Backpacking The Gila Wilderness - Middle Fork West Fork Loop

Рет қаралды 24,543

Күн бұрын

This was a 6 day backpacking trip in New Mexico's Gila Wilderness in June of 2019 - involving the middle fork and west fork of the Gila River. On days 1 & 2 I travel up the middle fork of the Gila River to The Meadows. On day 3 I climb up the mesa to ponderosa pine country, visit Prior Cabin, climb to the top of Jackson Mesa and camp at Lilly Park. On Day 4 I drop down into the west fork of the Gila River and travel along the river for another couple days before completing the loop at the Gila Cliff Dwellings.
I was impressed and taken with the Gila Wilderness. It holds a diverse array of river canyons with perennial flowing water, towering golden spires and deep canyon walls. Up above are ponderosa forests, grassland parks, sub-alpine mountains and stunning vistas. I hope you enjoy.
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/ wildlandexplorer

Пікірлер: 74

@UncleKauffee Жыл бұрын

Super cool. I’m very happy to be living in this area again, 33 years after having left. PNW born and raised, and I still love me some PNW… but there’s just something about this area that called me back and I’m glad it did. I live along the Mimbres river in the Mimbres Valley and just love stomping these areas. Very well made video

@WildlandExplorer Жыл бұрын

I have only been there the one time but I'm in Tucson now much closer. Will be returning later this year barring any major wildfires (knock on wood). This place really has it all except maybe much alpine. Thanks for watchin!

@trkn5681 3 ай бұрын

Most amazing part time of the journey was that your car wasn't in pieces.

@zippydo2678 Жыл бұрын

Love this video, well done! I am unable to hike or ride horses out in the back country like I did when I was young and healthy and I miss it. This helps a little to go along with you! Thank you!

@fivemjs 10 ай бұрын

Last time I backpacked with my parents was the Gilda. I remember every detail. And even though it’s very unlikely that we did the same trails, I swear some of those scenes looks so familiar to me even though it’s been decades

@1121gsm 3 ай бұрын

Very nice video. I love the Gila Wilderness. I trekked on the CDT from Silver City toward the cliff dwellings. Absolutely beautiful. Makes me want to go back. Thanks.

@edmundestradaoutdoors Жыл бұрын

Great job and video. I was born and raised in Silver City New Mexico. I have been all over that area on hikes, hunting,camping and fishing. Brought great memories and love seeing the majestic views and back country. Another great place to hike and camp would be Reeds peak just outside of Mimbres New Mexico not to far from Silver City for a suggestion.

@nicolabarker8799 Жыл бұрын

This was joyful to watch, Thankyou so much, such sacred lands, my feet want to walk these trails too,

@robertcrompton2733 Жыл бұрын

Love the surf music in the intro!

@Vito_Tuxedo 2 жыл бұрын

What a great location...I mean, despite the brain-eating bacteria [14:53] (heh). Nice that you can enjoy the comfort of a campfire after a long day of hard hiking, conditions allowing. I really appreciate the effort you put into making these videos, especially for the fact that so much camera placing and fetching is required...not to mention your buttery-smooth editing. Truly awesome work, . Keep on keepin' on! 😎

@unclebilly1353 Жыл бұрын

I'm kind of new here. I'm from the east coast. Nothing like this back east. My family and friends spend time in this wilderness. So much to offer. It's where the desert meets the mountain's. A magical place. Don't let out the secret. Lol .glad you're enjoying.

@juliopach8867 26 күн бұрын

Great adventure video , now the most pure water you can find you see it at the river and the Spring which is the best ! Now you ment about the water close to the cabin , you look at it , the water you find close by , and you saying that Water is a good water ?? Lol 🤭 you talk about bacteria , can't believe it hahah

@karakoppanyi3845 2 жыл бұрын

This was so wonderful! Such beautiful country. I loved the sounds of the water, insects, birds, and wind. Thanks so much for sharing your journey.

@JamesBlackburnExperience Жыл бұрын

Just discovered this channel today, and I'm glad I did. Very well made backpacking adventure. Thanks for sharing. I am subscribed and will check out your other video adventures too.

@ahbenjamin2889 3 жыл бұрын

I think you have the best outdoor camping videos. Thank you for all you do.

@WildlandExplorer 3 жыл бұрын

Thank you, you are too kind!

@PHILREEDSHIKES 3 жыл бұрын

excellent video! Well filmed and produced! Good job.

@pvtrout 4 жыл бұрын

Awesome video

@ronforeman2556 Жыл бұрын

Please tell me you took time to visit the Gila Cliff Dwellings, too! Cliff Dweller Canyon is not to be missed.

@azcolby40 5 жыл бұрын

Just started watching your Vlogs, excellent work, and thanks for sharing

@tre2472 3 жыл бұрын

Old Apache country. Geronimo was born near there.

@waterfallmadman 5 жыл бұрын

Beautiful scenery and a great adventure . Well done video. I have subbed.

@tato4612 4 жыл бұрын

What a beautiful video!

@WildlandExplorer 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you!

@stevenevangelist5221 Жыл бұрын

really good video.

@wildoutsiders 11 ай бұрын

Great video, makes me want to return to the Gila!

@frankarzaga9387 2 жыл бұрын

Thank you for this great video of my home area, very well done

@WildlandExplorer 2 жыл бұрын

I really want to go back to the Gila. Too bad sections of it has been burning up in recent years. I heard the last fire was not kind to the west fork and there are washouts on sections of the trail high above the river. I was thinking this would be the year I'd like to go back - might even be May. But the trail conditions west of the main middle fork / west fork loop don't look great. I'm talking like the high country around Whitewater Baldy and such. Do you have any local knowledge I might glean?

@unclebilly1353 Жыл бұрын

@@WildlandExplorer . I just got back from a hunting trip in the Gila's. The tops of the pines are still there. Grass has the ground covered. It's all good. This is what's a healthy forests does. All good 👍. Come play. Please pack out what you pack in. Enjoy!

@paulholstien1494 4 жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for the video - really helped our trip this past week. There was still water at Prior Cabin and Lilley Park spring.

@WildlandExplorer 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks, good to know for return trips that it's reliable! Hope you had an awesome time out there.

@ozarksandbeyond4416 4 жыл бұрын

Sweet video man!!! Really hard to find quality videos of some of these areas. Nice job. I think the wife and I may do this exact route this fall.

@WildlandExplorer 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks Paul! The Gila Middle/West Fork loop has to be up there in my top-3 backpacking trips of all time. Stunning place.

@juliojames5986 9 ай бұрын

That was a lot of effort. Great views and information. I was a little surprised at the lack of wildlife,assuming you would have taken a photo. I would do that on my horse in October……possibly. Thanks

@juanmanuelperez2311 Жыл бұрын

🇲🇽 love you

@crushmandible6030 4 жыл бұрын

Great video! I did a somewhat similar loop back in 2017. Where you came up from the Meadows to the high country and headed NW towards Prior Cabin, I turned SE down Big Bear Canyon Trail #28 all the way to the cliff dwellings visitor center (long story, and long hike). That climb out of the Meadows is pretty tough, but for some reason, the smaller elevation up and downs after that seemed to sap me more. While you were doing this hike in June 2019, I was doing an out and back from Snow Lake down the Middle Fork. I made it just 5 miles shy of the Meadows, coming from the north. If you haven't made that hike, I highly recommend it. Thanks for sharing your video...you got some fantastic shots.

@WildlandExplorer 4 жыл бұрын

Hey, thanks for checking out the video! I wanted to get out to the the parks areas further up the west fork on that trip - that was actually the original plan. But some family stuff happened so I cut short the trip. Can't wait to go back there. It's in the top 5 places to backpack for me. I've heard good things about coming down from near the source of the middle fork so thanks for recommending that hike.

@kellylane73 Жыл бұрын

That sounds familiar…

@dmn3773 4 жыл бұрын

This reminds me of a much more expansive ash creek in the galiuros. If you've never been there...DO IT!

@WildlandExplorer 4 жыл бұрын

I've been interested in the Galiuros for some time. Looking at Ash Creek Rd. it seems mostly doable in a car but looks like it goes down to 2-track after a while. Do you know if a 2wd car would make it all the way to the trailhead? If not... not opposed to road walking a few miles. One of the reasons I ended up at the Gila is the paved road access (although still quite sketchy mountain turns in spots).

@dmn3773 4 жыл бұрын

@@WildlandExplorer 32.509681, -110.204933 You'll be able to make it to that location just fine in a car with standard clearance. I would recommend the fall for the best experience but if you want to do a little overnight trip and bag a peak while you're there Basset has some nice views. It's a bit of scramble but it's not bad.

@dragonflyginger 6 ай бұрын

Thanks for this great video! How was the night sky?

@HuckOutdoors 3 жыл бұрын

Just found the channel and subbed in. Great content. I'll have to put this one the list to do.

@WildlandExplorer 3 жыл бұрын

Huck! I've watched a bunch of your videos man. Nice to see a fellow outdoors KZfaqr here. Do that loop of the Gila - early June is fantastic. This trip is still at or near top of my list.

@FollowingTheAgees 5 жыл бұрын

BEAUTY!! What an ambitious trip to plan. How much did your pack weigh? The water crossings def helped. Enjoyed the vid, very relaxing pace.🙋‍♀️Lisa and Rick🙋‍♂️ That huge hole in the rock, or cliff dwellings, looked COOL!!

@WildlandExplorer 5 жыл бұрын

Thanks so much! Pack weight fluctuated a lot. I think it started around 32 lbs with all the food. Peaked out around 40 lbs with the water carry over the mesa top. But was around 26 lbs or less by the time I got down to the west fork. I would have gone up to those cliff dwellings by my camp if there had been any obvious trail to them but it looked steep.

@FollowingTheAgees 5 жыл бұрын

WildWestHikes...I think you covered a lot of trail!! And, we always have “wished we would’ve” things when we get back. You’re a natural! 👏👍

@permculture Жыл бұрын

@@WildlandExplorer I have hiked past those dwellings many times. I am glad you did not go up there, too many curious people have harmed a lot of the wilderness.

@philabisognio8165 Жыл бұрын

I'm preparing for a 5-day, 4-night trip next week. Thanks for the great video. Do you recommend hiking the beginning of the Middle Fork from the Visitor Center or taking the short cut from Scorpion Campground to the Middle Fork via Adobe Canyon?

@dr.maturin4648 Жыл бұрын

Hi, I'm not Wildland Explorer, but I live in the area and have hiked the trails many times. The Adobe Canyon (the trail is called Little Bear Canyon Trail) is shorter, but there is no water until you get to the Middle Fork. There is a fork in the Little Bear Canyon Trail that takes the high route along the mesa to The Meadows. But in this hot weather, I would take the Main Middle Fork Trail from the Visitor Center if I were you!

@JeremyOlimb 5 жыл бұрын

It was fun to run into you out in the middle of nowhere. Hope your latest bikepacking trip ended well. Keep up the adventures coming!

@WildlandExplorer 5 жыл бұрын

Thank you very much sir, that was totally cool to meet you out on the trail...road... whatever. Man that was a crazy bikepacking trip. We must have gone from desert to aspens and back three times.

@xavierjc94 3 жыл бұрын

Desert to forest back to desert. Can’t explain Southwestern New Mexico any better than that. Awesome video!

@tompelham7035 Жыл бұрын

Howdy friend, was curious about the time of year, that you had this experience? Great video! Thanks

@WildlandExplorer Жыл бұрын

Yessir, this was mid-June 2019. A high snow year in the west. Rangers advised not to expect spring water up top but I found plenty @ Prior Cabin & the small creek running the south side of Lilley Park. I would expect this year (2023) to be much the same. Bug pressure was reasonably low along the middle & west forks as well. One of my favorite trips ever.

@tompelham7035 Жыл бұрын

Many thanks! That trip is on my bucket list

@keithbrouse2677 3 жыл бұрын

Great video! Very informative. I was wondering, how many miles did you cover, and also, is there a modified route you can suggest for a 4-day, 30-35 mile trek in the area? Thanks again for the video and explanations.

@WildlandExplorer 3 жыл бұрын

Thanks! In total it was just under 50 miles for 6 days. But 75% of that was river miles which take longer than overland. If you had 4 days of hiking I think it's possible to do a similar loop except cut south at Prior Spring instead of going on to Lilley Park. There is a way down into the west fork near Hell's Hole where I camped on the 4th night on that trip but the trail names escape me. That would circumvent 2 days of hiking.

@danielwood0318 4 жыл бұрын

Great video! I'm hiking Sapillo Creek to the Gila in June. The video quality is great! What camera did you use?

@WildlandExplorer 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks for checking it out! Believe it or not at that time I was filming everything on an iPhone XS 512gb using an app called Filmic Pro. I now use more of a "real" camera but a phone has some weight/size advantages. Enjoy your trip, fantastic area!

@marlisabrown1065 8 күн бұрын

Curious what you packed for food for 6 days?

@WildlandExplorer 6 күн бұрын

Mostly hot garbage from a bag. Back then I was eating a lot of Mountain House. These days I mostly make my own dehydrated food - burrito bowls, things with beans n rice + veggies. Lots of tuna mac. Homemade packs down smaller too!

@billfisher3266 4 жыл бұрын

What kind of camera did you use? Your video is nice and clear.

@WildlandExplorer 4 жыл бұрын

Thanks! At that time I was using an Iphone XS with an app called Filmic Pro. These days I'm using a Panasonic G9. Getting clear sharp video is as much about color grading in editing as it is the camera used to capture it.

@plasmodiumvivax9004 3 жыл бұрын

I had always heard that there were additional cliff dwellings further up, guess it's true.

@WildlandExplorer 3 жыл бұрын

They are all over out there. Since I'm fishing around with a camera for shots maybe I notice ruins a little more easily. Thanks for watching!

@plasmodiumvivax9004 3 жыл бұрын

@@WildlandExplorer Sure thing. The Gila is one of my favorite places on Earth. I live about 3.5 hours away

@pvtrout 4 жыл бұрын

What tent and sleeping bag do you use?

@WildlandExplorer 4 жыл бұрын

Hi there, Currently using a ZPacks Duplex tent and I love it so far. During this video I was using a Nemo Hornet 2p. I thought the Hornet was a good tent, and very packable, but really prefer the simplicity and reliability of the Duplex. I use an Enlightened Equipment Revelation 20* quilt for my sleep system.

@karl7339 4 жыл бұрын

what foot wear did you use ? lots of water crossings

@WildlandExplorer 4 жыл бұрын

Merrell Choprock shoes. Worked pretty well - completely dry in about an hour.

@karl7339 4 жыл бұрын

@@WildlandExplorer nice! And the socks?

@WildlandExplorer 4 жыл бұрын

@@karl7339 I'm always rocking Darn Tough 1/4 hiker socks. I would have gone sans socks with all the water but parts of the trail are sandy and socks help with that.