It was nice working at the dorms instead of car camping in Silver City to be near service. All thanks to Starlink! I enjoyed the Gila on breaks from computer work and my day job. I was lucky enough to catch the LightFeather Hot Spring, not far from the dorms in solitude twice during my day job work week. I enjoyed soaking in the water and sun. There’s something truly magical about soaking in warm water under the open sky, surrounded by nothing but the sounds of nature.
My trip this week took me to the East Fork on the first night. One of my missions on the first day was to check to see if a spring was flowing in a canyon just west of the North Mesa, near Whiterocks. I was warned that it may be the only water source for animals in the area and to beware of predators that may be down there hydrating, as it is not easy to give space in the canyon and it could lead to a confrontation. So naturally, I was hesitant about that water check. As I came close to the place on trail where I needed to start exploring, I noticed water already on the trail. It was still and muddy, but a good sign! As I started my way off trail into the canyon, I saw more and more pools of water which started clearing up, and lots of animal bones.
I let my imagination get to me about all the mountain lions down there waiting for prey in search of water. I decided to check this area off as having water and head back to the trail. I saw the Whiterocks and cement canyons along the way. The landscape was very diverse from what I had seen so far.
Camp for the night was near House Spring. There was a beautiful waterfall surrounded by a small but lush jungle oasis. The following morning, I reversed my path from yesterday, so it was easy hiking for the most part. I saw some trails going off in the cement canyons and wanted to explore more but kept to my planned itinerary.
I was trying out some new trail food, and although I was super happy with the food choices, the packaging and amount I brought was too much, and was feeling my heavy pack. After checking Antelope Tank, I ended up at an old corral unexpectedly and realized I missed a turn. I did not see a footpath past the corral but according to my maps, I would come across another trail soon. I tried to navigate to it but ended up off-trail hiking for a while and following the direction my compass pointed me until finally, I intersected with a trail. The trail was easy to keep after that, except when I accidentally followed a trail to a backcountry camp. The camp was covered in bones and, like always, I told myself scary stories about how they got there. Is it even fun being in the wilderness alone if you aren’t at least a little bit freaked out? I noted to myself that I had been seeing a lot more animal bones than I had on any other trip (more than all my trips combined even) and it felt like it was a prelude to something….
I was on the lookout for trash. There had been reports of trash in the area, so I was prepared to bag up a lot of trash and most likely send coordinates so someone could come out with horses and pick it up. And boy did I find some trash! There was a propane tank, three broken lawn chairs, a window or small door of some sort, multiple plastic bins, and a slew of random trash. How did people get all this out here?!?
As I was thinking scary thoughts of bones and freaking myself out, it started raining. I had eaten through all my easy- to-access hip pocket snacks, so I stopped and put my minimalist shelter up to wait it out and re-stock my snacks. I snacked and chilled for about 30 minutes and got back on the trail after the shower passed. It was another mile or so to Cassidy Spring, where I set up camp. I would keep camp there for two nights and go on a long loop up Black Mountain the next day and end back at camp.
I enjoyed my time at camp and really felt the solitude. It was much less buggy than it had been, and it was super sunny out. I relaxed on the rocks near the camp and did some sunbathing… sans clothes.
Some of the new foods I packed out this trip included spicy honey and sunflower seed butter for wraps and green juice powder. All was on point! I just needed to figure out how much I needed and pack it in smaller and lighter containers.
My next day was the most jarring day I had in the wilderness that summer. I was so thankful I did not have my full pack for the day and came back to a set camp and an easy night of chores.
The first spook of the day came at Sam Martin Spring. When I was planning my trip, I had to decide between making my two-night camp near Cassidy or Sam Martin Spring. And let me tell you, I was so thankful I had not hiked later into the day the previous day to find what I found at Sam Martin and then have to figure out where to make camp. As I was nearing the area near the spring I was intently looking at my map. I was trying to decide if I should hop in a probably dry creek bed coming up and follow it to the spring or stay on the trail. I had never been here before and was not sure how hard it would be to spot from the trail. I kept hearing noises and would jump a little as I realized it was birds flying overhead. And then I started noticing huge piles of poop. Huge! And a terrible smell!! I just thought it was stinky poo. I navigated myself around the poo and into the creek bed. And oh God!! – a grisly scene of fresh meat and bones, a stark reminder of the harsh realities of nature. The hair and skin were mostly gone but there was still lots of flesh on the hind of a deer or an elk. I did not wait around to examine it closer; I jumped out of the creek bed and high-tailed it out of there. I messaged my partner on my inReach so he would have my coordinates in case anything happened, and I let him know I may be targeted after finding fresh kill. Thankfully – I never came across the hunter but I continued to see bones the entire trip. Shortly after I saw a leg of something on the trail, skin, fur, and all.
Just a leg lying along the trail. In hindsight, so many signs were there of what I was to find in the creek. The huge piles of poop were from a fresh meal, the birds overhead were gigantic vultures waiting on the scraps, and the smell was dead animal.
The morning events put a little pep in my step. I did not want to meet any predators protecting their kill. I summited Black Mountain earlier than I expected and thought to myself it should be a pretty early day as I just have a quick jaunt down the mountain now and swing back around to my camp at Cassidy.
But Jordan Canyon had different plans for me. For a long time, there was no trail to follow but plenty of blazes and cairns to help navigate without the constant need of wayfinding. This meant I had to keep my head up though and was constantly tripping over obstacles in my way. I nearly fell on my face many times, but thankfully caught myself each time. I was following a path in the bottom of the canyon and not the ridge, which is what the map showed. But I assumed it was right because there was a footpath that would disappear and emerge and blazes and cairns I would run into often.
I had the nagging feeling that I was on the verge of a storm and the hike down from the Black Mountain summit was now taking hours longer than I thought it would. My nerves were still a bit fried from my fresh meat encounter too. As I was walking along the bottom of the canyon – a noise jolted me and I screeched like a little girl. It was just a bird – a little harmless bird – and not a huge vulture this time. I finally made it back to the point on my loop that I had already hiked the previous day and I had a quiet moment of gratitude to myself. It was still about three miles to camp – but it was all familiar territory now. I started to hear thunder rumbling close by so I donned my cheap poncho and put my head down to finish hiking. I enjoyed some peace at camp, watched the setting sun peek through the clouds, all cleaned up and fed, waiting for things to dry before packing up for the night.
There were more bugs out this evening and they were really irritating. I thought to myself about my total dislike of bugs and pants. Two annoying things in my life. I also thought about the Keep It Wild document I read as part of my training to be out here. It talked about preserving the wilderness quality – one of which is its ability to keep you humble. I was really feeling this qualityright now. Thankful to be at camp after a hard and trying day. I also appreciated it. Soaking in the solitude and proud of myself for my ability to find my way and deal with obstacles as they arise. I thought about how I felt in the moment, being out here by myself was church to me. I had such a great sense of calmness, peace, and awe-inspiring existence out here. The trip back to the dorms went smoothly on my last day. The mileage was what I expected it to be. There was a little bit of wayfinding and navigation, but I was expecting it.
The river crossings coming back were higher and swifter than I had seen them, but I plunged through, ready to be back. It was the 4th of July and we had a party!
This leg of my journey was a whirlwind of unexpected challenges and exhilarating discoveries, reminding me of the raw beauty and untamed power ofthe wilderness. From navigating non- existing trails to confronting the harsh realities of nature, each moment was a testament to the resilience of the human spirit and the transformative power of adventure. As I journeyed deeper into the heart of the Gila Wilderness, I found myself humbled by the sheer magnitude of the landscape and inspired by the indomitable spirit of the wild. And though the trail ahead may be fraught with obstacles and uncertainties, I know that with each step, I am one step closer to unlocking the essence of the wilderness and discovering the untold wonders that await beyond the beaten path. So here’s to embracing the wild, forging ahead with courage and conviction, and never losing sight of the untamed beauty that lies within us all.