username
X
password
register
for free!
help
ArticlesGuidesRoutes
 
Photosets
 
 Comments
triplogs   photosets   labels comments more
4 triplogs
login for filter options
Jul 05 2023
avatar

 Guides 1
 Routes 136
 Photos 22,415
 Triplogs 1,041

77 male
 Joined Feb 28 2003
 Tucson, AZ
Little Walnut Peak ParkSouthwest, NM
Southwest, NM
Hiking avatar Jul 05 2023
rwstormTriplogs 1,041
Hiking4.10 Miles 873 AEG
Hiking4.10 Miles   3 Hrs   32 Mns   1.47 mph
873 ft AEG      45 Mns Break
 
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Silver City for 4th of July Fireworks!
This was a really quick and spartan trip. Total miles driven: 432, total time away from home: 28.5 hours. No ice chest full of cold beverages and no camera, just my cell phone. I had 3 goals for this trip: fireworks, hike Gomez Peak, and grab a meal at Jalisco Cafe. I accomplished 2 out of 3. I didn't get to eat at Jalisco, as they were closed on both the 4th and 5th. Not a problem.

While driving around in the hills on the east side of town looking for an alternative to Mountain View Road for the fireworks, I came across the boarded up and abandoned old house that was once the El Paisano Mexican Restaurant. I discovered it on a trip over there with my Mom in the late 1980s. Had to work to find it, as it was in a neighborhood not on any roads anyone but the locals would know. :lol: Turns out it was great and I would enjoy meals there on occasion through the 1990s. I think they closed for good like about 20+ years ago. The same family ran the Mi Casita Restaurant nearby, and they are still in operation (also a little tricky to find). Their reviews are good, so if you are in Silver City and want an alternative to the well known Jalisco, check them out.
So many great memories over the years in Silver City! :D

Stayed at the Murray Hotel downtown in a nice 4th floor room (#425). Dinner and a couple hours to kill before pyrotechnic time at the always reliable Little Toad. :) Next morning checked out of the hotel early and headed up to Little Walnut for the hike. The heat is on, so I didn't want to fool around with that. As soon as I got done with the hike, I headed downtown to hopefully get a meal Jalisco, but they were closed. One of my fall back choices is Forrest Pizza, and I got there about noon, and was able to get my order in for a pizza to go before the place got busy. Tiny place and very popular with locals.

So, my pizza and I left Silver City for the drive back to blast furnace hot Tucson. The trip back was pretty mellow until around the Marsh Station/Cienega Creek section of I-10. I usually watch the traffic flow pretty close, since I am driving an older vehicle and like to do the speed limit plus maybe about 5, which of course is not nearly enough for the maniacs on the road these days. I also like to work with the truckers and give them as many breaks as possible, knowing how tough it is for them to maintain speed in variable terrain. So, when I see a parade of the hotshots zooming up, I just slow it down and let them go by and when they do, I might make a passing move to avoid the stressful high speed tailgating game. Anyway, I was staying behind a big rig while the fast pack was zooming by, and all of a sudden I see big chunks of rubber from a blown tire flying in the air. Then I heard a crash (couldn't see what happened because the truck blocked my view initially. This was about 200 feet ahead of me, then I saw this vehicle tumbling over and over off the fast lane into the medium in a cloud of dust and debris! :o I was hoping nothing was going to fly toward me in my lane, and luckily that didn't happen. :sweat: That was scary, but I got home unscathed, so the trip had a happy ending.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Isolated
_____________________
  2 archives
May 31 2023
avatar

 Guides 3
 Routes 569
 Photos 11,976
 Triplogs 1,634

50 female
 Joined Sep 18 2009
 Tucson, AZ
Little Walnut Peak ParkSouthwest, NM
Southwest, NM
Hiking avatar May 31 2023
GrottoGirlTriplogs 1,634
Hiking3.84 Miles 849 AEG
Hiking3.84 Miles   1 Hour   43 Mns   2.45 mph
849 ft AEG      9 Mns Break
 
no photosets
1st trip
Linked   none no linked trail guides
Partners none no partners
Route Scout Route Recorded  on Route Scout | Pop | Map | Popup | MapDEX
The peak hike from Little Walnut that we did is Gomez peak. This is a trail system so you want a map to plan your hike. Piñon and oak forest.
_____________________
 
Oct 14 2020
avatar

 Guides 44
 Routes 162
 Photos 24,766
 Triplogs 2,411

75 male
 Joined May 04 2004
 Mesa, AZ
Little Walnut Gomez Peak Medley, NM 
Little Walnut Gomez Peak Medley, NM
 
Hiking avatar Oct 14 2020
CannondaleKidTriplogs 2,411
Hiking7.20 Miles 1,553 AEG
Hiking7.20 Miles   4 Hrs   11 Mns   1.81 mph
1,553 ft AEG      12 Mns Break18 LBS Pack
 no routes
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Partners partners
trixiec
2020 New Mexico trip Hike #2
After arriving later than expected yesterday (forgot the one-hour time change) we figured we'd start with something requiring little-to-no planning and something we could extend the distance depending on the conditions, of the trail and our own physical condition.

So first up was the Little Walnut Day Use Picnic Area which sports numerous trails with a number of intersecting loops. While the picnic area is closed due to Covid-19 the trails are open.

A quick look at the map at the trailhead proved to be of no help because part of the map was missing and the rest was faded. But no matter, we saw a trail and simply set off for an unknown adventure. I had a track which had been posted on HAZ but almost right away we realized a good deal of it was not on designated trails so we simply ignored it and whenever we came to an intersection we decided whether to go left, right or in some cases, straight ahead.

While the trails are named on the map, each trail was numbered and our route ended up following Trail 1, 5, 6, 7, 8, 4, 9, 11, 12 & 14. Only later in the evening when I found a map of the area did we realize the names of trails we hiked, which corresponded to part of Pinon Loop, Angel Loop, Gomez Peak, Dragon Trail, Mountain Loop, Wagon Wheel Loop and finally Picnic Loop.

The 'back' end of the day-use area featured trails connecting to the Continental Divide Trail which passed by less than a half-mile from where the Wagon Wheel trail followed the actual Continental Divide. All the connector trails appeared to get extensive use by mountain bikers. And yes, as I mentioned in our Burro Peak triplog, we really did wish we had brought our bikes along.... we had given it a fleeting thought but figured we'd have more than enough to do in the time we had.

Although a morning during the week, we were a bit surprised we only encountered two other hikers over 4+ hours. Ok, so we SAW two more hikers but they were on a trail below us. All appeared to be in their 20's.

Compared to our Burro Peak hike yesterday, the only real workout today was the climb to the summit of Gomez Peak. The last 150 feet of elevation was one tall step after another, one rock up to the next, the result of which was pure agony for my right knee. I ALMOST thought of cutting the hike short then and there but thankfully Tracey said 'let's continue slowly and see how it goes' and once were on flatter ground the scenery grabbed my attention and I never gave the knee another thought the balance of the hike.
 Fauna
 Fauna [ checklist ]
[ checklist ]  Mule Deer
_____________________
CannondaleKid
 
May 26 2017
avatar

 Routes 189
 Photos 7,244
 Triplogs 1,742

57 male
 Joined Apr 25 2011
 Goodyear, AZ
Gomez Peak Loop Little Walnut, NM 
Gomez Peak Loop Little Walnut, NM
 
Hiking avatar May 26 2017
NightstalkerTriplogs 1,742
Hiking4.92 Miles 1,059 AEG
Hiking4.92 Miles   2 Hrs   17 Mns   2.57 mph
1,059 ft AEG      22 Mns Break8 LBS Pack
 
1st trip
Linked   linked  
Partners none no partners
I was staying at the Silver City KOA and decided to go explore the Little Walnut trail system just north of town. I had picked up a trail map from the Gila National Forest Visitor Center and had planned on hiking the Pinon, Angel, Gomez Peak, and Dragon trails. Park looks brand new and has a big parking area and pit toilets nearby.

I had a late 8am start and the sun was already beating down. Trail map in hand, Route Scout logging, and Garmin GPS 62 recording I set off through the green steel gate just west of the parking lot. It wasn't far before I was lost among a maze of social trails not listed on the map. Off my intended route, I followed a rocky, gnarly, trail straight up the side of Gomez Peak. I popped out on a trail I figured to be Angel and comparing the topo from Route Scout with the topo on the printed map, determined my location and headed north towards Gomez Peak trail. I was surprised to find a marker at the intersection of Angel and Gomez, the first I had seen. I continued my trek up Gomez to the peak to find a makeshift rock shelter and great views of the Arenas valley below.

Now that I was back on track and figuring out Little Walnut Trail System markers I dropped off Gomez Peak to Angel and jumped onto Dragon as I had originally intended. Dragon was a little grown over but easy enough to follow. Took Dragon to Pinon loop and continued back toward the trail head. It was this section where the maze of social trails made navigation difficult. I could see why AZHiker456 went cross country on her peak bagging trek through the area.

Fun loop close to town with some good elevation gain. I was lucky enough to spot a good sized horned toad and a short skinny snake on the Dragon trail.
wildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observationwildflower observation
Wildflowers Observation Light
Century plants were in bloom and prickly pear almost ready.
_____________________
 
average hiking speed 2.07 mph

WARNING! Hiking and outdoor related sports can be dangerous. Be responsible and prepare for the trip. Study the area you are entering and plan accordingly. Dress for the current and unexpected weather changes. Take plenty of water. Never go alone. Make an itinerary with your plan(s), route(s), destination(s) and expected return time. Give your itinerary to trusted family and/or friends.

helpcommentissue

end of page marker