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Oct 14, 2020 — I intially intended to hike to Mogollon Baldy, another high point many miles past Whitewater Baldy, but photos will display my hesitation in continuing. Unfortuantely, the area was burned in 2012 by an extensive fire, and the NFS has done a wonderful job of clearing most of the trail from downed trees for much of the hike, but it's not a fully restored trail (as of October 2020). Driving to the trailhead is accessible by any vehicle, though it's on a long dirt road.
The hike along the Crest Trail starts off pleasant, the trail in good shape and with some nice views through the burned trees. The trail is slow in gaining elevation, most of the serious uphill being the last bit to the summit. Along the way, I passed through one section of unburned forest, which was a nice change of pace from the eeries whisper of wind through the blackened trees. The trail led to a saddle on the southeast side of Willow Mountain, where it's clear that deadfall had recently been cleared, fortunately. There would have been a lot to hop over here. A half mile before Hummingbird Saddle (the saddle just north of Whitewater Baldy) marked where the fun would stop, that is unless you enjoy hopping over trees. The trail is littered with the dead trees, and it continues this way until Hummingbird Saddle, small sections of clear trail serving nice reprieve.
Once I reached Hummingbird Saddle, I noted a very old sign marking the Whitewater Creek Trail and laughed at the thought of attempting to hike to Whitewater Baldy via Whitewater Creek (a trip I thought of doing at one point). These Gila trails can be pretty rugged and under-maintained. I left the Crest Trail and headed up the north ridge of Whitewater Baldy, avoiding some awful thorny brush by keeping to the left, and then doing my best to zig-zag around blowdown all the way to the summit. The view north to Mogollon Baldy was enticing. I could also see Holt Mountain to the southwest. Thinking back, the obstacles weren't all that bad - I just didn't know when it woud end and I had it in my head that I'd need to do this all the way to Mogollon Baldy, and it brought my spirit down. So, I decided to skip Mogollon Baldy and head back. I should note that my friend Kevin says most of the blowdown is over past Whitewater Baldy, which was a bit of a FOMO-inducing revelation for me after I learned this.
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