Whitewater Fire

[PrestonSands]

The Whitewater Canyon and Whitewater Baldy area of New Mexico's Gila Wilderness is on fire.

( dead link removed )

>> > Whitewater Bald Complex Perimeter Map

[Jim]

http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOC ... 388709.pdf

Virtually the entire forest has reopened, but most western side trails are not, oddly enough. But, the area I know and like best is open. Anyone planning a trip to the central pine regions? I'm really curious to know what that area looks like after a weak monsoon season.

[whereveriroam]

All trails that had remained closed from this destructive fire will reopen on 8/9/13. Don't expect to have any shade or see many living trees if you go.

[Jim]

http://swfireconsortium.org/wp-content/ ... -sheet.pdf

A little light reading material.

Together
the Miller and WWB fires treated more than 330,000
acres of mainly ponderosa pine and mixed conifer
forests with moderate to low severity fire.

[RedRoxx44]

I have planned to do a short backpack over the fourth of July from the west side. My understanding is most of the southern west side trails will no longer be maintained by the FS.

[Jim]

Well, that won't be much of a change from how I found things in May of 2010. Down trees everywhere, and no signs of trail maintenance for a long time. Rotted signs made it harder.