Gila Summer

[Vermejo]

This past weekend I traveled into the Gila with Jones, my GSD. Over the past few months, using 50 year old FS Maps and Google Earth, I patched a long route from Mogollion to Reserve. The route covered over 200 miles of OPEN roads that traversed everything from fern carpeted forest to high desert plains. I’m always amazed at what I still have to discover here.

The Gila provides thousands of miles of road by way of rugged and remote terrain. As help or assistance is rare in these parts, it’s advised to go well prepared. I drove over 200 miles without seeing anything but wildlife.

 

[Vermejo]

Abandoned FS Fire Lookout

 

[Vermejo]

Feather Hills

 

[Vermejo]

San Francisco River Valley & Northern A.L. Wilderness

 

[Cypher]

Wow! Great flipping pics man! Once again much of that area is my old stomping grounds. I love the areas near Reserve, specifically Snow Lake. What fire look out tower was that? It looks very familiar. Thanks for sharing!

 

[ttora4runner]

As always awesome photo's Jake.

You and interpidxj take some great trips.

 

[Richie]

That's an area of the state I'm not familiar with at all. Thanks for posting. I do plan on making it down there before the snow falls.

 

[James86004]

I like that motorhome. I wonder if it ever went fast enough to blow shingles off.

 

[Vermejo]

The fire tower was near Negrito and north of Snow Lake. Amazing backcountry there.

The shingled camper was still mobile as fresh tracks were in front of it. Someone was looking back at me through the curtains; they were probably unimpressed with my meager expo provisions. What’s an adventure without full size appliances anyways?

 

[Fergie]

Absolutely beautiful! I definitely need to get back there.

Reserve is a nice area too. My parents once contemplated retiring there.

 

[Cypher]

The fire tower was near Negrito and north of Snow Lake. Amazing backcountry there.

Ahh ha! That is the one I was thinking of... I really do love that area. Thanks again for posting the great pics.

 

[Photog]

I've been through a few of those areas, when I was growing up in eastern Ariz. It makes me a little homesick.

Thanks for posting the pics.

After researching all the other maps, did you draw out the complete route on a single map?

 

[KSJeep]

Nice trip, I'll need to get over that way, since it's not to far.

 

[Vermejo]

Ahh ha! That is the one I was thinking of... I really do love that area. Thanks again for posting the great pics.

The FS has dismantled a number of them in the Gila as they were deemed useless or dangerous. Luckily this one still remains. It would make for a spectacular wilderness penthouse.

I've been throug ha few of those areas, when I was growing up in eastern Ariz. It makes me a little homesick.

Thanks for posting the picks.

After researching all the other maps, did you draw out the complete route on a single map?

The route taken this trip was a bit different than what's posted on NMBR. The route I followed went farther north and covered some primitive roads that aren't shown on modern maps. I drew the route into my NM Benchmark.

Nice trip, I'll need to get over that way, since it's not to far.

You would enjoy adventuring in this area, it‘s very diverse. Entering from Winston is the quickest route to this particular region.


09 NMBR Gila Travels: Click Here

08 Gila Exploration: Click Here

 

[Cypher]

The FS has dismantled a number of them in the Gila as they were deemed useless or dangerous. Luckily this one still remains. It would make for a spectacular wilderness penthouse.

That's too bad. Do you know if the one near Chloride Canyon is still up? That was another one of my favorites.