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

( dead link removed )

>> > Whitewater Bald Complex Perimeter Map

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.