Jeepin' in the Gila Camping trip ;-)

[the original Honcho]

So this past weekend I took the family and the bro-in-law to the Gila River, near the Gila Cliff Dwellings. The west fork of the river is essentially dead from the fires this year. The water was black and opaque and void of life I didnt take pics of the river so i wouldnt remember it like that.

Camp, about 1000' from a cliff

In the parking lot at the Cliff Dwellings

The fam and I forefront, Cliff Dwellings background

Everytime we go there is at least 1 lizard on this same rock on the trail. This year there was a biggun' and 3 smaller ones

In the center of the pic there is a red painting of a man. Its 700 years old and painted in the middle of the ceiling thats about 30' up

My little one enjoying the Dwellings for the first time ( she didnt cry during the hike up)

[manimal]

That is AWESOME! Thanks for sharing that!

[svining]

How and where those civilizations went to and why. I remember walking around in the desert and seeing petrogliph's painted on large stones like roadmaps to unknown places. Neat!

Originally Posted by manimal

That is AWESOME! Thanks for sharing that!

[Tad]

Nice Pic's!
I love the Gila's, my place is about 34 miles south of that.
You ever do any camping on the Mimbres?

[jsinajeep]

Is that place around Silver City area.
Hope that a little lizard on a big rock

[Brizio]

Beautiful pics! Thank you for sharing them!

[tgreese]

Originally Posted by jsinajeep

Is that place around Silver City area.
Hope that a little lizard on a big rock

Yes. Been there a long time ago. "Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument". Great destination for both camping and seeing the dwellings.

Thanks for posting!

[the original Honcho]

Originally Posted by Tad

Nice Pic's!
I love the Gila's, my place is about 34 miles south of that.
You ever do any camping on the Mimbres?

So that would put you near Lake Roberts? Sweet!!!! I love the Mimbres! I've been camping all around that area. Growing up we always made 3-4 trips a year somewhere in the Gila. I've got some spooky road-to-Wall Lake stories. I'm hoping to get back out there in the next couple of weeks, I will let you know maybe we could meet and I could drool on your Jeep

Originally Posted by jsinajeep

Is that place around Silver City area.
Hope that a little lizard on a big rock

Its about 40 miles north of Silver City. The lizard was the biggest I've seen in the wild! It was about 10"-12" from nose to tip of tail.


The Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument is about 75 miles north off I-10 and for anybody, especially with kids, is totally worth seeing before it disappears! Fire almost took it last year...

[shimniok]

Wow, VERY cool. Had no idea about this place. Sounds awesome. Hope I get to see it some day with my little girl.

[Tad]

Originally Posted by the original Honcho

So that would put you near Lake Roberts?...

Half way between Silver and PA.
Job keeps me in Tucson for the most part, not enough population in Silver to earn a living.
I'll be out that way in October.

[fulsizjeep]

Hope to be that way in October too. More likely on the way home. Would love to see more back country around there.

[the original Honcho]

Originally Posted by Tad

Half way between Silver and PA.
Job keeps me in Tucson for the most part, not enough population in Silver to earn a living.
I'll be out that way in October.

PA is beautiful! I love its history and age. Definitely not easy to earn $$ in NM... I'm an investment broker turned roofer

[jpcoutts]

I love that part of NM. We used to back pack into the Gila from a spot above Silver City. Trout fished in the Gila River and told bear stories around the campfire. That was almost 40 years ago. I remember the scenery and cool nights were unbeatable. It was and still is beautiful country.