Clearing the Gnarly Trail with the Gila Trails Crew

March 8-10, 2025

After a distressingly warm and dry winter, a freak snowstorm blew into town March 6-7. It was enough to derail a planned expedition with the Gila Trails crew to Red Canyon. The trip was delayed two days, and the location was switched to the Gnarly Trail in the Burro Mountains, an extension of the CDT and potential loop with Saddle Mountain Road.

Gnarly Trail (in red).

Dennis and I headed up the night before, to enjoy an extra night of camping. It was a chilly one! 20° at dawn!

The trail rises through a narrow canyon that must be lovely when the stream is flowing. Like many of the trails in the Burros, it is unrelentingly steep and rocky.

A crew member builds a cairn where the trail hooks left and turns sharply to a saddle at 5600 feet.

From the saddle, there was a thrilling view of Barney Kerr Tank and the Mogollon Mountains gleaming under a fresh coat of snow.

Dave T hoofing up the trail.

Patrick repairing the tread with Bullard Peak towering in the background.

Panorama from a stony promontory above Grassy Flat Tank.

One last look at the Mogollon Mountains in snow.