New Mexico Backpacking
GILA WILDERNESS, BIG PINE COUNTRY
New Mexico • April 19-25, 2009 • $1,800
Southwestern New Mexico’s Gila Wilderness is a big and rugged land of startling contrasts and tremendous diversity, where mule deer, elk, coyote, black bear, mountain lion, and wild turkey abound in a magnificent, mostly forested setting. Here are the wild tributary canyons of the Gila River, characterized by rich riparian deciduous forests. There are ten-thousand-foot mountains, too. We’ll explore semi-arid pygmy forests of juniper and pinyon pine and the world’s largest remaining ponderosa pine forest: virgin and majestic! Spectacular vistas from high ridges and mesas are some of the most awesome in the entire Southwest. April is normally dry and mild sunny days prevail, but nights are crisp, and in the high country, travelers should be prepared for any kind of weather from cold rain or snow to eighty-degree sunshine. And, the re-introduced Mexican Gray Wolf now thrives again in the Gila!
The Gila is America’s first designated Wilderness, originally protected in 1924 at the urging of legendary conservationist Aldo Leopold. This trip is fairly strenuous, and its base is Tucson, Arizona. This trip is offered only in odd-numbered years!
GILA WILDERNESS HIGH PEAKS SPECIAL
New Mexico • October 4-10, 2009 • $1,800
This one-time offering will take us into the wild high peaks of the western Gila’s Mogollon (pronounced "mug-ee-own") Mountains, which are generally not accessible on our spring trips due to snow cover. This is verdant forested high country with peaks reaching nearly 11,000 feet. Gold-tinged oaks and aspens will contrast with the dense forests of spruce, fir, and pine. This is the most expansive highland domain in the far Southwest, and October is the ideal time to explore it.
Expect mild days with cool nights. Heavy precipitation is unusual in October. This fairly strenuous trip is based out of Tucson, Arizona.
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Scheduled Trips 2009
Below, we've listed our trips by region. Trips listed under Yellowstone Backpacking are also listed under the state in which they occur. You'll find complete information on each trip by clicking on the regional heading above each section.
For a chronological list of our adventures, click here.
| Yellowstone
Backpacking |
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Northern Yellowstone Wildlife and Wildflower
Extravaganza: June 15-20. |
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Northeast Yellowstone's Wolf Country:
June 29-July 3. |
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Yellowstone's
High, Wide & Wild Gallatin Range: July 19-24. |
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Yellowstone's Remote Corner Through Hike: August 12-21. |
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Southwest Yellowstone's Wild Waterfall
Wonderland: September 13-19. |
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| Montana
Backpacking |
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Northern Yellowstone Wildlife and Wildflower
Extravaganza: June 15-20. |
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Glacier Park's Wild Sister, The Rocky Mountain
Front: July 5-11. |
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Yellowstone's High, Wide & Wild Gallatin
Range: July 19-24. |
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Peaks and Lakes of the Rugged Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness: July 13-17. |
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Montana’s Rooftop—The Mighty Beartooths: August 2-7.
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| Wyoming
Backpacking |
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Northeast Yellowstone's Wolf Country:
June 29-July 3. |
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Grand Tetons Alpine Magic:
August 3-7. |
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Yellowstone's Remote Corner
Through Hike: August 12-21. |
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Big Vistas of the Wild Absarokas:
August 24-29. |
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Southwest Yellowstone's Wild Waterfall Wonderland:
September 13-19. |
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| Arizona
Backpacking |
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The Grand Canyon,
Rocks of the Ages: October 18-24. |
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| California
Backpacking |
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High Mountains of Death Valley National Park: April 5-12. |
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| Utah Backpacking |
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Redrock Canyons of
the Wild Escalante:
Spring 2010. |
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Grand Staircase Backcountry, Canyon
and Mesa Magic: Spring 2010. |
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| New
Mexico Backpacking |
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Gila Wilderness, Big Pine Country: April 19-25. |
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Gila Wilderness High Peaks Special: October 4-10. |
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| Alaska
Backpacking |
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Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, The Biggest
Wild: June 3-11. |
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| Montana Canoe
Trips |
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Canoeing the Upper
Missouri River, Lewis and Clark's Wilderness: May 10-17. |
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| Florida Canoe
Trips |
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Watery Wilds of the Living Everglades: Feb 7-14, 2010. |
NOTE: Our Death Valley and Gila wilderness trips are offered only in odd numbered years. In even numbered years, our spring backpack trips are the Escalante Canyons and Grand Staircase backcountry areas of southern Utah.
List prices include our complete gear package and there is a $200 discount if you bring your own (see equipment list and/or questionnaire for details). Also, we offer a $100 discount for the second trip in a calendar year. Scheduled trips are for persons ages 16 and over. Exceptions to the age requirement will be made by us on a case-by-case basis.
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