Saturday, September 17, 2016

High and Dry: Traversing the Highcountry of the Gila Wilderness

Backpacking the Mogollon Range, Gila Wilderness


Labor Day Weekend, 2016



Day One, between Sandy Point and Hummingbird Saddle, Mogollon Range, Gila Wilderness


From when I first learned of the 10,000 foot peaks of the remote Gila Wilderness in southern New Mexico, I have been eager to explore the half-million-acre infrequently visited wilderness area. The Gila Wilderness is the first tract of land to be designed as wilderness in the US, being federally established in 1924. 

Sunset, from Hummingbird Saddle, night one
 For our first section into this relatively mysterious area, we decided to check out the highest elevation section. Starting at the sandy point trailhead, we followed a trail which traces the high ridgeline of the Mogollon range. The majority of the trip was in the 9,500-10,000 foot elevation range, with a turnaround point at the panoramic vista from atop the 10,774 foot Mogollon Baldy. 


Bead Spring, with good flow


We took two nights and three days on this 24 mile out and back backpack with a short side trip to include the highest peak in the range: the 10,895 foot Whitewater Baldy. 
The ascent to Whitewater Baldy, the third highest peak in New Mexico and the highest point in the Gila Wilderness, is essentially a bushwhack following the ridge above Hummingbird Saddle 
The View Southwest, from Whitewater Baldy. Mogollon Baldy, the day's out-and-back turnaround point, in the distance on the right

The Whitewater-Baldy Complex Fire burned 99% of the high country in the Mogollon Range in 2012





the view North, from the ascent up Mogollon Baldy


The view south from Mogollon Baldy
 Unfortunately, both Hobo and Little Hobo spring were pretty low, stagnant, full of moss, and stinky. We decided to go all the way back to Hummingbird saddle on night two (where the flowing, clear, Hummingbird spring is), making day 2 a 17 mile day.  If I had it to do over again, I might have carried more water and set up camp somewhere between Hummingbird Saddle and Mogollon Baldy or left camp set up at Hummingbird Saddle so I could have done the 16 essentially dry miles without a full pack. I had hoped for more water at Hobo Spring given the good rain in the southwest, but the low flow may be some sequelae of the 2012 fires or a lack of good rain regionally.




We had the place essentially to ourselves during our 48 hours in the range; we only crossed paths with two groups of hunters within a mile and a half of the trailhead at the very beginning and end of the hike.

5 comments:

  1. Did it feel like a sky island around Tucson?

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  2. Every place is a little different- there is less biological diversity, vastly fewer people, and the extensively burned forest felt a little creepy with the nonstop wind rattling the dead branches everywhere. It felt a little like the White Mountains, a little like Miller Peak. Definitely unique.

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  3. Every place is a little different- there is less biological diversity, vastly fewer people, and the extensively burned forest felt a little creepy with the nonstop wind rattling the dead branches everywhere. It felt a little like the White Mountains, a little like Miller Peak. Definitely unique.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Whitewater Baldy is not the 3rd highest peak in new mexico

    ReplyDelete
  5. Howdy. Just saw your lovely video (loved the music!) and read your blog spot. If you go back, take the side trail to Apache Spring/ cabin; the fire fighters preserved this little piece of old growth mixed conifer pretty much intact. Also you probably know the lower elevation pine parks were more fire resistant and still are quite beautiful!

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