Deleted
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Post by Deleted on May 18, 2016 8:36:26 GMT -8
It has been a few years (and a couple of fires) ago since I have backpacked in the Gila.
I was wondering which trails are relatively untouched and which have been obliterated, please.
I don't mind traveling through sections of burn,but am looking for the more pristine trails.
So if anyone has hiked there since the fires, any beta would be appreciated. Thanks!
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trinity
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Post by trinity on May 20, 2016 6:48:21 GMT -8
I did the Meadows-Big Bear Loop a year and a half ago. I don't recall hiking through any burn areas at all, and the trail was in great shape (as long as you don't minds slogging across the river a couple dozen times). Seems to me the most affected burn areas are on the west side of the wilderness, but that might be wrong. I would just call up the ranger district, I have always found them to be very helpful.
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Post by Deleted on May 20, 2016 10:19:23 GMT -8
I think trinity is right; i think the fires were mostly in the Whitewater Baldy area. You should consider calling the Wilderness Ranger District office. It's at this url: Ranger District - Wilderness |
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Post by cweston on May 23, 2016 8:41:03 GMT -8
The middle fork was devastated by flood in 2012. I don't know how much trail/repair maintenance has been done since then, but we did the full length of the middle fork in May of 2013, and much of he trail was simply gone, until the upper 10 miles or so. It still made for a fantastic adventure (and obviously route finding is easy), but there was a lot of climbing over/under/around debris that tried one's patience.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on May 23, 2016 13:46:19 GMT -8
The big fire hit mostly the western portion (Whitewater-region) but got into the headwaters of the Middle Fk too. Some friends of mine camping that area said it was still "nuked" in portions. There's still much of the Gila that wasn't touched, though you may want to bring a coffee filter to strain any surface water.
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trinity
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Post by trinity on May 24, 2016 10:32:15 GMT -8
The middle fork was devastated by flood in 2012. I don't know how much trail/repair maintenance has been done since then As of 2014 the trail was back in good shape again, the debris had been cleared and rock cairns rebuilt. I would not have wanted to do that trail while trying to climb over and under downed trees. |
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