January Gila Trails Update

In this Newsletter:

- Current Conditions

- Day Adventures

- Backcountry Adventures

- Spring Trail Project Schedule

- 2024 Trail Accomplishments

- In Memory of

Descending Mogollon Baldy towards Center Baldy. Photo Credit: Jan Nicolaisen

Improved Gila Trails Info Website

We're currently working to improve the Gila Trails Info Website to make it more user-friendly and easier to navigate.

Hopefully, in a week, it will be up and running.

Thank you for your patience during this transition! If you come across a broken link or page, please check back in a few days — or feel free to email us for assistance.

Dry Dry Dry

Very little snow so far this winter.

Preceded by a dry fall and poor monsoon.

Tall grass and dryness = higher fire danger

Please use extra caution.

If you have water updates from a recent trip, please fill out this quick form

for other trail users.

Plan accordingly in terms of water sources and always have a back up.

Mogollon Crest Trail

Crest Trail Photo Credits: Jan Nicolaisen

The Forest Service has been clearing the Mogollon Crest Trail at least once every year. There are still many dead-standing trees from the 2012 mega-fire which means the trail gets logged up quickly.



This trail is also a part of the Forest Service Centennial Loop.

Views do not disappoint, but hazards still remain, especially since winds are often stronger up there than in other parts of the Gila.

Centennial loop hiker stated,

"We finished with the Crest Trail, but a low-pressure storm with very strong winds made it somewhat dangerous, given all the dead trees. Saw a few going down near us. The night at West Fork Saddle was particularly unnerving."

Please plan accordingly.

Going up Mogollon-Baldy trail 152, locust area at 9200’:

Near Hobo Spring:

Grant County Comprehensive Plan

Your input is needed. Join us in creating the future of Grant County.

Use the interactive map to tell us about your thoughts about the future of Grant County.

And/or

Take a short survey (five minutes max) that will help inform and shape the Grant County 2045 Comprehensive plan.

Grant County 2045 Comprehensive Plan Survey



Adventure at your own risk.

Trail conditions change.

Recreate Responsibly

Alum Camp & Brushy Mountain Trails

A nice day adventure is reopened: down the Alum Camp Trail to the Gila River and up the Brushy Mountain Trail #403.



4 miles one way with lots of elevation gain and loss. Sunny and no snow yet. Great views once up on Brushy Mtn.

More trail work is planned for the spring. But for now a great warm winter day adventure with only one river crossing.

The trail needs use (equine and hikers) to help pound in the tread.

See map for the corrected trail route.

Backcountry Adventures

While a few hard-core people are out in the Gila during the single-digit nights, most of us are only dreaming of our next backcountry adventure and mapping out routes.

The Forest Service makes yearly Geospatial PDF Maps with

updated trail location, trail-cleared info and high intensity fire areas marked.

Gila Wilderness ~ Aldo Leopold Wilderness ~ Blue Range



Each available for download in 2 file sizes.

These pdf map sheets can be can be uploaded into Caltopo and used for comparison to the base layer maps. No need to have two maps open, just adjust the base layer intensity on the upper right tab.

Video of toggling between maps layers to see incorrectly mapped trails.

Many of the trail locations on the west side of the Gila Wilderness were updated in 2024.

Some of the trails that were significantly mapped incorrectly include

• Little Whitewater #214
• Gold Dust Trail
• Johnson Cabin Trail #225
• Holt Apache Trail #181 north of Camp Creek Saddle
• East Fork Whitewater Trail
• The start of the Mogollon Creek Trail
• Deloche/Winn Trail south of Whitewater Creek

We will have new loop ideas once we are back doing trail work in the spring.

For now, check out previous newsletters from trails we highlighted during specific months.

Spring Trail Project Schedule

 Backcountry Projects

Check out the rest of the spring Trail Project Schedule

Includes:

Mimbres River Trail #77,

CDT in the Burros,

Brushy Mountain Trail #403,

Packsaddle Area and West Fork Corral Trail # 814,

CDT near Brannon Park and Big Timber Trail # 95,

Gallinas # 129, Railroad # 128 & Crest # 79,

and more.

Questions or to RSVP: groundworktrails@gmail.com



2024 Trail Accomplishments

Thanks to everyone who helped make our 2024 trail project season possible!

We are incredibly grateful!

In addition to all the amazing and dedicated volunteers, we wanted to thank our trail project funders:

New Mexico Outdoor Recreation Division Trail +23 Grant

Great American Outdoors Act Funding

Silver City Walmart

Silver City Coop

&

Private Donors

In Memory of

We would like to take a moment to honor the remarkable life of Mickey Lemon, who sadly passed away recently. For over 15 years, Mickey dedicated herself to the Gila Back Country Horsemen, playing a pivotal role in organizing numerous events that brought our community together.



She also took it upon herself to coordinate the food for our trail projects, providing an incredible 600 to 1,000 meals each year for our volunteers.

Mickey's unwavering dedication and positive, can-do attitude made a lasting impact on all of us, and her absence will be deeply felt.

Thank you, Mickey, for everything you have done; you will be truly missed by everyone who had the pleasure of knowing you.

Enjoy Gila Trails!

View from the Brushy Mountain