[cdt-l] Conditions in the Black Range

[Brett]

Alistair wrote:
> Here right on the divide there was a tank which we assumed 
> was Dry
> Time Tank. It had some water in it and we topped up. On 
> the map the tank is
> marked as being on the south side of the Divide.

I found this to be confusing, also. In fact I had headed S 
down the 4WD road from the CDT to see whether the "real" Dry 
Time Tank might be where the map indicated. In fact there 
were signs for it down there, but no indication of an 
earthen tank nor any water. Judging by appearances, possibly 
a flood once wiped out the original tank, prompting 
development of the "on-Divide" tank. Anyone know for sure?

> We found water in a west flowing stream just over a mile 
> SW of Dolan Peak.
> Not much of a flow but it looked good.
> We also saw water in the Kline Mt area.

According to Trippin' Ant, the spring trough south of Kline 
Mountain east of the Divide as shown on USGS (south of, and 
opposite, Scales Canyon) was also flowing this fall, as it 
had been in spring of '05. Last fall I also saw pools in 
upper Scales Canyon, visible from the Divide, though that 
was probably just luck.

> The trail route is rather confusing between Frranks Mt and 
> Lookout Mt. We
> were heading SE of the divide west of Frranks Mt and came 
> to the new fence
> we'd seen earlier. Do we follow the fence or cross? The 
> new fence goes SE
> away from the divide. We saw blazes on the east side of 
> the fence so climbed
> over it.

I'm familiar with the sort of problem you encountered here. 
Farther north between Dolan Peak and NM 59, there are (or 
were) areas where one could either follow a fenceline road, 
or head cross-country through the woods following the tree 
cuts. Apparently the tree cuts mark the location of future 
trail construction, while the road (or fenceline swath) is 
the existing suggested route, often shown on maps. Ongoing 
trail construction throughout the northern Black Range is 
reducing the dependence on these interim roads, but some 
confusion is still possible. I wonder if this may be what 
you experienced near Franks and Lookout Mtn, although that 
section has had finished trail for a few years at least. In 
fall '05 it was quite followable the last few miles to FR 
226A. Possibly this year's monsoon had some effect on that, 
though.

By the way, anyone know if the relo near NM 59 is open? 
Apparently the CDT will cross the highway east of the 
Divide, rather than on it as now. The on-Divide route passes 
through a clear-cut operation just south of the highway.

>South of the bluff the well graded trail was a joy
> to hike, great views, but there are some thorny plants 
> starting to come up
> on the trail. One section on east side of divide seemed to 
> be returning to
> nature more than the rest of it.

Such are the perils of reconstructing trail through a recent 
burn. The new PCT-like trail north of Diamond Peak Spring is 
fantastically well-graded, but will need regular trimming in 
order to keep out the aspen shoots and thorns. Hopefully the 
work crews can find the resources to work this into their 
efforts already ongoing in the area.

By the way, the fall color here is now an amazing sight with 
all the young aspen coming up.

All the Black Range needs now is a few more appreciate eyes 
and trail-trodding feet. Not too many, of course... :)

- bf

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----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Alistair and Gail Des Moulins" 
<aandg at telusplanet.net>
To: <cdt-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Saturday, November 25, 2006 1:22 PM
Subject: Re: [cdt-l] Conditions in the Black Range


> Some more details on water in the Black Range section:
> We did this just using the 1:100,000 maps from the CDTA NM 
> guidebook.
>
> Oct 26th:
> The last water we got was from the North Garcia Windmill 
> about 6 miles west
> of NM163. Very good flow from pipe into large above ground 
> tank.
> We did see another above ground tank about 2 miles west of 
> NM163 just south
> of the 'trail' but did not go to check it out.
> Oct 27th:
> We crossed NM163 and then headed ESE then SE following CDT 
> markers then
> turned SW on a 2 track on the divide. The trail then left 
> the divide and
> descended SSE into Wahoo Canyon reaching bottom about 1.3 
> miles east of the
> divide. There was some water in the east flowing 
> tributary. The trail then
> headed SW up another tributary and there was more water in 
> this one. We
> filled up after cooking lunch. Where the valley turned SE 
> the trail
> switchbacked back to the Divide. We did not see Wahoo 
> Tank. After the
> highest point in this section we descended to a col where 
> we crossed NNW-SSE
> trail. Here right on the divide there was a tank which we 
> assumed was Dry
> Time Tank. It had some water in it and we topped up. On 
> the map the tank is
> marked as being on the south side of the Divide.
> Oct 28th:
> We found water in a west flowing stream just over a mile 
> SW of Dolan Peak.
> Not much of a flow but it looked good.
> We also saw water in the Kline Mt area.
> Oct 29th:
> The trail route is rather confusing between Frranks Mt and 
> Lookout Mt. We
> were heading SE of the divide west of Frranks Mt and came 
> to the new fence
> we'd seen earlier. Do we follow the fence or cross? The 
> new fence goes SE
> away from the divide. We saw blazes on the east side of 
> the fence so climbed
> over it. Came to a col then good trail traversed South 
> side of Frranks to
> another col. Then we saw blazes on Divide climbing up SSE 
> we followed these
> up to another top. We then followed blazes WSW but then 
> lost route. We
> headed down to the low point of the divide north of 
> lookout Mt and we'd
> obviously missed seeing the new trail which would have 
> saved us the extra
> ascent. Good trail then took us on west and we came to the 
> fence again.
> There was a blaze NNW along the fence line - many trees 
> have been felled to
> put in this fence so the fence line is the easiest option 
> in this area.
> Excellent trail on west side of divide South of FR226A the 
> road to Lookout
> Mt.
> We found water in the east flowing branch of Chloride 
> Creek where the
> descending road initially comes to the Creek. However, 
> more plentiful water
> was in the north flowing branch after we turned south.
> Some water damage to trail where it climbed up south of 
> Chloride Creek. One
> confusing unsigned junction near divide - we took the 
> higher trail which
> deteriorated before we joined a better trail just NW of 
> Byers canyon.
> Oct 30th:
> South of Byers the trail becomes rather indistinct in 
> burned areas with just
> sawn logs and the occasional CDT marker guiding us. On the 
> plateau north of
> Fisherman's Bluff we lost the route altogether due to the 
> burn and all the
> downed trees but we found the trail just before descending 
> round the west
> side of the bluff itself. South of the bluff the well 
> graded trail was a joy
> to hike, great views, but there are some thorny plants 
> starting to come up
> on the trail. One section on east side of divide seemed to 
> be returning to
> nature more than the rest of it.
> Diamond Peak Spring: just a trickle - we did not need any 
> water - it looked
> like it would be difficult to collect water here.
> When trail turned SE at head of Sheep Creek (west side) it 
> became a real
> obstacle course due to numerous downed trees and some of 
> these thorny
> plants. Some water by trail in the headwaters of Morgan 
> Creek (east side of
> divide).
> Trail then follows valley of Black Canyon down a bit. 
> Found a spring here
> and got water, animal crap in area. Came to stream 
> junction and turned east,
> better water in this tributary.
> Oct 31st:
> Slow flow at Squeaky Spring (which was silent!) but we 
> were able to fill up
> our containers. Trail here is on the west side of the 
> divide. We then came
> to a 4 way trail jct. We dumped our packs and climbed up 
> the 1/4 mile trail
> to 10,000'+ Reeds Peak. I climbed the lookout for one of 
> the best views on
> the whole CDT. We then followed Trail 74 SW along the 
> divide. Water in
> stream just north of Signboard Saddle. We then headed SW 
> along divide and
> then SW on NM61 to NM35. No water along here. We then 
> walked to Lake Roberts
> to get more supplies.Water in Sapillo Creek but we did not 
> take any.
>
> Despite some hard work getting over logs and a bit of 
> frustration trying to
> find the route at times, we thoroughly enjoyed this 
> section of the CDT. I
> was going to hike the Gila route and save the Black Range 
> for when we do the
> GET but the record monsoon this year made me decide to 
> hike the Black range
> now.
>
> Alistair
>