tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post4620226371692716572..comments2024-02-20T15:56:34.721-08:00Comments on Southern New Mexico Explorer: Aldo Leopold Wilderness - West Curtis CanyonDevon Fletcherhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01420276569501950892noreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-19787400731548744402019-12-26T16:47:53.250-08:002019-12-26T16:47:53.250-08:00You have to park at locked gate on FR 157 headin...You have to park at locked gate on FR 157 heading south about 2 miles from Hermosa. Then hike down the road to North Seco Creek. There's a clearing with an old windmill. Forest Trail 307 leaves out of here heading south towards Animas Creek. I have never hiked this section of it, I've only come from the North Percha, Cave Creek Trail heading north. I don't know what condition the trail is in or even if it can be followed. Anyway, it looks to be a tough 6 miles ( at least) from North Seco, so 7 or 8 from from the parking to reach Animas, then another 1.5 miles to the site. Probably a backpack, unless you're a trail runner.<br /> If you have a Jeep or some other suitable vehicle, you're better off starting from Cave Creek, as far as distance goes. It's still a tough climb both ways, although supposedly the trail has been maintained within the last few years. We visited the the grave site almost 4 years ago. It would be a twelve mile roundtrip, just to there and back,I would guess. If you are young, or super fit, maybe a day hike in the Spring or Fall. Winter days are too short . Summer is too hot. Maybe you could arrange something through the Ladder Ranch, and access it from the eastern forest boundary. It'll cost you though.Devon Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01420276569501950892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-24318737504516696982019-12-25T14:29:45.737-08:002019-12-25T14:29:45.737-08:00Hello Devon, do you know if it is possible to reac...Hello Devon, do you know if it is possible to reach Animas Creek from the north (Hermosa)? Perhaps that is less complicated than coming from Kingston. Or perhaps private property prohibits it. I'd like to reach the Massacre Canyon gravesite.Willyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03375834338619953138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-60339673876148285272018-08-02T10:54:02.422-07:002018-08-02T10:54:02.422-07:00The first 10 or 11 miles to North Percha Creek tak...The first 10 or 11 miles to North Percha Creek takes less than a half hour. Once you cross the creek( be sure to cross the creek, I met a couple of fishermen a few years ago who were hiking up North Percha Trail thinking they were on the way to lower Las Animas via FT 307). Past the creek, the going on FR 157 is very rough and slow down to Cave Creek so allow for another half-hour at least. So probably, it's a little over an hour from NM 152.<br /> I've never heard it called the Hermosa Trail, so I hope we're talking about FT 307. It would make sense because it continues on to North Seco towards Hermosa.<br />Devon Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01420276569501950892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-65785885053394197792018-08-02T08:46:33.576-07:002018-08-02T08:46:33.576-07:00Hi Devon, did you access the trailhead here (my ma...Hi Devon, did you access the trailhead here (my map shows this trail as "Hermosa Trail") via 4088N / FR157 / N Percha Rd from Kingston? How is the road going up there and about how long did it take you to get to the trailhead from Kingston? Just trying to gauge the difficulty of that route.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07940140328552299138noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-8963462498707263232016-07-30T13:04:27.181-07:002016-07-30T13:04:27.181-07:00Thank you. I still would like to see the upper end...Thank you. I still would like to see the upper end of West Curtis above those falls,maybe that trail is the ticket, because the way we went was way, way too long.Devon Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01420276569501950892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-24326672546741802282016-07-18T07:34:44.545-07:002016-07-18T07:34:44.545-07:00Good write up and pictures.. I've never been v...Good write up and pictures.. I've never been very far up West Curtis Canyon but have spent a lot of time in East Curtis Canyon.. haven't been in the lower end since the fire but I have been in upper part. There is a trail behind Bald Hill that is a short cut to both of these canyons. It is kind of hard to find and is a heck of a climb but it does offer faster access to these canyons.. ©CBVTVhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08680641226967320192noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-59062219013247827992016-04-24T16:08:50.171-07:002016-04-24T16:08:50.171-07:00Hello Devon, Have you been up Turkey Run Road, an...Hello Devon, Have you been up Turkey Run Road, and Caledonia Trail since the Silver Fire? Any info you have is appreciated. Planning multi-day trek in early June.<br />Thanks,<br />Alex<br />vertigroups@gmail.comapvnmhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13141672361961276357noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-68671605105886733392016-04-16T12:43:21.873-07:002016-04-16T12:43:21.873-07:00Breathtaking photos! I'm extremely happy to h...Breathtaking photos! I'm extremely happy to have found your blog. I lived in Las Cruces for two years and hope to move back there soon. I can't wait to take my son on many of these adventures!Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10306095749774944061noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-74867191298068641342016-03-23T16:15:09.582-07:002016-03-23T16:15:09.582-07:00Great report and photos! I must get back to the So...Great report and photos! I must get back to the Southwest.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-41645403111070341322016-03-21T20:37:46.428-07:002016-03-21T20:37:46.428-07:00Doug Scott, who has the New Mexico Waterfalls webs...Doug Scott, who has the New Mexico Waterfalls website, is a master at finding falls on Google Earth although he used to do it with only the aid of topos.West Curtis is very narrow and was in decent shape. East Curtis is more open and was not. Burnt trees right down to the stream bed. <br />Devon Fletcherhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01420276569501950892noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1589004864752648311.post-75782930053071411392016-03-21T20:30:00.305-07:002016-03-21T20:30:00.305-07:00Great trip report Devon!
What a remote and inac...Great trip report Devon! <br /><br />What a remote and inaccessible part of the Gila you guys went. Did the waterfalls show up on Google Earth sleuthing since they are clearly not on the USGS topos? I like the past few rugged hikes into the Black Range you've done. Thanks for documenting for the rest of us. Your stories of a surprisingly intact riparian area made me want to visit myself.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03123757186592117004noreply@blogger.com