Thursday, May 17, 2007

Sawyers Peak

NEAR SAWYERS PEAK, GILA NATIONAL FOREST, NM. May 17, 2007, Day 11. Rode 17 miles. Erin headed north this AM and noted that the geography did not match where she thought she was. The very recognizable landmark of Thompson Cone was on the west of the trail; it was supposed to be on the east. She determined that she had turned up Pine Flat Canyon instead of continuing up Berrenda Canyon. The trails are often difficult to distinguish. Instead of doubling back, she bushwacked north (very rough going). She found a lucky horse shoe which encouraged her to push on until she intersected Forest Service Rd 886 and turned west until she intersected the main trail. She was reassured by a carved inscription on a post "CDT" (continental divide trail) and some pink marking tape. Back on the main trail she travelled north (towards Canada) along the high ridge of the Mimbres Mountains to the east of Sawyers Mountain (elevation 9600 ft) eventually camping at 9100 ft along the trail.

http://www2.srs.fs.fed.us/r3/gila/recreation/rechikedet.asp?ID=3