Cautiously Optimistic
Last weekend the Hummingbird Fire in the Gila Wilderness had consumed more than 5,600 acres and was zero percent contained. Its location, directly to the west of our proposed trek, and prevailing westerly winds...
Category: Gila Loop
Gila Wilderness On Fire
Well, there has been some unfortunate, if not unexpected, news this last week. A small lightning-caused fire on the extreme western border of the Gila Wilderness started on April 20th. Known as the Hummingbird...
A Little of This and That
I fly to Albuquerque in less than three weeks on the 15th of May. But Nancy and I have a 5-day trip scheduled just before I leave for New Mexico. So it means I...
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...
6 responses to “Gila River- Middle Fork-West Fork Loop”
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.