Your tired feet get a nice cool soaking from the river crossing on the last day.Ĭons: The many river crossings of the Middle Fork could exacerbate foot issues if they’ve been building up to this point. The Middle Fork eases you into water crossings. Pros: You could potentially camp near Jordan Hot Springs on your last night. Pros: You get the majority of the river crossings out of the way in the beginning of the trip.Ĭons: You’ll most likely pass both hot springs on the first day when you’ll be less likely to stop. Check for recent water updates here if you plan a different cut-through. ![]() We had planned for extra water, just in case Prior Creek was dry (it most definitely was) and were fine. The problem with water arises when you depart from one fork to head to another. Water shouldn’t be an issue when along the Gila, although the river is reporting lower than average water levels and I can’t say what will happen in coming years or in the dead of the summer. Hiking up the Middle Fork and down the West Fork of the Gila, you cross the river more times than you can count. In the end, I downloaded some free GPX tracks on Gaia that ended up saving us a lot of hassle.Īfter the trip, I discovered which is a much better resource than what I was trying to scramble together. The National Forest map covered too large of an area and didn’t include any more information on mileage than our guidebook. I hoped that one of the outdoor stores in Silver City would have a good map that we could snag the morning of our trip, but no luck. I ordered “ Hiking New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness” and found some loops that looked neat, but I couldn’t find a detailed, comprehensive map that showed all of the trails in the area or give me any more information on mileage. A wilderness minimum requirements decision guide has been completed and approved before using any methods otherwise prohibited under the Wilderness Act.įor additional information, visit the Gila National Forest website or contact Maribeth Pecotte at (575) 388-8211.I put in minimal-to-average effort planning the trip. Forest Service staff will ensure no carcasses are adjacent to or in any waterbody or spring, designated hiking trail, or known culturally sensitive area. The Forest Service is committed to continued efforts toward collaborative solutions and will continue to coordinate with permittees in their efforts to locate, gather, and remove their branded cattle from areas where they are not authorized.Īll dispatched cattle will be left onsite to naturally decompose. ![]() Some cattle growers have expressed concern that branded cattle could have strayed into the Gila Wilderness over the past year, due to fences and water gaps that were damaged during an unusually strong monsoon season. The most efficient and humane way to deal with this issue is with the responsible lethal removal of the feral cattle. Due to the terrain, their numbers are challenging to determine but the best estimate is that there are approximately 150 head of cattle. The Gila National Forest is working with USDA Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS) Wildlife Services to remove feral cattle from within the boundaries of the Gila Wilderness. This action will help restore the wilderness character of the Gila Wilderness enjoyed by visitors from across the country.” “The feral cattle in the Gila Wilderness have been aggressive towards wilderness visitors, graze year-round, and trample stream banks and springs, causing erosion and sedimentation. “This has been a difficult decision, but the lethal removal of feral cattle from the Gila Wilderness is necessary to protect public safety, threatened and endangered species habitats, water quality, and the natural character of the Gila Wilderness,” said Camille Howes, Gila National Forest Supervisor. For public safety, Gila National Forest officials are asking people to avoid the closure area while the order is in effect. 20, and aerial shooting will commence from Thursday, Feb. ![]() A closure order covering the area of operations will go into effect on Monday, Feb. These feral cattle are not domesticated animals and pose a significant threat to public safety and natural resources. The Gila National Forest has issued a decision to remove feral cattle within the boundaries of the Gila Wilderness using lethal methods. Gila National Forest moves forward with lethal removal of feral cattle from Gila Wilderness
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