Tresspassing and Cuba

imported
#1

This post is just a general warning to everybody. There are a couple landowners right on the Trail near Cuba who are very anti-trail and very anti-trespassing. Do not cross fence lines that aren’t on the trail without and ownership map. Do not skirt around the south end of Mesa Portales without knowing you’re on public land. At least one family is intending to arrest any hikers they find on their land. I have little doubt I would have been arrested if I hadn’t had my mules. In addition, the town had some pretty random, brutal murders recently and the ranchers don’t want people coming up their driveway to ask for water. I think that if the trail wants a good relationship with the landowners around Cuba we need to avoid all trespassing in that area.

Treehuggin’ Cowgrl

#2

The Circle A ranch (about 4 mi north of Cuba)is not one of the “anti-trail” owners. I spent a very enjoyable 3 nights on a recent section hike. Great place to stay. Do chores in town; There is no laundry or supplies. Detouring to it is actually slightly shorter to the Los Pinos trailhead.

Ambler Rambler

#3

I think the area Cowgrl is talking about is south of town… Not near Circle-A. I had some people accuse me of trespassing near there when I did no such thing (I was just walking down the public road). It’s sad that people are like this, but I suppose if there are recent unsolved murders in the area, you can understand people being edgy. There’s a pretty good route/trail now in that area, so no need to trespass anyway. Though… I’m not sure how passable it’d be to stock. Cowgrl can probably answer that better.

-Jonathan

Jonathan

#4

Yeah, the people I’m talking about own land in between 550 and the trail. I think they also own land next to the BLM parcel where they’re trying to locate the roaded portion of the trail to. Basically, don’t leave the trail South of Cuba unless you have an ownership map, because a few of the ranchers are on a warpath. Part of my deal for getting out of being arrested is posting this up here.

In addition, these ranchers are being very active at public meetings for rerouting the highway section of the trail. They’re worried that hikers will damage their fence, scare their stock, muddy their water, etc. I think we need to work towards the best relations properly.

I am not trying to insult the people in Cuba at all. Everyone else I met was extremely nice, and the people who I thought were going to have me arrested eventually offered me a place to stay. Never underestimate the power of female tears :wink: Circle A was awesome and most of the town was very helpful. Someone bought my dinner three nights in a row. The area is mostly great people, but some take private property a little more seriously than other areas on the trail.

And yeah, I was off the trail, because you can’t get through Mesa Portales with stock. However, if you have an ownership map, there is a BLM parcel that makes it all the way to the highway. It just happened to be a few miles south of where I was.

Treehuggin’ Cowgrl