Bloodgood Spring - Gila National Forest

This is another short hike to a spring site near Kingston. We parked at the Kingston cemetery, crossed the highway and then proceeded down the severely thinned out hillside until we met the remnant of the old road. In a short while we were at a gate. We went through and were greeted by three old alligator junipers. If you go, and are wondering why this area is so comparatively lush, it's because cattle can't get in. It's amazing how different the Gila could look if it weren't for livestock grazing. It's not just the thick grasses here, but along the stream (which had a modest amount of water provided by the spring) there are willows, rose bushes, apple trees and cattails.

We continued downstream to the site of the old Bloodgood homestead where only a some vague foundations remain. There is  ceramic and metallic bits and pieces of the past for inspection as well. The stream continued to trickle for a stretch past here, but where it darted off to the right from the road/trail we were walking, it dried out completely. Soon another fence and gate appeared, which is a corner of a private property inholding ( this can be bypassed if one wants to continue down to the  Gila NF work center or use Southwest Canyon for a loop hike). We turned around. This is a nice little hike especially with younger children or older folks as there is little elevation change and the path is easy to follow. Just be sure to keep that gate closed.

 Before leaving we had a look around the Kingston cemetery. It had been probably 30 years since we last visited. It hasn't changed much.

Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument - Angostura Arroyo walkabout

Angostura Arroyo tributary

Hackberry trees

Near the confluence of the tributary and the main arroyo.

Rough passage.

Angostura Arroyo

Conglomerate boulder

Looking down Angostura. Redhouse Mtn. in the distance.

Looking across Angostura to Sierra Alta

This rough little hike took two outings to complete my planned route. We had started it one afternoon a few months ago in early December, but didn't have enough daylight to finish.  I went out solo in March to finish it off. The highlight of the March trip was the conglomerate cliffs in the lower end of  Angostura's tributary on the north. Barn owls flew out a couple of the larger alcoves. This area looked more intriguing on Google Earth that it was on the ground and really was not worth two trips. On the first trip back we stopped and visited a small seep that  had several cottonwoods in full fall color. It is right along the county road. On the second trip back I stopped and found a couple of grinding mortars, also right along the road.

Hackberry tree

Sierra Alta

Willows