[Cdt-l] New Mexico Mapping Report and Trail Changes

Tue Sep 4 14:07:00 CDT 2012

It IS a bit unclear where to get started due to lack of markings on the
roads.  Heading north, the new trail turns off of the road before the lower
campground and  just before the forest service cabin. (Waypoint 31_008) The
trail goes between the lakes (31_009), to the upper CG and passes through
the highest campsite (31_012).  Once past the CG it is easy to follow.
There is a gps waypoint for a gate 1000' north (31_014).  The trail is
adequately marked once you get on it.   

I made 12 waypoints for that piece.  Southbound would be hard without a gps.
The trail stops 500 feet short of the road near Brazos Ridge.  I put a gps
point on the road where you turn off, and another where the trail begins.
(31_051 and 31_050)  There is no marker, cairn, or anything else at the
road.  Hikers will have to navigate 500' to get on it.  If you miss it, then
you will see the trail where it crosses the road 1.3 miles further down
(31_038).  It's not marked, but is obvious.   Just take a left and it will
lead you to the CG.  

My guess is that after all the navigation challenges people typically have
on the CDT that this won't seem that tough.  

This, and all the other changes described in my previous post will be
clearly shown in the new Mapbooks due out in November.  

best wishes,

Jerry Brown

 <mailto:bcss at bresnan.net> mailto:bcss at bresnan.net

www.bearcreeksurvey.com

From: cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Brett
Sent: Tuesday, September 04, 2012 11:46 AM
To: cdt-l at backcountry.net; Wingnut
Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] New Mexico Mapping Report and Trail Changes

>>Should be no problem finding it with a gps and the new waypoints.  

Right. And a plane ticket. I was just trying to offer a little retrospective
on my summer vacation. The old route around Lagunitas was the only route
signed as the CDT, and the new route was a real head-scratcher (the part of
it that I'd heard was finished and open). As I understand it, everybody else
followed the old route. Would be really groovy to see a gpx track of how it
all works.

Brett

--- On Tue, 9/4/12, Wingnut <wingnut.hiker at gmail.com> wrote:

From: Wingnut <wingnut.hiker at gmail.com>
Subject: RE: [Cdt-l] New Mexico Mapping Report and Trail Changes
To: "'Brett'" <blisterfree at yahoo.com>, cdt-l at backcountry.net
Date: Tuesday, September 4, 2012, 1:12 PM

Should be no problem finding it with a gps and the new waypoints.  

Wingnut

From: cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Brett
Sent: Monday, September 03, 2012 5:15 PM
To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
Subject: Re: [Cdt-l] New Mexico Mapping Report and Trail Changes

It's hard to tell just going by waypoint names in Bearcreek's description,
but in the event that the new trail around Lagunitas CG was not discussed,
note that (as of June) this was still unsigned and a little tricky to
follow. In fact, I couldn't find any sign of the trail upon reaching Upper
Lagunitas (after the initial climb above the lake, where the trail sort of
reaches a dead-end dirt road turnabout). Had to bushwhack north a hundred
yards or so until stumbling on the trail again, which looked as though that
part hadn't been worked in a year or two. No idea where the trail was coming
from. Again, no signage anywhere in this vicinity, nor at the cairned
crossing of the dirt road south of Brazos Ridge, nor the eventual
termination of new trail nearly at Brazos Ridge. I realize this is a work in
progress, but southbounders are unlikely to find or use it this fall unless
signed or otherwise highlighted here or wherever. There are good views (for
a little while) closer to the Lagunitas end, with outlooks toward San
Antonio Mountain and the distant Sangre de Cristo Mountains. 

The new trail approaching Hopewell Lake nobo seemed to do a lot of needless
meandering, coming back to nearly kiss the familiar graded dirt road, then
veering away, only to return again. It also needs waterbars in a serious
way, at least during springtime.

It'll be interesting to see whether the caterpillar-defoliated aspens in
this area were able to regenerate over the summer. Will sobo hikers tread
upon freshly-fallen leaves or just shriveled caterpillar husks? A local
rancher had indicated that the trees did, in fact, successfully green up
again last year, so here's to hoping.

- Brett

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