Apache Kid Wilderness, Cibola National Forest, NM, NM

Dates

Jul 11th - Jul 17th 2010

Service Project

Logging out down aspen from trails

Free Days

Day hikes to area peaks, Apache Kid gravesite, wildlife viewing, relaxing

Accommodations

Backpack camping

Trip Rating

Strenuous : 3 mile backpack, sawing, digging, lifting

Leaders

Bill Koenig
Sue Koenig

Equipment

The Apache Kid Wilderness, named after a rebellious Apache fighting against white settlers in the late 1800s, is located in west central New Mexico amongst the San Mateo Mountains and is managed by the Cibola National Forest. The United States Congress designated its 44,626 acres as wilderness in 1980.

Angered by his relentless raids, local ranchers hunted down and supposedly killed the Apache Kid on these grounds in the 1890s. To mark the site of the Kid's undoing, the vengeful posse blazed a tree, the hacked remains of which you can see to this day. No one knows for sure if the man killed was the Kid, as rumored sightings of him were reported well into the 20th century.

Narrow, steep canyons bisect the peaks of the southern San Mateo Mountains, where elevations exceed 10,000 feet. The vegetation is typical of the region, with pinion-juniper woodland at lower elevations, spruce and fir and aspen at the higher elevations, and ponderosa pine in between. Human visitors are few, but wildlife can be seen making their way across this rugged terrain range from Coue's white-tailed deer and mule deer to elk, black bears, bobcats, cougars, antelope, javelina, coyotes, rabbits, squirrels, and quail.

Our service project begins with a short 3-4 mile backpack with elevation gain of approximately 1500' to establish a back country camp around 8500'. The Forest Service will provide pack animals to support hauling tools, group food and kitchen gear. From camp, we'll hike daily to areas affected by a huge 1994 wildfire that burned much of the wilderness, including dense aspen stands in the higher elevations. We'll use cross-cut, 2-person hand saws to cut fallen trees from across the trail and open up the trail corridor. Since the fire, hiker access has been limited deeper into the wilderness, so you will be performing a much-needed service.