2000, he must have been staying with us in Boroughbridge, where I now live (haven't moved far!). During that visit he met up with another great friend, John Bolwell, who is a surgeon now, and was practising for a spell at Rotherham Hospital. Perhaps you remember him? He lives in Florida now, but he needed to put in so many days per year in the UK to preserve his NHS pension. We all had lunch together at our house, and when his visit to us was over, we drove him to Scarborough to meet some other friends. That was the last time we saw him. Have you joined the Facebook group 'Friends of Geoffrey (FOG Az)'? Quite a lot of interesting posts still coming in. I have been over to Az many times and have met many of his friends who are now my friends. I have stayed in his cabin in the desert and camped many times in Arizona with his friends, some of whom have visited me here and we have trekked together in the Lakes and in Scotland. Great to hear from you. Do keep in touch. My birthday is in April too. Geoff and I are almost twins - my birthday is on the 9th, and we had a joint 21st party at his house in St. George's Road. If you are coming to Harrogate this summer, we could possibly meet up? 4/14/2021 01:57:40 pm
How lovely to hear from you, Bill! Wow! Would love to meet up in the summer, it would be great fun.
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Juanita Havill
5/25/2014 06:49:15 am
Thanks for sharing your memorable hike. Your words and images have inspired me to return to hike the Geoffrey Platts Trail.It has been a while. Geoffrey was a friend. I met him in Cave Creek when my family moved there in 1991 and he introduced me to Patagonia when I drove him there for a school visit. His love for the desert was contagious.
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Bill Paul
5/25/2014 11:11:59 am
Juanita - thanks for your comments. Why not join the Geoffrey Platts group, address as above, and share some of your memories? I'm back in dreary old Yorkshire now, after visiting Cave Creek for a couple of weeks, and attending a meeting at his memorial bench, where we discussed a more permanent sculpture in his memory, to be erected above the Public Library in Cave Creek. I'm sure your input would be valuable.
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Bonita Mertes
7/27/2014 02:30:59 pm
Just found Trek at Amazon! So many memories! A superb supper in your canyon hideaway; you read to me by candlelight. A collection of your brown inked calligraphy notes. Framed: a crushed flower & searing poem by Edward Carpenter. Oh, precious being--fearless, tender, passionate keeper of nature's bounty, wry wit--such a gift to we who knew and loved you so, dearest Geoffrey.
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Bill Paul
7/27/2014 07:45:22 pm
The FOG (Friends of Geoffrey) Group have just commissioned and erected a sculpture in his memory at the Cave Creek Library. Why not join the group (address www.facebook.com/groups/DesAdvocate) and read all about it?
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8/8/2014 02:41:13 am
Bill, Yorkshire fellow!
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Bonita Mertes
8/8/2014 02:46:03 am
Thanks for news of the statute! Geoffrey manifested the extremes of passionate pleasure in his aloneness w//Madresita, was a vociferous megaphone for the preservation and respect for her kingdom--our gift! Checking the library for a photo!
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Wendy Hayne
4/27/2015 11:30:33 am
Hi Bill, very interesting that you have made this lovely trail in memory of Geoff Platts who was a great friend of my mother Gill Dewhirst here in Bramhope Nr Leeds West Yorkshire
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Bill Paul
5/6/2016 08:53:05 am
The name Gill Dewhirst rings a bell with me also. Geoff, John Bolwell and I went around a lot together in the 50s and 60s, and I had a cousin, Jill Paul, who lived at Bramhope (Hall Drive), so we spent some time there as well and in the pub there. I was due to visit Arizona gain this year, where we are publishing some more of Geoff's journals, specifically of his travels in Mexico. Unfortunately I had to cancel at the last minute owing to seriously infected big toe! Best laid schemes!
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Emily & BarryWe're a long-married, early-retired couple who are currently traveling as nomads with no fixed home base. After years of living in North Carolina (Emily's home state), we spent 18 months living oceanfront on Ambergris Caye, Belize, a year road-tripping the US in a Honda CR-V, a year in Playa del Carmen, Mexico, and are now roaming North America in our 32' motorhome, Pearl, following warm weather whenever possible. Archives
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