Westy
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Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,961
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Post by Westy on Oct 26, 2016 20:09:22 GMT -8
have never been to the Blacks, but my understanding has always been that there is not a lot of water, so I wonder if long waterless stretches would be an issue. Certainly a water weight consideration to balance with distance between water sources. Will research and triple check that as a consideration. Merrill Moab Ventilators. We be on the same page there CW! The Moab Ventilators (non-Gore Tex) are my designated trail shoe for the entire trek. They work well on trail and the pairing with SmartWool PhD Cycle Ultra Light Pattern Crew socks has demonstrated very fast dry times. Periods of wet feet are expected to be unavoidable. Thanks everyone!
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Post by absarokanaut on Oct 27, 2016 14:36:47 GMT -8
I have not hiked much in the Black Range. It was beautiful pinyon-juniper woodland but as already noted quite dry.
Westy,
Keeop us posted on your hike. I've been toying with moving back to Colorado but wherever I am would be happy to shuttle you, etc. if I can. Assuming I stay here I have family with a Ranch about equidistant from Union Pass or Togwotee/Brooks Lake and have shuttled some hikers there. Whatever you do keep a stick on the ice.
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,961
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Post by Westy on Oct 28, 2016 18:18:16 GMT -8
Union Pass or Togwotee/Brooks Lake I'll remember that. Thank you!
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Post by trinity on Oct 29, 2016 14:30:29 GMT -8
I'm wondering if the Sapillo Box area might be a decent winter option. Could hike in from the Sapillo Creek trailhead, over to the Gila River, could be a fairly mellow out and back trip, without all the river crossings of some of the other trails, and the trailhead should remain accessible all winter. Anyone familiar with this area?
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Post by hikingtiger on Nov 1, 2016 9:02:58 GMT -8
You are about 11-12 hours to the Sipsey Wilderness in Alabama. Beautiful spot, according to my brother. It is. You have to keep a sharp eye on the weather, though (in any month.) Since it's a drainage, the water levels can go from calf deep to "build an ark" overnight.
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toejam
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Hiking to raise awareness
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Post by toejam on Nov 5, 2016 7:11:40 GMT -8
Debating Gila River Alternative 116.9 miles vs. Black Range (official CDT) 189.9 miles. I backpacked the Aldo Leopold Wld in the spring a couple times. The Black Range is not as scenic as what I've seen of Gila, but I liked it a lot. It was very lonely and there was plenty of water in the ALW. Water is probably harder to find further north where the ridge is not as high. Not a recommendation, just data. When I lived in TX my go-to winter trips were to Big Bend (and the Goodwater Trail). There's a lot to see in Big Bend NP and Big Bend Ranch State Park. The springs flow better in the winter. If you haven't done the Rancherias Loop in BBRSP, you need to. It's a rough and sometimes faint trail with flowing springs at camp sites. It's a 3-day hike, but one trip I spent two nights at Rancherias Spring and did some exploring and never saw all I wanted to see.
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Westy
Trail Wise!
Diagnosed w/Post-Trail Transition Syndrome
Posts: 1,961
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Post by Westy on Nov 5, 2016 13:01:40 GMT -8
It was very lonely and there was plenty of water in the ALW. Water is probably harder to find further north where the ridge is not as high. Lonely and water, might be a good fight
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Post by trinity on Nov 5, 2016 18:28:16 GMT -8
When I lived in TX my go-to winter trips were to Big Bend (and the Goodwater Trail). There's a lot to see in Big Bend NP and Big Bend Ranch State Park. The springs flow better in the winter. If you haven't done the Rancherias Loop in BBRSP, you need to. It's a rough and sometimes faint trail with flowing springs at camp sites. It's a 3-day hike, but one trip I spent two nights at Rancherias Spring and did some exploring and never saw all I wanted to see. Thanks for the recs. I'd love to get back to Big Bend, but they don't allow dogs, and it's gotten so crowded. I haven't been there since I did the outer mountain loop about 25 years ago. Unfortunately, BBRSP also does not allow dogs in the back country, but I really need to get there some day. There was an article about the Rancherias Loop in BPL recently, really sounds pretty great. That's cool that you used to do the Goodwater Trail, I think this is a real sleeper, not very well-known. I've done it a couple of times, and even though it is right outside of Georgetown, it still feels quite remote, very few people once you get away from the trailheads. It's a great 3 day loop.
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toejam
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Hiking to raise awareness
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Post by toejam on Nov 6, 2016 7:58:51 GMT -8
I recently wondered if the Rancherias Loop was getting more traffic and the only trip report I found was one I wrote over eight years ago. I'm guessing this busy trip was a deviation from the norm and it's still a rough and faint trail.
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Post by trinity on Nov 6, 2016 18:50:56 GMT -8
I recently wondered if the Rancherias Loop was getting more traffic and the only trip report I found was one I wrote over eight years ago. I'm guessing this busy trip was a deviation from the norm and it's still a rough and faint trail. Thanks for the link to the TR, sounds like a great trip. Here's the BPL article.
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Nov 8, 2016 11:19:45 GMT -8
I did a short backpack in BBRSP in 2015; my impression is that it gets a lot of visitation from mountain bikers, but very few backpackers.
I hiked up Fresno Canyon, set up a base camp near the wax factory laccolith, and did some day hikes out from there. There's a lot to see in that park.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Nov 9, 2016 12:19:16 GMT -8
.. Any other areas in New Mexico that might be passable that time of year? There are also some NF areas just north of the Guads and Carlsbad NM. Depending on the weather, the southern Gila west of Silver City has some trails going north. May need high clearance 4WD. Avoid Rain Ck trail - it's more creek- bed than trail.
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Post by trinity on Nov 11, 2016 5:33:41 GMT -8
There are also some NF areas just north of the Guads and Carlsbad NM. I've been to the White Mountain Wilderness, and really enjoyed it, but I'm assuming that area will be covered in snow in January. I was pretty impressed with the Argentina Canyon/Bonito Creek area. Avoid Rain Ck trail - it's more creek- bed than trail. Good to know, thanks.
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toejam
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Hiking to raise awareness
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Post by toejam on Nov 11, 2016 8:13:42 GMT -8
White Mtn Wilderness is pretty high. I got a bunch of snow up there in November (they try to open the ski place for Thanksgiving). I've been there in April when it was thawed out and nice. May is always great there - I can think of 3 trips when I bailed out of the Pecos in May because of snow and went to the White Mtn Wld.
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swmtnbackpacker
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Back but probably posting soon under my real name ... Rico Sauve
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Post by swmtnbackpacker on Nov 12, 2016 9:45:47 GMT -8
Actually more around Carlsbad NM, kinda deserty, but at least trail may have some water. I'll look it up as its been over 10 yrs since I hiked it and report back
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