The recent drought, as withering as it was especially across New Mexico, will probably not have abated completely by the end of the summer monsoon season. So far the monsoon has been average (AZ) to a little below average (NM). Some lands are still in full closure fire restrictions, although more public lands seem to be reopening on a regular basis as each area sees enough rain to diminish fire danger.
Probably the AZT and GET will be “fully open” by the start of fall hiking season, although some trails and sections of forest that burned in the many fires this spring may remain closed. Pure speculation at this point, but this could realistically include the AZT in the Huachucas, portions of the AZT in the Canelo Hills (several fires that started near the Mexican border may have burned nearby?) and Santa Ritas (Greaterville Fire - anyone know about coverage / severity?).
Along the GET, the Jack Fire Complex and Miller Fire near the West Fork Gila River may (or may not) require a detour (go your own way via other trails) between the Mogollon Crest Trail and East Fork Gila River. Another fire near Dusty NM (Monticello Fire) would have affected sections of GET routed on roads through a grassland and riparian environment, if it affected the route at all, so probably this fire wouldn’t pose lingering access concerns. Flooding and flood damage could be a real concern along major drainages flowing out of the massive Wallow Fire burn area, including Eagle Creek and the Blue River along the GET (the GET wasn’t involved in the Wallow Fire itself). And these dangers will probably continue to exist for years to come.
New fire starts remain an ongoing concern due to lightning from storms over areas still reeling from drought. This will probably settle down in the coming weeks, but I would keep an eye to the Inciweb.org website in the meantime to get a sense of the current picture as hiking season approaches. I’d also consider starting a fall hike as early as possible in order to take maximum advantage of the rainy season while the moisture is still “on the ground.” A fall hike typically trends toward increasingly dry conditions as you make progress toward the finish line, so starting early - despite the inconvenience of some lingering storms, humidity, and mucky walking - can make life easier later on, especially in a year when it seems unlikely the monsoon will fully alleviate the severe to extreme drought conditions accumulating over so many months (and years) of sub-par moisture.
Miles of roadwalking on the AZT vs GET. That’s an interesting question. I’d imagine the AZT, especially with recent trail construction in a number of places, has the edge. But even on the many official roadwalks of the AZT that are built into the route’s layout, you’d have carsonite posts and other blazes that might lend a feeling of continuity and credence to the walk that the GET forces the hiker to leave behind. The AZT (which the GET shares for 70 miles or so) tends to be more pedestrian than the GET overall, by whatever definition of the word. Think of the difference between hiking a long-distance trail that was designed and built specifically for long-distance hikers (and horses and bikes…), and a route that evolved from consultations with trail maps, trial and error in the field, and a desire to see places less often visited on foot. Such are the differing philosophies between the AZT (or any official l-d trail) and something like the GET.
blisterfree
