Man, 26, accused of waving gun in busy intersection pleads for release (Regina Leader-Post)

A 26-year-old man accused of waving a pellet gun in a busy downtown intersection pleaded for his release from custody in a Regina courtroom on Friday morning.

Escudilla Mountain dominates the eastern Arizona skyline and can readily be seen from over 80 miles away in New Mexico. I live in Alpine, AZ which is located just south of 10,877' Escudilla Mountain and routinely hike in the area. The Escudilla Mountain Trail is a 7.5 mile round trip and is accessed from Terry Flat. This is a great 2-3 hour hike...but for something a little longer consider starting your hike at Little Creek, hiking to the top of Terry Flat, hiking across Terry Flat to the Escudilla Mountain Trailhead - then going for the summit. This is an 18 mile round trip hike with approximately 3,000' of vertical elevation. The hiking time is anywhere from 5 - 8 hours. I would rate the hike as difficult since it is 9 miles from Little Creek to the summit with approximately 3,000' of vertical. The hiker(s) should have some endurance training and preferably acclimatized above 8000' elevation. I would recommend 2-4 litres of water, a lunch and a rain jacket.

Travel east up the trail and you will begin to gradually gain elevation. Go through the cowboy gate and continue for another mile or so and there will be a cattle tank (small pond) follow the trail around the pond and switch back up....on your right will be another trail...can't miss it, there are 10" deep ATV tracks, follow this dirt trail to the next cowboy gate, pass though the gate and get ready for 1/4 mile of very strenuous uphill hiking, you will go over a couple berms and end up on an secondary forest road on Terry Flat, cross this road and head due west uphill, you will then gaze over a meadow that is three miles wide and six miles long at an elevation of approximately 9,800'. Travel cross country for approximately 1/4 mile across the meadow and you will reach the Terry Flat road. Turn right (north) and follow this gravel road for approximately 3 miles to the Escudilla Mountain Trailhead. (No worries on the gravel road, traffic is sparse and usually never see a vehicle.)

Follow the Escudilla Mountain Trail approximately 3.5 miles and another 1500' of vertical to the summit and the Escudilla Fire Watch Tower. Once at the tower you have traveled 9 miles and 3000' of vertical. Repeat all trails backward to return to your destination. I hiked this trail alone this morning and had a few bear tracks on the trail, but didn't see any bear. I did see a herd of 5 bull elk and a fox or coyote from about a half mile away. When hiking in the summer monsoon leave very early in the morning to avoid the rain and lightening as much as possible. It is best to wear nylon or fleece - no cotton...the weather conditions can change rapidly and a 20 degree temperature differential is not unusual.

Little Creek Trail To Escudilla Mountain Summit