Customs and Border Protection just announced that the next round of detonations within the Huachuca Mountains will occur on Friday, Feb 27 from 10 am to 3 pm and Saturday, Feb 28 from 8 am to 3 pm. The blast site is located 1,500 feet west of the southern terminus of the Arizona National Scenic Trail on lands managed by the Coronado National Forest. While the Arizona Trail is out of the immediate zone of impact and there is no threat from flying debris, visitors to Coronado National Memorial’s Montezuma Pass and the Arizona Trail (aka Yaqui Ridge Trail) are warned of impacts to scenery and natural quiet during these operations.

An additional blast is scheduled for Monday, March 2 within Yaqui Bowl, just east of the AZT’s southern terminus.

We expect closures of the AZT to be announced soon as road improvements and wall construction are anticipated at this location within the next few weeks. Springtime thru-hikers are unlikely to be able to access Border Monument 102 and the southernmost mile of the Arizona National Scenic Trail once closures are implemented.