Gila River- Middle Fork-West Fork Loop
Frequent readers of this blog will be familiar with my affection for the Gila Wilderness of southwestern New Mexico. Ever since Scatman introduced me to its red rock canyons, lush riparian trails, and ancient Mogollon Culture ruins I have been drawn back repeatedly. So when an opportunity came up to get together with my old friend, Slinky, and do a trip in the Gila, I jumped at the chance. Even better, Cappuccino is coming along, too!
Our plan is to start our adventure in the middle of May and spend about a week backpacking in the Gila. Cappuccino has graciously offered to put us up at her place in Albuquerque pre and post hike and we will use her car for transportation.
I am proposing that the three of us do the route that Cappy and I attempted last year with a couple of minor changes. When Cappuccino and I tried it last year, we had scheduled too little time and were under threat of heavy rain the whole trip. With an extra day and good weather I think the full loop is possible. And if it isn’t, there are several different options to shorten it.
The plan would be to start near the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument and walk the route counter-clockwise up river on the Middle Fork. Then cross over to the West Fork and walk down river back to the Monument.
As you can see from the elevation graph on the map there is a steep climb out of the Middle Fork over the shoulder of Turkeyfeather Mountain (not on the map) and then a pretty steep descent on the other side to the West Fork. Of course that small graph is stretched out to 62.4 miles on the ground, so it’s not nearly as steep as it looks. It would be interesting to hike up in the high mountains of the western part of the wilderness. I’ve never been up there.
So we will be starting this adventure in just about seven weeks. To that end, I have kicked up my training hikes to include a 25-pound backpack and an extra mile or two. I will slowly add more uphill to the mix, too. Slinky and I both have plane reservations to New Mexy, making it more likely this will all happen. Keeping fingers crossed that the weather will cooperate.
Until next week safe travels and happy trails…
Sounds like a plan!
I kinda figured you’d be up for the loop. At least you and I know what we’re getting into.😀
Seven weeks! You go, boy! Perhaps, you have a suggestion of modest hikes in southeastern New Mexico. Our 11-year-old grandson Max has chosen Carlsbad Cavern National Park as the destination of his 13th birthday hiking trip with just his grandparents (likely April 2027). (His older brother Owen chose Mount Rushmore/Devils Tower and we went last July. Again, we are modest day hikers and by that I mean morning hikers. Just maybe you have been to that part of New Mexico.
Hey Dan, I have hiked in Carlsbad National Park when I was preparing for the Arizona Trail. We did a three day trip in the south western part of the park and it is not something I would recommend. However, there was one part of that trip that might be a decent day hike. It has the charming name of Slaughter Canyon. It would be an in and out hike. The area around Carlsbad is dry cactus scrub with very little shade. So be prepared and bring lots of water. Also, I’m sure the Rangers can give you better information on good hikes in the area. Actually doing the whole cave is a bit of a hike, too. So there’s that.
Charming name! I’m guessing the Native Americans took it in the shorts in that skirmish. Thanks for the suggestion. I took a screen shot of your response.
Dan, Slaughter Canyon, it turns out, was named after Charles Slaughter, a rancher from the 1880’s who donated land to the park. So it turns out the Slaughter name is somewhat benign. However he did take the land from the Mescalero Apache peoples that originally called it home. So there is that.