May 27 - 30, 2011

Due to extreme drought conditions in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness and the restrictions currently in place, I've been forced to change to Plan B. That means we'll be going to the Blue Range Primitive Area here in Arizona. We'll be hiking just to the east and southeast of Hannagan Meadow. Please contact the guide, using the form below, for more information on the Plan B trip. Thanks!

New Mexico's Aldo Leopold Wilderness is an enormous tract of land encompassing steep rugged mountains, dense brush, deep canyons, broad mesas, and rushing mountain streams. For several years, I've gone with a group of friends to New Mexico for a Memorial Day backpacking trip. In the past, we've gone into the Gila Wilderness. This year, I thought we'd change things up a bit and try the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. This is your chance to see that wilderness for yourself.

The Plan

We'll drive to New Mexico very early on Friday morning, May 27th. Along the way to the trailhead, we'll pass through Silver City and the tiny settlement of Mimbres. We'll stop at the Mimbres Ranger Station to check the weather, road, and water situation. From there, we'll drive a bit north then turn onto Forest Road 152 (McKnight Road) and drive for 15 miles to the trailhead. The first 8 miles of the road is maintained gravel, the last seven miles is "steep and rocky, with hairpin turns." This trip is going to require 4WD vehicles. It may be doable in a Subaru. It's going to be slow-going on this road, and may take an hour to get to the trailhead.

After the drive, we have a four-point-four mile hike along the Mimbres Crest Trail 79 to get to Mimbres Lake, but we should still have plenty of time. Along the way, we'll hike up and over the high point of the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. At 10,165 feet, grass-topped McKnight Mountain surely deserves a visit. This mileage includes a one-mile round-trip trek to Ridge Spring, our probable water source for the night. Ridge Spring is accessed via an unsigned trail to the west, spotted by watching for log cuts and an opening in the old stock fence. The spring is 0.5 miles downhill from the trail.

On Saturday, we'll pack up and head off to Reeds Peak, our second night's campsite. We'll pass by our return trail (Middle Fork Mimbres Trail 78), unreliable Willow Spring and the hopefully flowing Newman Spring. We'll stop there for water, if the spring is running. Soon after passing Newman Spring, we'll reach the junction with the North Fork Mimbres Trail 77, which we'll be taking in the morning. Continue past the junction for just over a half-mile, and we should find a trail branching to the right. That trail leads to Reeds Peak, the highest point on the Continental Divide in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness at 10,011 feet. We'll stay in and around the lookout tower and cabin for the night. If we weren't able to find water at Newman Spring, another good possibility is Squeaky Spring, about 0.6 miles to the north.

Sunday will dawn with a mostly-downhill hike before us. We'll head back down the Mimbres Crest Trail 79 until we reach the North Fork Mimbres Trail 77 branching off to the right. We'll take that right-hand turn and head down to the Mimbres River. After four-and-a-half miles, we'll reach the Forks, where the North and South Forks of the Mimbres River converge. There's also another trail junction here. This is where the west end of the Middle Fork Mimbres Trail 78 meets Trail 77. This time, we'll turn left and hike up the South Fork for two-point-six miles, and 1,000 feet, to our last campsite near the South Fork 78 / Middle Fork 77 Trail Jct.

After a relaxing evening in camp, we'll arise early for the hike up to the Crest Trail 79, just under two miles away. Once we get up to the Crest Trail, we still have five miles of hiking and a few hundred feet of climbing ahead of us before we begin the drive home. We should be back in Tucson by late afternoon on Memorial Day, including a stop somewhere along the road for some good food.

This trip is planned for up to eight people, depending on the availability of 4WD vehicles. There should be plenty of room available at each campsite, and it's all free!*

You'll need food for three dinners, three breakfasts, and three lunches.

Water and Weather

There should be water at or near each of our campsites in the Wilderness. There is definitely water in the Mimbres River!

The weather in the Aldo Leopold Wilderness is ever-changing. We've had very sunny weekends in the Gila Wilderness off to the northwest, and we've had very wet weekends. Place your bets and take your chances. Your best bet is to plan for anything. At best, daytime highs will be in the low 80s with lows in the high 40s. Remember, however, that our first campsite is at 9,800 feet and the next is at 10,011 feet. That particular campsite can be cold, although we'll have a cabin to use there. Our last campsite is at 8,800 feet and is somewhat sheltered, so may be a bit warmer. Plan accordingly.

The Hike

day	miles	elev gain	destination
Friday	0.0 / 0.0	0 ft / 0 ft	Black Range Crest Trailhead
Friday	2.4 / 2.4	650 ft / 650 ft	McKnight Mountain
Friday	1.0 / 3.4	-200 ft / 650 ft	Ridge Spring trail
Saturday	1.6 / 5.0	-400 ft / 650 ft	Middle Fork Mimbres Trail 78 Jct
Saturday	5.0 / 10.0	500 ft / 1150 ft	Newman Spring
Saturday	1.7 / 11.7	600 ft / 1750 ft	Reeds Peak
Sunday	1.0 / 12.7	-600 ft / 1750 ft	North Fork Mimbres Trail 77 Jct
Sunday	4.5 / 17.2	-1800 ft / 1750 ft	Mimbres River Forks
Sunday	1.7 / 18.9	600 ft / 2350 ft	South Fork Trail 78 bends south
Sunday	0.9 / 19.8	400 ft / 2750 ft	South Fork 78 / Middle Fork Trail 77 Jct; campsites
Monday	1.9 / 21.7	650 ft / 3400 ft	Black Range Crest Trail 79 Jct
Monday	0.6 / 22.3	700 ft / 4100 ft	Mimbres Lake
Monday	2.0 / 24.3	400 ft / 4500 ft	Trail to McKnight Mountain
Monday	2.4 / 26.6	-500 ft / 4500 ft	Black Range Crest Trail 79 Trailhead

 

* There are no fees for camping in the National Forest. Participants are expected to pay their share of gas and all other group expenses.