DESTINATION Latir Peak Wilderness Area Trails 1 Photoset
2013-07-08 | |
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| Backpack | 19.00 Miles |
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| | Backpack | 19.00 Miles | 2 Days 3 Hrs | | |
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| no partners | | I bought the wilderness map for this area a long time ago. I have a sizable map collection, and don't remember now why I got this map. Anyway, decided I would go here with the long weekend. Also good warmup trip for the high country trip coming up to the Winds or Uintahs'.
I have New Mexico TOPO so printed up some maps and did the long drive. The small wilderness supposedly has light use and has 3 of New Mexico's over 12K peaks in a close area. Also borders a Spanish Land Grant, Rio Costilla Cattle and Landowners Association, access can be had by getting a permit.
I car camped at Cabresto Lake, just outside of the wilderness area, and popular with fishermen.
I got an early start and was immediately pleased by the Lake Fork trail, good grade and along a wonderful stream with lush greenery and lots of little cascades, in a towering healthy forest.
I hadn't obtained a lot of pre-information or photos on the web so didn't have much expectation.
By the time I got to Heart Lake it seemed I was going to have some trouble with the elevation, which sometimes happens despite my best efforts ( hydration, ginko and or ginseng, etc). I set up my tent at the lovely small lake at 11,600 feet; took a nap, then wandered down a trail to Baldy cabin and to Baldy mtn and beyond. Storms started up so back at my tent I read as it rained. I was under a huge spruce type tree and the only drops I got on the tent were just drips from the huge branches on the tree.
After a poor night I still decided to go up on Latir Mesa, see how I felt and try to do my loop and see some of the peaks. A small dirty snow bank across the trail on the way up.
The top of the mesa is really great. It was very windy and hazy but I felt like I was on top of the world in this big open area. It's the alpine tundra, with it's tiny flowers and moss in odd areas. Due to snow and terrain the trail fades here but big cairns have been erected to help you find your way. It's kinda easy here as it is so open and not a huge area.
I looked down at the Latir Lakes on the Spanish Land Grant, there are no signs here but all the information and the maps clearly mark the private land.
I saw elk grazing far below, some sheep and like 20 marmots. The trail off the mesa was sort of exciting as it was rocky and narrow in spots on the sides of the peaks. The peaks are rounded and walk ups, no formal trail. I went up on an unnamed peak at 12,550 to get some views. Dropped my pack in the valley and trudged up Vernado at 12,734. The wind was really bad so I didn't stay long. I was too wimpy to go out of the way to try and get up Cabresto Peak so I turned and went down Bull Canyon, after going up the ridgeline past Cabresto on trail 88 for a ways.
Wow, the upper Bull Canyon trail is really steep. Nice forest though and for camping and just wandering around I liked this canyon very much. Since I was still not feeling good stopped early at the little lake in the upper canyon and set up camp. There had been other people at Heart Lake but I had this place to myself, and it showed no signs of much use.
Thunderstorms started up, keeping me in the tent a short while, then I was able to just wander around a bit.
The next morning out was just magical with meadows of flowers and the wonderful photogenic creek to distract you from the soft pine duff tread. Driving home I decided to take the scenic route deviating at Socorro to Reserve the down thru Mule Creek and a visit to Brian and Globe before I went home. Some great thunderstorms to drive thru, and a very pretty area around Aragon New Mexico. It was sad to see some of the burn on the mountains of the Gila. All in all a good trip and glad I had the time and made the drive. |
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