[Cdt-l] NM Water

[bcss at bresnan.net]

Hi Charlie,

BLM didn't want us to list private water sources unless they were right on
the trail and this one is fairly far off. Private improvements on public
land are ok but private improvements on private land are sketchy. Section 23
where the well is located is totally privately owned and you have to walk a
bit over a mile (on a road) through private land to access it.  (The road
may technically be public, though.)    

The ranchers we met in that area are truly kind souls and we heard several
stories about hypothermic hikers they have rescued and taken home and fed,
sometimes for days. (2012 early NOBO hikers take note!)  I doubt any of them
mind people getting water, but that probably depends upon the particular
rancher and the impact of the hikers.    

We always visited ranches and informed them before we crossed and were
generally well received but a few ranchers got grumpy even though we were
walking on public lands upon which they lease grazing rights. 

I will add this discussion to the notes for future mapbooks.  Maybe there is
some way to get some sort of access agreement with this particular rancher.



best wishes,

Jerry Brown

-----Original Message-----
From: cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Charlie Thorpe
Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 3:21 PM
To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] NM Water

Hello Jerry -

Thanks for the info.  We guessed that it might be private land and looked
all around for "No Trespassing" or "Posted" signs...didn't see any at all.  

Do you know if the property owner has refused permission to list the well on
the CDT maps as a potential water source?  

- Charlie

> It is on private land. That is why the trail takes a hard right to the 
> north off of the road at mile 5.0. (to stay on BLM land)  It would be 
> good to have it on the map.
> 
> best wishes,
> 
> Jerry Brown (bearcreek)
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net 
> [mailto:cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
> On Behalf Of Charlie Thorpe
> Sent: Friday, December 30, 2011 12:42 PM
> To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] NM Water
> 
> Hello All -
> 
> This good discussion about NM water has reminded me of a question that 
> came up during our NM section hike last April.  My notes on the water 
> source I have the question about:
> 
> Map 39  A little over a mile south of mile 6.5 on the official trail 
> (down doubletrack along fence line) - North Garcia Windmill 
> (****absolutely the BEST water on the CDT in NM - at least 10,000 
> gallons of good clear water piped into a huge open steel tank from a 
> well that was apparently drilled as an oil well.  Somebody has done a 
> great engineering job allowing wildlife and cattle easy access to the
water without allowing them to pollute it.
> Saw three different herds of elk, two different herds of antelope, all 
> kinds of song birds, and a fuzzy ton of rabbits during the half hour 
> we were there.  No cows.  Am puzzled why the CDT isn't routed right by it
(didn't
> see any "Posted" signs).   Worth hiking to just to marvel at even if you
> don't need water in this very dry stretch of trail!*****)
> 
> Does anyone know why the CDT isn't routed to go by the North Garcia 
> Windmill or at least a way found for CDT hikers to be aware of what 
> looked to be a VERY reliable major water source?
> 
> - Charlie
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