Current road conditions:
- Middlemarch road: Passable by passenger car.
- NFS 687 (Southwest Stronghold): Passable by Subaru.
- NFS 688 (West Stronghold): Passable by Subaru. Nearly 4×4.
- Ironwood road and NFS 84 (East Stronghold): Passable by passenger car.
- NFS 4810 – East Stronghold toward Batline Dome – passable by passenger car for about 500′, then passable by 4×4.
Weather conditions: Exceptional through mid-December for sun or shade. Keep an eye on the Saint David, Arizona forecast for temperature and wind conditions.
Bug conditions: minimal.
Closures: NONE! The US Forest Service as elected not to renew its annual closure of the Rockfellow Group and Cochise Dome starting in 2019.
Stronghold climbers have a rare opportunity here – if we voluntarily steer clear of nesting sites and do not disturb nesting raptors (which is still illegal), we can demonstrate that future closures are not necessary.
Please:
1) Avoid climbing in the vicinity of known raptor nests March 1 to June 30.
2) If you disturb raptors accidentally, immediately descend and report the location of the nest.