Gila Wilderness – Middle and West Fork Loop

Welcome out west! Yeah, it can be dry and a bit hot. You make great videos that are real eye candy for when I’m hungry for wilderness.

Wow, great video!

I did a 100 mile loop there last Christmas, and really enjoyed the colder temps and total solitude (saw no-one car to car). In fact it was such an awesome experience I surely will be back in future winters.

Dealing with the spotty water sources also is less daunting when the daytime highs are in fifties at best!

Thank you jscott, really appreciate the kind comments.

George, thanks for the kind comments. Wow, December? How did you manage all the water crossings that time of year? I’m assuming the water is frigid and night temps must be below freezing? I would love to hear more about that trip here if you’re willing and/or appreciate a link if you’ve posted it already.

Plenty of trails besides the classic ‘up Middle down West’. We only crossed each of them rim to rim briefly and never camped in the bottom of any canyons during the 9 days we were out (the cold sink effect of canyon bottoms in December is scary!).

Our route: https://caltopo.com/m/4A3NCHN which is an adaptation of the Gila Centennial Loop. On day 7 we passed thru McKenna Park, the 13th most remote spot in an American Wilderness

It’s important to be up to date on current viable water sources thru out the Gila; and completed trail work especially in the western half (Mogollon Mountains)  before start planning. Lots of options gone completely due to fires and subsequent flash flooding. What we did had minimal downfall, only a few stretches of locust and flood damage; and just enough springs running.

Use this resource for trail work: https://gilatrailsinfo.org/trail-information/trails-cleared-map/

And this somewhat hard to use water survey to avoid going thirsty: https://gilatrailsinfo.org/trail-information/water-updates/

Or email Melissa Green at Gila Backcountry Horsemen with your proposed route: groundworktrails@gmail.com Super helpful

John,

Thank you for all the work you put into making this video of our trip in the Gila.  You did a great job and I enjoyed it immensely.  A trip in the Gila is on my bucket list if my health holds up before I age out.

George, thanks so much for your detailed response. I wasn’t previously aware of the water reports prior to stopping at the visitor center before our hike. We did stop there after and the ranger helped us update a couple of springs based on what we found on our hike. I will definetely be going back to the Gila sometime in the next 2-3 years. I would love to see the area after a little moisture. But I would also be scared to attempt some of those crossings we did at high water. Of course, as you mention we could open our horizons beyond the two forks of the river. Especially after a wetter period. Thanks again!

Gerry, thanks so much for your kind comments. Much appreciated!

I am surprised that John didn’t ever comment on the forest here out west. And the forest smell! Quite different from his usual habitat in New Hampshire…

of course, our here in the Sierra the trees can be more varied and impressive. The lack of lush green underbrush and canopy that’s more typical of New England may take some getting used to before one can fully appreciate it.

I’ve been on trips out west a bunch, mostly alpine rock climbing in the Sierra and Rockies, so I don’t think it even occurred to me to contrast the differences between the east and west. But you are right that from my viewers perspective I am primarily/solely an east coast hiker. I’ll keep this in mind for some more upcoming trips where I’ll be traveling. And also just think about possibly mentioning more micro details (like smell) of my trips in the east.