[Cdt-l] Black Range resupply

[bcss at bresnan.net]

For me, the Black Range was one of wildest, most memorable and enjoyable
hikes on the CDT.  The trail follows the very top of the divide much of the
way and the scenery is fantastic.  We walked up on a Mexican Grey Wolf (the
only one I have ever seen), and a sizable Black Bear on that hike, with
serenading coyotes every night.     

 

When we hiked the it in June 2010, we found water in quite a few locations,
but there are some places you will need to carry enough to go over 30 miles
in order to be sure.  When we hiked through, we found water at FR150 in Rock
Creek where the trail crosses the road but it was intermittent.  We followed
the stream downhill a bit and found more and more water.  I mention this
because we didn't find water again until about 15 miles later after we
topped out at Leeds Peak (14.7 miles) and began hiking along the divide
itself.  FR150 is the last road crossing before entering the wilderness.  We
did locate Aspen Spring at mile 9.3 on the way up and it was dry.  Once on
top, there were several good springs and small streams, all of which are
detailed on the maps.  When we left the wilderness and descended to Chloride
Creek,  we found water there in some nice, deep pools but the stream itself
was intermittent.  After that point, we did not find water right on the
trail for a  long time.  The trail crosses hwy 59 in about 15 miles, which
is the road to Winston and I think a successful hike depends upon getting
water at this point by either hitching to Winston, having it cached, or
heading east along the highway and getting some from a ranch.  The longest
dry hitch in the range begins there at the highway.  The next really great
water is at Garcia Windmill which is 33 miles from there.  The windmill is
shown on map 39 about 1 mile south of mile 13_06.5.  It is on private
property.  Follow the link below to Charlie Thorp's water notes for more on
this.  We found water in a stock pond about 15 miles later at Batton Pond.
(13_21.9), followed by Green Tank (13_25.1), then Mesa Redonda just south of
14_04.5.   That is on private property.  The trail was re-routed last year
near John Kerr Peak, and while mapping that piece I found water at 15_05.7
in GC Tank #9, which about 28 miles further.  (not the prettiest water in
the world, but it would work).    The trail crosses Hwy 12 about 10 miles
further.  It is about 9 miles from there to the store at Apache Creek, which
is small, but has some food and beverages.  

 

Just north of Hwy 12 is where the newly relocated route begins that heads in
a northerly direction towards Omega.  Compared to the road walk to Pietown,
it's a really nice hike on new trail.  I found plenty of water at miles
16_02.9, 16_06.1, 16_08.6, 16_10.9, 16_13.5, 16_18.6, 16_19.4, 16_21.1,
16_27.3, and 16_30.6.   The segment ends at Omega on highway 60 at 16_39.2
between Quemado and Pietown.  

 

 

Charlie Thorp's Black Range Water notes from 2011:

 

http://mailman.backcountry.net/pipermail/cdt-l/2011-May/004776.html

 

 

best wishes,

 

Jerry Brown

mailto:bcss at bresnan.net

www.bearcreeksurvey.com

 

 

> From: doug-sue at centurylink.net
> To: len5742 at gmail.com
> Date: Sun, 2 Dec 2012 10:54:30 -0700
> CC: cdt-l at backcountry.net
> Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] Black Range resupply
> 
> And what is the advantage to this route over the Gila River route, if any
> advantage?
> 
> And is this closer to the CDTS route? I need to start getting into some
> serious map study soon.
> 
>

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