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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0D0D0D'>I have done both the official route (Black Range) and the Middle Fork, and did parts of the Black Range again when hiking the GET. I personally enjoy the Black Range immensely. It closely follows the crest of the divide much of the way through spectacular, remote, wilderness. It is a longer hike than following the river, and doesn’t get hiked as much, but it does get hiked. The Black Range takes you through America’s very first wilderness area, the Aldo Leopold (June 3, 1924) Much of the trail was built as public works projects back in the 30’s. It has some really neat and intricate rock retaining walls and obviously was a huge project at the time. That route is certainly much drier than walking up a river, and you have to plan accordingly, but it’s no worse than some other parts of the CDT. I have the entire set of CDTA guidebooks and I speculate that they are close to correct when it comes to the Black Range. If you go that way, take your gps. There are some stretches that are similar to Crazy Cook where you walk from post to post across desert like terrain and the posts are mostly laying down. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0D0D0D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0D0D0D'>With all the flood damage, it might actually be easier this year than doing the Middle Fork. Climbing over debris and downed trees can be really tiring. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0D0D0D'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:#0D0D0D'>AJ<o:p></o:p></span></p><div><div style='border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in'><p class=MsoNormal><b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'>From:</span></b><span style='font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Tahoma","sans-serif"'> cdt-l-bounces@backcountry.net [mailto:cdt-l-bounces@backcountry.net] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Doug Carlson<br><b>Sent:</b> Monday, January 20, 2014 1:03 AM<br><b>To:</b> cdt-l@backcountry.net<br><b>Subject:</b> [Cdt-l] CDTA Guide books- Remember them?<o:p></o:p></span></p></div></div><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>CDTA- such nice memories!! I was a supporting member for a few years. I am looking at my CDTA Official Guide book for NM this evening. The route they have in the Guide completely bypasses the Gila River system and Doc Campbells store. I think the official route still does but does anyone use that "official" route and has it been changed a lot since the guide books came out?<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And does anyone use those the CDTA Guide books any more? They sure do have nice pictures.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>-Trew <o:p></o:p></p></div></body></html>