G.E.T. Guidebook

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Segment 24: Black Range Crest  15.5 miles

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Segment Length	from PHX	to ABQ	Segment Status	Season
15.5 mi.	420		finalized & accessible	spring, summer, fall
Resources
OVERVIEW MAP ELEVATION PROFILE G.E.T. Topo Maps 64-65 Town Guide: Chloride / Winston Water Chart Image Gallery: Album 7				Additional maps: Gila National Forest (USFS) visit PLIC website Land management agencies: Gila NF Black Range Ranger District: (575) 894-6677

PLEASE NOTE: THIS CHAPTER REMAINS UNFINISHED. SEGMENT OVERVIEW AND ROUTE DETAILS INFO BELOW ARE IN DRAFT FORM AND HIGHLIGHT ONLY THE ESSENTIALS NEEDED FOR NAVIGATING THIS SEGMENT IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE TOPO MAP SET.

SEGMENT OVERVIEW

This is the first of three segments (eastbound / northbound) to utilize the official route of the Continental Divide Trail along the Black Range Crest - rarely seen by CDT hikers since most follow Gila River corridor (CDT Society route) due to perceived water advantages and easier terrain there. Yet while water is certainly less abundant along or near the Continental Divide in this stretch, it is more available than conventional wisdom might have one believe. And while the terrain is indeed challenging in some respects - some of the old burn areas continue to feature occasional blowdowns, vague trail, and poor signing - there are other areas here and in the next two segments that are in great shape, with smooth, contouring tread offering many miles of fine walking. Much of the terrain here is located within the Aldo Leopold Wilderness - a fitting tribute, so named, to the preeminent conservationist who fought to preserve this region as part of the first Congressionally-designated Wilderness. Solitude remains a frequent companion throughout.

This segment starts near 9800-foot Diamond Peak and for the first 10 miles tours the prominent crest of the Black Range, so called for its historically deep and darkly forested network of ridges and canyons, complex and elongated in their reach above the surrounding desert. Multiple lightning fires, particularly in the 1990's, have burned many square miles of the Black Range, in many cases quite severely, lending their appellation a certain irony now. The fires affected much, though by no means all, of the initial 10 miles of this segment. With the exception of a mile or so around Fisherman's Bluff - quite vague but passable with care - the trail itself has been rehabilited or otherwise is not heavily impacted, save for the occasional sun-bleached and fire-hardended tree trunk that continues to topple during a windstorm. Not surprisingly, New Mexico locust and other sun-loving briars make their trailside presence known here and there, but so do the young, pioneering aspens, now setting whole mountainsides ablaze once more with their autumn color, reminding us of nature's cycle of renewal. (Abundant wild raspberries have become another autumnal highlight.) And the views, in the absence of tall and shady timber, now extend unobstructed for miles untold.

Water is often available at Diamond Peak Spring, though this source is small, fragile, and often difficult to collect from. Better prospects (in addition to the small creek in nearby Burnt Canyon in Segment 23) are to be found in the vicinity of Chloride Creek toward segment's end, with excellent camping available in the sheltering canyon forest here.

Lightning has always been a concern for travelers along the Black Range Crest, now more than ever due to the added exposure here. Monsoon-style storms occur regularly during afternoons in July and August, though hikers would be well advised to keep an eye to the skies any time weather may be building. (Several side trails leading off the crest are available if needed). Hikers in springtime more often may encounter snow, in the form of remnant snowpack, though this is typically of minimal depth and coverage by the time thru-hikers arrive in mid or late April - usually limited to the area between Diamond Peak and Fisherman's Bluff.

ROUTE DETAILS

Good trail (CDT / Trail 74) leads up along the main ridge south of Diamond Peak, but becomes rougher as ridge turns more northeasterly, entering some burned terrain. Summit of 9800 foot peak itself spared the burn; camping possible alongside trail among spruce/fir in the vicinity; former summit fire tower site just off trail, with commanding views east including Rio Grande Valley, San Mateo Mountains (Seg 28-29), and distant Tularosa Mountains.

Diamond Peak Spring located at edge of burn area within first couple of switchbacks as CDT descends east. Spring is often just a wet spot in the eroding hillside and may require effort to fill a water bottle without filtering it up; be careful not to damage this fragile source. Layout of switchbacks not definitive; several intersecting options available, but just be sure to avoid unsigned Trail 67, which would head northwest if evident at all. CDT becomes better defined again as it turns north. Enters severe burn here but trail was rehabilitated earlier this decade; tread is generally good, with just occasional blowdowns and some thorny growth to around MP 4.4, beyond which begins a short stretch that was maintained in summer 2009. In general, layout of trail is excellent - easy going contours, with great views.

Where trail crosses small wooden bridge over minor drainage near 4.9, listen for any water among the rocks, sometimes visible or you might be able to fish for it - this drainage is surprisingly reliable, albeit quite marginal to collect from. (In an emergency, Fisherman's Canyon / Diamond Creek would be presumed to have some water within a mile or two of the Divide.)

CDT becomes rough slabbing along west side of prominent Fisherman's Bluff, then all but disappears on flat moonscape-like expanse just north of bluff. Easy routefinding explanation is "just follow downed fenceline all the way to point 9204 per the map," though the fenceline isn't always evident. Ergo, longer explanation follows: Head east-northeast at first, then as standing dead timber lessens and terrain becomes more open, look for makeshift cairns and some vague tread. Easterly jog near "de" in "Divide" on topo map easy to miss - heads through tunnel of young aspen here - then becomes more evident as it turns north and drops to saddle on ridge. A broken-down barbed wire fenceline is often visible just east of the trail where near the word "Divide" on the map. (Westbounders, climb south from the saddle south of point 9204 on map. Leveling out, keep old wire fenceline - if evident - on left. Jog west to follow vague trail through young aspen tunnel, then turn south again back in the open. Look for cairns and some vague tread. Easy to lose again as standing dead timber thickens at southwest edge of mesa just north of Fisherman's Bluff, but poke around here for more obvious trail which soon slabs south along western slope below bluff.)

Trail improves north of point 9204 on topo map, though occasional nuisance blowdowns remain. Wild raspberries sometimes abundant in this area during autumn. Junctions with mapped side trails off CDT either not evident or not confusing. However, note that CDT Trail 74 joins Caledonia Trail 42 at signed junction at 9.0. Eastbounders turn sharp right (westbounders turn left - watch for signboard on tree to your left and don't continue straight on Trail 42). (Any water in Turkey Run, as postulated on the topo map, is just that, and has not yet been confirmed firsthand.)

Approaching 10.1 the CDT descends an exposed slope via well-graded switchbacks on reestablished / relocated tread, leaving physical Divide as well as the Aldo Leopold Wilderness. (Circa 2009 trail maintenance begins anew here, and continues northward through the end of this segment and beyond, all the way to Wahoo Peak area in Segment 26.) The trail then turns north alongside a prominent drainage, by and by leaving the burned terrain behind. (Westbounders, the CDT turns sharp right at 10.1, climbing out of the drainage via switchbacks. Don't continue straight on unsigned/overgrown continuation of trail in drainage.) You may well find flowing water in the vicinity of an old homestead along the trail - only a stone hearth remains now. Both water and camping prospects continue to improve heading down the well-forested, flat-floored canyon; plan to tank up here, rather than in the canyon of Chloride Creek just ahead, which is somewhat less reliable. (The two canyons merge not far below the trail.)

The CDT reaches dirt 4WD FR 226 at signed trailhead for Caledonia Trail at 12.1. Here the route of the CDT turns left (west) along the road. (Heading the other way along FR 226 would lead to the near ghost towns of Chloride in 12 miles, and Winston in 15. The rough road descends 2000 vertical feet en route to Chloride and receives virtually no vehicle use save for the odd weekend OHV. Chloride Creek is nearby at times, and seems to be perennial in places. Please note: Monument Park Cabin, shown on the topo map, administered by the USFS, is locked and unavailable.)

Cresting the physical Divide once more, FR 226 drops west a bit then reaches a signed CDT trailhead on the right (north) at 13.8, from which singletrack trail diverges. The trail soon contours along a forested slope above Seventy Four Draw, then descends into this drainage. Just before it does so, ignore another trail that climbs away at right (east) at an unmarked junction. (Westbounders, remain on the contouring trail along the southeast side of Seventy Four Draw and ignore the unsigned trail that forks left, climbing.) Continue on singletrack up the pretty, park-like floor of the drainage, with ample dry camping opportunities. The CDT then slabs uphill on a closed forest road to reach FR 226A at segment's end, 15.5.

Segment 23

Segment 25