Old Mail Trail - Young to Gisela

[hikeaz]

I'd like to backpack the Old Mail Trail from Young to Gisela next spring (or maybe this fall). I was wondering is anyone else has any genuine interest in joining me. It's one hell of a shuttle, but the area looks rife with cowboy and mining history as well as some prehistoric ruins as well.
It's roughly 25 miles (likely less) depending on how far in we drive on the Young side.
http://www.paysonroundup.com/news/2003/ ... _like_this

[JimmyLyding]

That junkyard full of old bikes and lawnmowers is visible on satellite imagery

[Alston_Neal]

I went to GE, neat area.
Nfr #134?
The article was pretty nice, thanks for the link.

[Sredfield]

I'm game. Car tricks are my speciality.

[PrestonSands]

I'm interested.

[rattlesnakewillie]

Sounds interesting. Does the trail go through Gallups?

[ssk44]

To the best of my knowledge, the original pack trail segment of the Old Mail Trail begins just southeast of Gisela and ends at Brushy Tank along FR134. Everything beyond that are jeep trails and forest roads that I am personally very familiar with. The original pack trail could go further, however it is not reflected on USGS topo maps. The one-way stats for the segment I've described are 5.0 miles in length, 1,825 vertical feet, and 2,175 total elevation gain (see maps x2). Whomever is lucky enough to be doing the shuttle on the upper end better have a decent high-clearance 4x4 with heavy duty tires and preferably a rear locker. The rear locker is not mandatory, but will definitely help. Reaching FR134/Brushy Tank is accessed from FR894/Seventy Six Ranch (see Fred Pranty Cabin for more info). Not to discourage your trip, but the old pack trail will likely be invisible along most of the hike and only exist on your map and GPS. Plan on a mostly off-trail hike.

I visited the location called Gallups during my Fred Pranty Cabin trip. The hike down into the area is a nasty bushwhack and from what I could see, there is nothing there. It's basically a lush spot on Gun Creek with lots of sycamores. I rooted around the thick vegetation for remnants of structures or foundations and found nothing. I was there in July so my patients were growing thin from the heat. I spent about fifteen minutes looking around before aborting. There must be something down there, however I couldn't find anything to hint as to its original purpose.

I hope that this info is helpfull to you guys. I may join you!

Old Mail Trail Map #1

Old Mail Trail Map #2

[hikeaz]

To the best of my knowledge, the original pack trail segment of the Old Mail Trail begins just southeast of Gisela and ends at Brushy Tank along FR134. Everything beyond that are jeep trails and forest roads that I am personally very familiar with. The original pack trail could go further, however it is not reflected on USGS topo maps. The one-way stats for the segment I've described are 5.0 miles in length, 1,825 vertical feet, and 2,175 total elevation gain (see maps x2). Whomever is lucky enough to be doing the shuttle on the upper end better have a decent high-clearance 4x4 with heavy duty tires and preferably a rear locker. The rear locker is not mandatory, but will definitely help. Reaching FR134/Brushy Tank is accessed from FR894/Seventy Six Ranch (see Fred Pranty Cabin for more info). Not to discourage your trip, but the old pack trail will likely be invisible along most of the hike and only exist on your map and GPS. Plan on a mostly off-trail hike.

I visited the location called Gallups during my Fred Pranty Cabin trip. The hike down into the area is a nasty bushwhack and from what I could see, there is nothing there. It's basically a lush spot on Gun Creek with lots of sycamores. I rooted around the thick vegetation for remnants of structures or foundations and found nothing. I was there in July so my patients were growing thin from the heat. I spent about fifteen minutes looking around before aborting. There must be something down there, however I couldn't find anything to hint as to its original purpose.
I hope that this info is helpfull to you guys. I may join you!

Old Mail Trail 1.jpg

Old Mail Trail 2.jpg

Thanks -
So, since you have been in most of this area; ....re. FR 134 from the YOUNG side - How far in is 134 'driveble' past the 'Flying W'? (Or does 134 go all the way through to Young from Coffeepot Rd. ?)
When i figured the 25 miles, that was figured almost all the way into Young (not knowing what sort of chase (2nd) vehicle we'd have I planned for the worst - I have a a 4x4, rear locker with MT/R's.)

[ssk44]

@hikeaz
I have not driven FR134 east beyond the turn to Fred Pranty Cabin. My 2004 Tonto NF map shows FR134 changing to FR938, west of Flying W Ranch. That may be a mistake (FYI). FR134 does go through from Flying W Ranch to Tonto Basin, however I am suspicious that there may be access issues at the ranch. I have considered reaching Fred Pranty Cabin from that ranch. Original USGS topo maps show a bypass around the ranch, however some current maps like the My Topo overlay on HAZ show a standard Locked Gate symbol directly above the creek drainage. Reaching the ranch should not be a problem with two-wheel drive. Beyond the ranch, FR134 becomes a primitive jeep trail that can be nearly impassable when wet. Mud is the only issue on that road. It's actually a decent road from that end. Things turn ugly beyond Soldier Camp Creek, heading towards Seventy Six Ranch (Tonto Basin).

Flying W Ranch.jpg

[ssk44]

@hikeaz
FYI, you were asking me about the USGS Box location along Tonto Creek near the Old Mail Trail. You may or may not have seen this, but Preston has a cool photo showing that location... http://hikearizona.com/photo.php?ZIP=29533

[hikeaz]

Thanks!
When you say 'east beyond the turn to Fred Pranty Cabin'; do you mean the intersection just south of Header Tank?
My 'revised 1985' Tonto NF map shows a 'Trail 49' heading west from Flying W.

[ssk44]

When you say 'east beyond the turn to Fred Pranty Cabin'; do you mean the intersection just south of Header Tank?

Yes...

Also, my 2004 Tonto NF map does not show a TR49 heading west from Flying W Ranch.