Mount Baldy Wilderness: East Fork Trail from Gabaldon Campground
I drove to the Gabaldon Campground, just south of the East Fork Trail of the Mount BaldyWilderness #95, to meet up with a Monday hiking group comprised of 11 hikers led by TRACKS member and trail guide George Tichenor. There is a connector trail from the campground and it is very convenient for horseback riders — each campsite has a corral. We weren’t riding horses but it was a great place to start after a 30+ minute drive from Pinetop because of the large parking area but most important -- its outhouse.
We followed the connector trail through a meadow and then crossed the Little Colorado River just before connecting to the East Fork Trail. The Trail travels through meadows and tunnels and climbs through a forest of Colorado blue spruce, white fir, Douglas fir, Ponderosa pine, white pine and ancient aspen — Pines so tall and so wide, we couldn’t connect hands while trying to wrap our arms around the trunks. We hiked past giant boulders and spires that towered over the trail and continued hiking until we reached the rock cliffs. It was here that we stopped and feasted on watermelon that was trekked in by Ron Miller, avid hiker, climber of highest peaks and retiree from the BIA, then turned around and headed back. The hike back descends a gravel trail -- where I gracefully slid and fell (saving my camera) -- and Miller, who was hiking ahead of me, turned around and said “Oh, let me help you” as he tripped over an exposed root crossing the trail, nearly falling himself and then appropriately named it “the root of all evil.”
I have to say that there is a sense of camaraderie on this trail (or any trail). It’s here that you meet like- minded people and find common ground. There are hikers and horseback riders that visit from all over the world and then there are local hikers you meet for the first time. If you’re lucky enough to hike with knowledgeable foresters, the hike is a great opportunity to learn about the plants and animals with which you may cross paths. The TRACKS hiking group has several members that know this area and its inhabitants. Check out their website for an event or hiking schedule. While there, think about joining — it’s free. https://www.trackswhitemountains.org/
I have hiked Mount Baldy many times. It’s a challenging trail that brings many rewards. It is one of the few wilderness areas in the country that travels through a sub-alpine life zone. The heavily forested slopes are where the Little Colorado River and the Salt River have their headwaters. A variety of wildlife inhabit the lower reaches of the mountain -- such as Rocky Mountain elk, black bears, Mexican grey wolves, mule deer, porcupines, wild turkeys and blue grouse. Wildflowers are sprinkled across the meadows and seasonal strawberries, raspberries and mushrooms line the trail in late summer.
Once an active volcano, Baldy’s unique display of stone figures can be attributed to a series of eruptions that ceased about eight to nine million years ago and its slopes were carved by water erosion and glaciers. The fact that this mountain is sacred to the White Mountain Apaches gives it an added mystique — it is known to be inhabited by the mountain spirits and is part of the four most sacred mountain ranges: The White Mountains of Eastern Arizona, the Pinaleno Mountains near the town of Safford in Southeastern Arizona, the Four Peaks near the City of Phoenix and the San Francisco Peaks near Flagstaff. If you plan on hiking to the top of Mount Baldy, be aware that the peak is on the White Mountain Apache Reservation and is off limits.