Gila Wilderness Sept. 2010

Great trip report! I enjoyed it. The Gila is on my 2011 list. My cousin and I are planning either a spring break or early summer hike. I am currently reading the book Black Range Tales written by his great great uncle Jimmie McKenna. It is about Uncle Jimmies life in the Gila area During the Late 1800s. We are going to see if we can follow some of Uncle Jimmies foot prints. I hope to see some bear prints too.

Ps. I think eugenes trip reports have inspired several trips to southern New Mexico.

Rob,

Thanks for sharing your trip and congrats on getting out there and doing it.

As you say, "You just gotta keep going!"

Wish you lots of great trip and it will be nice to see future trip reports from you to see the evolution of your journey for going UL and losing weight.

Hope you don't take this the wrong way, but it is great to see someone who is larger out on the trail and just getting out and doing it.

Best of luck to you in your future goals.

-Tony

Rob,

I enjoyed the report and the pictures. Good stuff.

As I too am on the larger side, I agree with you. You just have to go do it and keep going. It is a wonderful feeling and it is very inspiring to see you out there enjoying it!

Jason

Rob, great report and pictures. I always like to see what the country looks like in different places than where I hike (Cascades).
BTW- I hate zip off pants there are like wearing to small hoola hoops on each leg.

That looks like a cool area and a great trip, but that burger picture has me mesmerized. I just spent 3 hours at the dentist today, and I'll probably be eating nothing but soup this weekend. Whoa buddy that thing looks good.

Rob,

Thank you for posting so many pics! It looks like a scenic, great trip.

Best of luck on your weight loss. Please keep us updated on your success and share your future trips!

Todd

Once again, I wish I could have gone. It's a shame what happened since it pretty much ruined half of my year. Oh well… we're going to make up for that.

One thing people might find interesting is that before this trip the hip belt on your Jam wouldn't even fit around you. Afterwards it did and you've kept the weight off! I think this had more effect than the average diet the typical American goes on for 2+ weeks.

Thanks everyone for the replies and encouragement. I recommend this area to everyone! It's a beautiful place with dozens of options. 3.3 million acres, 1800 trails, this place truly has it all: Mountains, canyons, hot springs, meadows, valleys, rivers, you name it.

We didn't see many people out there either, and the temperatures that first week of September were no higher than 80 F during the day, and 55 to 60 F at night. Very pleasant indeed!

Tad- I definitely learned my lesson with zip off pants! Never again will I wear them unless I can find a pair that isn't so restricting.

Tony- No worries, I don't get offended about that kind of thing. Glad to have your support.

Brian- Yes sir, easily the best burger I've ever had!

Larry- I'm for sure glad that I can now use my hip belt, that thing is a big help!

Great photos! Looked like a wonderful trip. I know what you mean about hiking when short of water…takes the fun out of it. It seemed like a nice mix of sculpted rocks and lush undergrowth.
Tom

Strangely enough I love my zip off pants! Mostly because I can wear them as shorts at night without getting my sleeping bag dirty from the bottoms that inevitably seem to be filthy.

Robert,

You did an excellent job on this trip report; thank you for taking the time and putting in the effort to share this with all of us. September is probably one of the most opportune times to get out in the Gila and your photographs attest to that with the lush greenery and wildflowers.

"These discomforts lasted the entire trip but I was able to put it out of sight out of mind and still have an excellent time! You just gotta keep going!"

Every trip seems to throw their curveballs and you both seemed to react and take each one with ease; the ability to be flexible and just keep going like you mentioned is paramount to maintaining a good attitude and turning potentially trip ending situations into small bumps along the way. What was most appreciated in reading your post was your positive outlook and I'm thankful to you for the reminder to always keep your head up and not b@*ch about the little things.

Next time you're in the area and need help threading together a multi-day route let me know. I'd also be happy to show you where to grab the best post-trip green chile cheeseburger in Las Cruces on your way back to that big ol' state to the east of us.

thanks for the report! looks like you guys had a great time :)

we got to spend a week in the late Spring, I'm pretty sure my next trip down that way will be in the Fall

I agree, Eugene has been a great ambassador for SW New Mexico

Eugene- Thank you for your kind words and encouragement. I agree with you on potential trip-ending situations. If you don't have the right mindset you'll end up leaving early. I think backpacking is 75% mentality and 25% preparation! Going light makes it much easier.

I will be taking you up on your offer in the future I'm sure. My friends and I have already decided that a trip back to the Gila is a definite and your advice would be well valued. I'd like to see other parts of the Gila, maybe even stay out longer than I did this last time. It's a remarkable place.

And I'll definitely be sure to inquire about the green chili cheeseburgers in Las Cruces. We passed right through there on I-10 on the way to the Gila and back.

-Rob

A very nice trip report and wonderful pictures. I have backpacked there several times and your photos brought back some great memories. I used to live in Killeen and now live in the DFW area, so it is hard to get out there, but I have alsway had wonderful hiking expereinces when I do. I will hopefully do a 7-9 day trip this summer in the wilderness; probably spending the last night at Jordan HS as a reward for all the hard work.

I also dream of hamburgers (like your photo) and such on the last few days of my trips. I can't wait to get to Silver City, a hot shower, and a hot, greasy meal after a week of "roughing it". The perfect reward after a great backpacking experience!!

Great report and pics, Robert. Now I know what month I want to go to the Gila, someday.

Once I was car camping with my wife and (at that time) toddlers, at the old Faywood Hot Springs, and these three twenty-somethings drove in and said they'd just spent 15 days backpacking in the Gila. It was two brothers (who've been doing it annually for years), the wife of one, and their infant in a sling! The mom said, "Babies are not much trouble in the backcountry, until they can walk." I didn't actually see them at the trailhead, but the packs they had (and the car looked empty otherwise) were definitely in the ultralight range.

Robert,
this is the first time i looked at your trip report. excellent, thank you.
i have spent most of my hiking time in the Gila and love to see others reports and see the Gila from anothers' point of view. I also appreciate your attitude of keeping a good mindset and continuing on. One i could use a little more of in everyday life.

thanks buddy

Thanks for the tip report.
Right on about being misled by all the water you saw at the beginning of the day.
I've had that happen too many times. Luckily, like you, I usually found water, but often after having to hike dry for a while.

And about the annoying irritations and pain, eventually the endorphins kick in while hiking, making the rest of the hike pleasant. The irritations are still there, but more subdued, until the buzz wears of at night:-)

I am looking to make it out there, but I have family in the area and they are going to want to eat up my vacation time when I come out:-(