Post by trinity on Feb 4, 2018 18:55:46 GMT -8
My annual January solo backpacking trip this year took me to the Gila Wilderness, one of my favorite places in the world. Ordinarily I might not choose the Gila as a winter destination, but my research had indicated to me that it has been a very dry winter, and there was likely not too much snow in the middle elevations. So I picked a route that would keep me fairly low, but wouldn’t spend too much time following the rivers, since January didn’t seem like the time for lots of river crossings. In the end I chose to hike up Turkey Creek from the lower Gila River, up over the Diablo Range at Granite Peak Pass, down to Little Spring, and along Little Creek out to Woody’s Corral, a total of some 39 miles. I got a shuttle from Zack at Gila Backcountry Services, he was very professional and helpful.
The trip began along the Gila river, following it for about a mile. It was gorgeous, but the three river crossings I did in my Tevas made me glad that I had not picked a river route. The water was extremely cold, each time I crossed my feet turned numb before I could get to the other side. I was glad to turn up Turkey Creek, which is extremely beautiful. I got a late start this first day, so I didn’t hike too far, just about 4 miles up to Turkey Creek Hot Springs. However, the last mile to the hot spring is a rough bushwhack, it took me about an hour and a half to go a single mile! But the effort was well worth it. It is a beautiful spot in the creek, with some fantastic hot pools. There is an alcove with an overhang, so I just cowboy camped beneath the overhang that first night. It was beautiful and peaceful.
The next morning I had a nice soak in the hot spring, then followed a very steep and faint trail straight up and out of the canyon, reconnecting with the Turkey Creek trail. I followed the trail up along a long ridge between Turkey and Skeleton Creeks. The views from the ridge were spectacular.
Eventually I descended back down to Turkey Creek near the junction with Sycamore creek, and continued to follow the Turkey Creek Trail. Here the trail grew quite faint. This trail is pretty much unmaintained, and rarely used. Again going was extremely slow, I was constantly losing and refinding the trail, and the trail itself was so overgrown that I was constantly bushwhacking whether I was on the trail or off it. I only managed about 9 miles that day.
Day three was pretty intense. The trail was still very faint and difficult to follow, and did a fair amount of climbing. To make things a little more complicated, it was largely covered in snow once I got high enough. Luckily it was never much more than a few inches deep. I also knew that I needed to go at least 13 miles over some pretty rough terrain in order to make it to the next water source. It was not an easy day, but I made it successfully over Granite Peak Pass, which I think is around 7700 feet, and back down the north side to Little Spring, a beautiful spot in a grove of Ponderosa Pine. It was a perfect campsite.
Day four was much easier and more relaxed. Mostly downhill, about 8 miles to the junction of the Little Creek and Miller Springs Trails. I descended through groves of Ponderosa Pine, following along the creek, which had some beautiful spots, including a frozen waterfall. I spent the night at another perfect camping spot on the slopes above Little Creek. I had my coldest night here, down to around 5 degrees. I know that doesn’t sound like much to many of you, but that’s pretty chilly for a Texas boy.
Day 5 was another easy one, about 4 miles to the trailhead at Woody’s Corral. I ascended up onto a ridge, which recently burned, but which is regenerating nicely with lush grasses and shrubs. There were some great views, in large part due to the fires, looking back towards Little Creek and ahead towards the Gila River valley. I descended back into sparser pinon pine woodlands, and back out to my car at Woody’s Corral.
I tend to seek solitude in my trips. In that regard, this trip was a spectacular success; I went five days from trailhead to trailhead and didn’t see another human soul. The Gila, always a beautiful place, was so quiet and peaceful in the winter. I highly recommend it as a winter destination, if conditions are right and you are prepared for cold temps and the possibility of adverse weather.
The trip began along the Gila river, following it for about a mile. It was gorgeous, but the three river crossings I did in my Tevas made me glad that I had not picked a river route. The water was extremely cold, each time I crossed my feet turned numb before I could get to the other side. I was glad to turn up Turkey Creek, which is extremely beautiful. I got a late start this first day, so I didn’t hike too far, just about 4 miles up to Turkey Creek Hot Springs. However, the last mile to the hot spring is a rough bushwhack, it took me about an hour and a half to go a single mile! But the effort was well worth it. It is a beautiful spot in the creek, with some fantastic hot pools. There is an alcove with an overhang, so I just cowboy camped beneath the overhang that first night. It was beautiful and peaceful.
The next morning I had a nice soak in the hot spring, then followed a very steep and faint trail straight up and out of the canyon, reconnecting with the Turkey Creek trail. I followed the trail up along a long ridge between Turkey and Skeleton Creeks. The views from the ridge were spectacular.
Eventually I descended back down to Turkey Creek near the junction with Sycamore creek, and continued to follow the Turkey Creek Trail. Here the trail grew quite faint. This trail is pretty much unmaintained, and rarely used. Again going was extremely slow, I was constantly losing and refinding the trail, and the trail itself was so overgrown that I was constantly bushwhacking whether I was on the trail or off it. I only managed about 9 miles that day.
Day three was pretty intense. The trail was still very faint and difficult to follow, and did a fair amount of climbing. To make things a little more complicated, it was largely covered in snow once I got high enough. Luckily it was never much more than a few inches deep. I also knew that I needed to go at least 13 miles over some pretty rough terrain in order to make it to the next water source. It was not an easy day, but I made it successfully over Granite Peak Pass, which I think is around 7700 feet, and back down the north side to Little Spring, a beautiful spot in a grove of Ponderosa Pine. It was a perfect campsite.
Day four was much easier and more relaxed. Mostly downhill, about 8 miles to the junction of the Little Creek and Miller Springs Trails. I descended through groves of Ponderosa Pine, following along the creek, which had some beautiful spots, including a frozen waterfall. I spent the night at another perfect camping spot on the slopes above Little Creek. I had my coldest night here, down to around 5 degrees. I know that doesn’t sound like much to many of you, but that’s pretty chilly for a Texas boy.
Day 5 was another easy one, about 4 miles to the trailhead at Woody’s Corral. I ascended up onto a ridge, which recently burned, but which is regenerating nicely with lush grasses and shrubs. There were some great views, in large part due to the fires, looking back towards Little Creek and ahead towards the Gila River valley. I descended back into sparser pinon pine woodlands, and back out to my car at Woody’s Corral.
I tend to seek solitude in my trips. In that regard, this trip was a spectacular success; I went five days from trailhead to trailhead and didn’t see another human soul. The Gila, always a beautiful place, was so quiet and peaceful in the winter. I highly recommend it as a winter destination, if conditions are right and you are prepared for cold temps and the possibility of adverse weather.
