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Trip Number: 12302A
Price: $675
Deposit: $100
Capacity: 10
Staff: John Everett
Highlights:
- Build a new trail along the Continental Divide
- Enjoy beautiful mountain vistas
- Potentially spot wildlife (e.g. elk, deer, wolves, bear, spotted owls,
etc)
Includes:
- All on-trip meals
- Work tools
The Trip
Unfortunately, this trip has been cancelled. If you
have questions, please
contact us.
Photo: Annette Smits
Located in southwest New Mexico, the Gila National Forest boasts a rich history
of the Mogollon and Apache Indians, Spaniards, Mexicans, ranchers, prospectors,
and miners. Apache Chiefs Mangas Coloradas, Geronimo, and Victorio; Aldo Leopold
(conservationist, ecologist, and author of the Sand County Almanac); and renowned
lion hunter Ben Lilly are but a few of the personalities from the past who have
left their mark in the Gila. Place names like Raw Meat Canyon, Tepee Canyon,
and Grave Canyon tell the tales of the past.
The unique beauty of the Gila National Forest is its wilderness. The Gila,
Aldo Leopold, and Blue Range Wildernesses offer unparallelled hiking and horseback
riding. The magnificence of these mountainous regions imparts an indescribable
feeling of awe and wonderment. Former Supreme Court Justice William O. Douglas
may have captured the feeling when he said, "Wilderness helped preserve
man's capacity for wonder.... the power to feel, if not see, the miracles of
life, of beauty, and of harmony around us." The Gila Wilderness was established
in 1924 as the first designated wilderness in the country.
The Project
The Continental Divide Trail is a National Scenic Trail that runs from the
border of Canada to the border of Mexico. This trail is still a work in progress;
there are many sections where hikers walk, ride, or mountain bike on sections
of road. The goal of the trail is to provide a quality non-motorized recreation
experience off roads. The Reserve Ranger District of the Gila National Forest
recently performed environmental analysis to relocate 12 miles of current roads,
and realign the trail to a new location for hikers, equestrians, and mountain
bikers. The United States Forest Service is seeking our help to bring this plan
into reality. The new route takes users as close to the physical location of
the Continental Divide as possible, while ensuring the trail stays away from
sensitive biological and archeological resources. Scenic vistas and opportunities
for wildlife sightings abound in this remote area.
Itinerary
Photo: Annette Smits
Day 1: We will meet on Sunday at a staging area near our worksite
(detailed time and directions will be provided to registered participants).
We will caravan in to our backcountry camp site with our equipment and provisions.
Dinner will be the first on-trip meal together.
Days 2-3: We will work on our trail-building project.
Day 4: Today will be our free day to hike, enjoy potential
wildlife viewing, photography, or just relaxing around the campground.
Days 5-6: We'll be back at work on our trail-building project.
Day 7: After breakfast (our last on-trip meal) we'll break
camp and depart for home.
Getting There
The closest municipality to our worksite is the small town of Apache Creek,
located on New Mexico Highway 12 about 12 miles northeast of the town of Reserve.
Apache Creek is about equidistant from major airports at Albuquerque, El Paso,
Tucson, and Phoenix. Each is about a four-hour drive to Apache Creek.
Participants planning on flying in and renting a vehicle are advised that access
roads to our backcountry campsite are best traveled in high-clearance vehicles.
Detailed directions for finding our meeting place will be provided to registered
participants.
Accommodations and Food
We will be backcountry car-camping at a site located in a stand of mature Ponderosa
Pine at about 8,400 feet, with potable water provided by the Forest Service.
Please come with the attitude that food is part of the adventure of the trip.
The leaders take pride in providing appetizing and filling meals each day. Vegetarians
will be accommodated. Each participant will be asked to volunteer to assist
with preparation and clean up of several group meals. If you are on meal duty,
you may be asked to carry water, chop vegetables, assist in the cooking, clean
up the group cookware and utensils, and put them away for the next meal. A food
survey will be sent out before the trip to help with the meal planning and identifying
special needs such as food allergies.
Trip Difficulty
Photo: Annette Smits
The work, though very rewarding, is very physical in nature. Elevation ranges
from 7,000-9,000 feet. While early summer temperatures are mild with cooler
nights and dry conditions, it is not unheard of to get an extreme swing or storms.
Equipment and Clothing
A detailed personal equipment list will be provided to registered trip participants.
Trail-building tools will be provided by the Forest Service. High on our list
of priorities, however, are two pair of work gloves and safety glasses or sunglasses.
References
Gila National Forest website:
Continental Divide Trail Alliance website:
Our work area is located on the John Kerr Peak Quadrangle map from the United
States Geological Survey (USGS) 7.5-minute series, available for purchase or
free download at the USGS Store website at:
Conservation
Photo: Annette Smits
The Gila National Forest has been a popular destination for off-highway vehicle
users for many years. Unfortunately, the forest is facing increasing damage
by reckless and irresponsible OHV riders who are damaging habitat and eroding
wild country by blazing unauthorized trails and roads in the forest. Fortunately,
the Gila National Forest, like all other forests in the U.S., is currently undergoing
travel management planning. This process will designate a system of roads and
trails for motorized use, and prohibit cross-country motorized travel except
on designated routes. Once the travel management plan is completed, the forest
will begin implementation of the plan, including improved signage, mapping,
and habitat restoration.
Our worksite's trail layout was specifically picked to avoid any impacts on
environment, biology, or archaeology, but still has many unique features. The
Forest Service hopes that by creating a high-quality recreation experience (as
opposed to just hiking along an existing road) that users will want to protect
these great resources as well.
Trip Price
See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details
about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.
The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.
Staff
Leader:
John Everett has been a Sierra Club member since 2003. He is retired after an executive career in the information systems industry, and lives in Batavia, Illinois. John is a graduate of the Sierra Club's national leadership training program and is certified in Wilderness First Aid. While John's passion is cycling, he has participated in and served as a staff member on a number of Sierra Club national outings, including bicycling, hiking, canoeing, and service trips. Among his other interests are pre-Columbian cultures of the Southwest, and the journey of Lewis and Clark's Corps of Discovery.
E-mail: jeverett3@sbcglobal.net
Assistant Leader:
Julie Koivula has been a Sierra Club member for more than 25 years. She retired from teaching and coaching at the high school level. She also taught swimming and is a first aid/CPR instructor for the American Red Cross. She has her wilderness first aid certificate, and she loves to hike, bike, canoe, kayak, ski and play many other sports. She now leads and assists on a variety of Sierra Club outings, including backpacking, canoeing, service, biking, and archaeological survey trips. Julie is the Co-Chair for the Midwest Outings Subcommittee.
E-mail: julieakoivula@sbcglobal.net
General Notes About Sierra Club Trips