Sorry, but this is a rant. I don't think those hiker's meant any harm by their comments. (they should have brought Ranger Rick with them). The fire was a tragedy in that the fire lookout is now toast, our pine forest has experienced a serious setback, and thousands of animals (mostly small) died in ...

I spent Memorial weekend in Kingston, NM and hiked the Crest trail to Hillsboro peak. The winds in the high country that day were very high (50+ at times). Made me wonder just what was happening over in the Gila. The smoke pouring off the western Gila (Upper Whitewater?) was tremendous, so much so, ...

Good guide book: Hiking New Mexico's Gila Wilderness (Falcon press)...worth the $. Prior cabin is mid-mesa north of Hell's Hole, the guide mentions a spring there. I have not been there. My experience in the river area is the May should be fine, this has been a particularly wet and snowy winter in t...