RedRoxx
11-04-2008, 05:57 PM
Recently completed a 48 mile loop in this great wilderness, the first established in 1924. As per the usual, trails are scant, pretty much no maintenance, and it doesn't matter if you have a map, GPS whatever, you'll be dusting off your trailfinding skills.
I brought a partner along, an experienced backpacker. We went a mile up the Gila River, then up the sidecanyon of Turkey Creek, a magnificent drainage with hot springs and a little creek, fall colors etc. Night one in there. Day two up and out of the canyon to Miller Springs and cabin, in a lovely high meadow, complete with woodburning stove and supplies should you need it. The trail disagreed with the GPS but was followable. From the cabin the trail disappeared, and wasn't on any map we had. We finally found an old cairn and slight depression and followed that. Night two in a saddle in a dry camp, we could view a fire across the river valley, a controlled burn we later found out.
Next day followed the vague and non existant trail over Granny mtn, where it improved on a long down hill to the Gila River. We made the River, we now had about 20 miles of river hiking. Lots of wading, bushwacking etc. Camped night 3 along the river. Night visitors included a black bear and a wandering bull looking for his cows.
Day 4 we made it a full day out, about 15 miles, to the car with soggy footwear but a great trip. We saw some backpackers the first day, but no humans after that. Deer everyday, a taratula, some wild turkeys.
http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albvx89/turk43.jpg
morning along Turkey Creek
http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albvx89/tarantula1.jpg
http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albvx89/gila6.jpg
Gila River
http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albvx89/fire8.jpg
Smoke from fire fills Gila river valley
http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albvx89/gila986.jpg
Looking into the great Gila Wilderness, a backpackers haven
I brought a partner along, an experienced backpacker. We went a mile up the Gila River, then up the sidecanyon of Turkey Creek, a magnificent drainage with hot springs and a little creek, fall colors etc. Night one in there. Day two up and out of the canyon to Miller Springs and cabin, in a lovely high meadow, complete with woodburning stove and supplies should you need it. The trail disagreed with the GPS but was followable. From the cabin the trail disappeared, and wasn't on any map we had. We finally found an old cairn and slight depression and followed that. Night two in a saddle in a dry camp, we could view a fire across the river valley, a controlled burn we later found out.
Next day followed the vague and non existant trail over Granny mtn, where it improved on a long down hill to the Gila River. We made the River, we now had about 20 miles of river hiking. Lots of wading, bushwacking etc. Camped night 3 along the river. Night visitors included a black bear and a wandering bull looking for his cows.
Day 4 we made it a full day out, about 15 miles, to the car with soggy footwear but a great trip. We saw some backpackers the first day, but no humans after that. Deer everyday, a taratula, some wild turkeys.
http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albvx89/turk43.jpg
morning along Turkey Creek
http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albvx89/tarantula1.jpg
http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albvx89/gila6.jpg
Gila River
http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albvx89/fire8.jpg
Smoke from fire fills Gila river valley
http://www.arizonahikers.com/board/albums/albvx89/gila986.jpg
Looking into the great Gila Wilderness, a backpackers haven