[cdt-l] New Mexican Border

Sun Mar 4 20:30:50 CST 2007

I think the "wacky but doable" option would work - essentially adding about
1.5 days to your hike. But, to add to Ken's comment, I think you can stay on
public right-of-ways (i.e. dirt roads that at least appear to be public
anyway) between Antelope Wells & cRaZy CoOk. You might have to essentially
follow the main road north, then head almost due East at the appropriate
time (not exactly efficient). Not sure about camping though... But there is
some public land in that area, including a large wildlife area of some type
I think south of cRaZy CoOk. Others might have more details about that.

-Jonathan

-----Original Message-----
From: cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Ken Powers
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 6:02 PM
To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [cdt-l] New Mexican Border

In 2002 we started at Antelope Wells. The first night we just camped along 
the roadside - between the road and the fence.  The next morning a rancher 
stopped us and asked where we spent the night. He told us flatly to stay off

his ranch (the area on both sides of the highway north of  Antelope Wells). 
He had cattle and a buffalo herd out there and indicated he would not allow 
hikers on that area. He had a rifle in the back window of his truck. I 
wasn't clear if he was planning to use it, or to call the sheriff to protect

his buffalo.

We talked to him a while longer and told him what we were doing and that we 
had no plans to enter his ranch. After he warmed up a little we asked if we 
could take water from his windmill tanks. He said it was okay, but if we got

sick and sued him he would deny in court that he had given us permission.

I don't think you should try hiking cross country from Antelope Wells.

Ken
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Francis Tapon" <ft at francistapon.com>
To: <cdt-l at backcountry.net>
Sent: Sunday, March 04, 2007 10:28 AM
Subject: Re: [cdt-l] New Mexican Border

Thanks everyone for the info!

I like starting at Antelope Wells because it is the southernmost point in
NM, but I like the idea of doing the official CDTA route through a marked
trail.

So here's a wacky idea and tell me if it is doable:

1. Start in Antelope Wells
2. Hike cross country to the Crazy Cook Monument
3. And then walk north from there.

Would I be walking through private land to do that? Seems like it's possible
according to Ley's maps.

By the way, is there any monument at Crazy Cook? I've never seen a picture
of it.

The SpiritEagle page that Disco mentions has good pics and a map, but it's
not clear if any of the pics are of the "monument."

Happy Trails,

Francis Tapon
Check out my 2 minute video: http://tinyurl.com/yyzdbo
Learn about my book, Hike Your Own Hike: 7 Life Lessons from Backpacking
Across America, at: http://www.FrancisTapon.com

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Lawton Grinter [mailto:lawtong at hotmail.com]
> Sent: Wednesday, February 28, 2007 11:28 AM
> To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: [cdt-l] New Mexican Border
>
> FT, I had the pleasure of hiking the signed . . . I repeat signed . . .
> CDTA
> route to the Mexican Border (Crazy Cook Monument) this past November when
> I
> finished the CDT with 5 others.  We were southbound so we walked from
> Hachita via the paved road (State Road 81) to the 12-mile windmill where
> the
> newly signed CDTA route heads southeast 28 miles towards the east wall of
> the bootheel to finish at the Crazy Cook Monument.  This 28-mile section
> of
> trail goes thru the Big Hatchet Mountains and was a highlight for me not
> only for New Mexico but for the entire trip.  I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT.  And
> in
> November of 2006, the entire 28-miles of trail had CDT signs the whole
way.
>
> That being said . . . you'd need someone with a vehicle to get you back to
> the starting point.  When we hiked back there the gravel/dirt road to the
> border had just been graded and was in stellar condition.  A 2-wheel drive
> car could have easily made it back there.  I've been told though that the
> road can get in bad shape though.  And apparently there are 2 roads back
> to
> the starting point.  The CDTA Guidebook for New Mexico along with Jon
> Ley's
> most recent map of the area recommend taking a road that is just south of
> the Big Hatchet mountains back to the starting point.
>
> The gravel/dirt road that I referred to above is just NORTH of the Big
> Hatchets and it coincides with the trail for a number of miles before the
> trail heads up Sheridan Canyon via a sandy wash.  Jim & Ginny Owen have a
> great map of this road and trail route on their website here:
>
> http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/Crazy%20Cook.html
>
> Sheridan Canyon Windmill provides water in this section, but I HIGHLY
> RECOMMEND plugging in the GPS coordinates of this windmill (they are in
> the
> CDTA NM Guidebook) since this windmill can be a bit tricky to locate.  Jim
> &
> Ginny also have GPS coordinates for this windmill and others on their
> website here:
>
> http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/watersource.html
>
> And then approximately 2 miles from the Mexican Border there is a windmill
> that is reported to have good water when it is spinning.  When we were
> there
> it wasn't spinning and the water in the tank looked less than appetizing.
>
> One thing I can say for sure is this.  The Columbus route and Antelope
> Wells
> route are on paved roads.  The CDTA route is not.  I for one prefer
> anything
> but paved roads on a long distance hike.  The CDTA route is very scenic
> and
> well worth the effort to get back to . . . to start the CDT or finish the
> CDT.  If you choose to take the CDTA route, at a minimum carry the Jon Ley
> maps or Jim & Ginny maps for this section.  And don't freak out about
> water,
> there's water back here and there's also Border Patrol monitoring these
> roads.  Go for it!
>
> Bryan Martin, Field Operations Manager, at CDTA is also a good contact
> about
> this route if you need additional questions answered.  His e-mail is
> bryan at cdtrail.org
>
> Best, Disco
>
> www.trailjournals.com/darkness
>
> _________________________________________________________________
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