Gila Wilderness Loop-Day 3
We were up at 5AM and on our way by 6:15. Our goal today is to get over to the West Fork drainage. Our original plans to hike up near the head of the Middle Fork and cross the shoulder of Turkeyfeather Mtn. over to the West Fork, were thwarted by the Hummingbird Fire. Our plan “B”, instead, was to go another 5 miles up stream from our camp this morning to the Aeroplane Mesa trail and cross over to the West Fork there. However, I remember the Fire Closure Order to include the switchbacks down to the West Fork. If I am right it would mean some backtracking and a 20 mile day. As we don’t have a way to check that right now we decided on plan “C”, to hike over to the West Fork from our campsite today meaning an eleven mile day.
The land that separates the two forks rises about 800 feet over about 8 rolling miles of ponderosa pine forest. It is particularly pretty forest that looks like a city park. After 8 miles it plunges 800 feet back down in about two miles of switchbacks.
The weather was perfect again with blue skies and moderate temp and a light breeze. We had crossed the ridge separating the two forks and were down to the West Fork around noon where we set up camp. We indulged in a lazy afternoon with some rest and a hike up the local hill for a better view.
We had a great dinner together on a log and chatted until almost dark. Another great day!
Gotta love having a Plan C. Your first photo of ponderosa pines reminds me of Buffalo Park in Flagstaff, Arizona. And yes, Buffalo Park is a city park! Great to hear you build in time to rest and take a blue blaze trail for the view. Wise beyond your years! Your “end of the day on the log” photo makes me think you wisely had no campfire. Too hot? Likely that the Hummingbird Fire made flames a less than brilliant choice?
Always good to have a plan “C” 😁 the forest in the Gila, that is not on fire, is beautiful. The reason the understory here is so clean is that they have let small fires burn through the forest in the past preventing a build up of downed limbs and brush that would be fuel for a much bigger fire. Speaking of fire, I never build a fire for cooking of entertainment. Just too risky in today’s drought stricken forests. Besides there is a fire ban in the New Mexican National Forests. I like the idea of a campfire, but the reality is extra work, a risky liability, and everything smells of smoke. So I never build a fire with two exceptions: survival and extreme cold weather.