Winter Gila Overland – Friday, February 21st through Sunday, February 23rd, 2020 – NMBR's Winter Season Gila National Forest Traversal
WGO Preview: Visit the NMBR’s New Mexico Gila Adventure photo gallery for a preview of the Winter Gila Overland experience. LINK - goo.gl/UsrcF6
WGO Overview: New Mexico’s vast Gila Region | Friday, February 21st through Sunday, February 23rd | Approximate Route Distance: 180 to 225-Miles | Approximate Elevation Range: 4,175 to 8,250-Feet | The Gila Overland provides a condensed “weekend warrior” version of NMBR’s (four day) Gila Legends Expedition. NMBR has guided sections of this stunningly scenic and landscape diverse route for American Expedition Vehicles, Expedition Portal, and Overland Journal. Areas of exploration will include The Gila National Forest's Black Range and Continental Divide areas.
The Experience: This February, New Mexico Backroads will be guiding a three day [180 to 225-mile] overland adventure that will traverse New Mexico’s vast and diverse Gila region. NMBR has guided portions of this route for American Expedition Vehicles, Expedition Portal, Overland Journal, and a multitude of overland enthusiasts seeking adventure. The Gila Overland route includes a diverse range of scenery, history, terrain, and backroads found nowhere else in North America. Landscapes and terrain will include desert, grassland, chaparral, canyon bottoms, and dense forest with elevations ranging from 4,175 to 8,250-feet. Areas of exploration will include the Gila National Forest’s Black Range, Great Divide Trail (sections), and Plains of San Agustin. The Gila Overland route will pass through the northern end of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range as well as the Southern end of the Rockies, all while skirting the world’s first established wilderness areas—the Gila Wilderness & Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Road types and conditions will include washboards, two tracks, primitive non-maintained, graded, mountain shelf, dirt byway and (least of all) pavement. The Gila Overland will provide outstanding vistas, historic landmarks, wildlife viewing opportunities (including Mexican grey wolf territory), and aggressive elevation contours. During the overland based adventure, NMBR will cover a variety of topics including area landscape features, area history, vehicle maintenance, overland field kit assembly, driving techniques, vehicle dynamics, and other overland-based skill building subjects.
Planning & Preparations: The Gila Overland will require participants to be self-supportive with regards to vehicle, equipment, meals, and supplies. Services or re-supply of any kind, including cell signals, fuel, food, water, or anything remotely civilized, will be unavailable for stretches of up to 225 miles or more (if re-routes occur). Please note: The Winter Gila Overland will take place in the high-country of the Gila National Forest when seasonal temperatures can sometimes drop into the single digits and snow is entirely possible. Please understand that driving and camping conditions could be very cold, wet, muddy, and/or snowy during this trip. If these possible conditions don’t appeal to you, or outside of your comfort zone for overland travels, please consider NMBR’s summer and fall based trips instead.
