Anyone else been to the Valle Vidal?

B

Bob W

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Dec 31, 2000
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I just finished a two-day 'backpacking' trip with my young son into the Valle Vidal Unit of the Carson National Forest. Our target was the location of the historic town site, Le Belle, New Mexico. The Valle Vidal is one of the most special places in all of New Mexico.
The hike in was only a couple of miles off the main road, but managing a 50lb pack for the two of us was a chore. Stove and fuel, food, water, gold panning supplies, photography gear, extra clothes especially rain gear and cool weather jackets.
We found the town site (very little remains), explored the mining ruins, panned for gold, boiled water from a stream for cocoa and coffee, and navigated off-trail. No bears this trip but we did see a large bull elk and garter snake. :)

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I'm curious to hear from anyone else who has visited here. What area did you visit, and how did you like it?
 
Many years ago, a Philmont Scout Ranch trek that I was on cut did a loop into the Valle Vidal for about 3.5 days of a ten-day itinerary.

It was a very dry year, and the wildlife was pulled to the few water sources. We saw coyotes, elk, beaver and a curious Golden Eagle that kept looping back to check us out. We saw cougar and bear sign, but no actual cougar or bear. We were promised buffalo, but did not see any - again sign but no animals. Native jays (no crests) would try to steal our food, as would the chipmunk analogs - Golden Mantle Ground Squirrel. We were warned that the latter critter would crew on pack shoulder straps to get salt. Turns out chewing on sweaty socks was also in their repertoire. Saw wild turkey four times - once a mom with column of chicks (cluck like browsing chickens - puck, puck, puck.) Heard owls and woodpeckers lots, but saw only the WPs a few times. Mule Deer at a distance - seemed more nervous than the White Tails in Ohio.

Very much open, level country as compared to further south in Philmont - very easy backpacking.

There was an abandoned farmstead.

Not many other people.

Really glad I took my camera, despite the weight (35mm days).

Easy to navigate with map and compass as the landmark peaks were easy to see.
 
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Thomas, that's funny because many years ago I worked at Philmont and spent a summer at an outpost camp in the Valle Vidal. The camp was called Iris Park (it's no longer in use) and I was the camp director in charge of the mountain biking program.
Philmont uses the eastern side of the Valle Vidal and I've spent a lot of time there, before and since working at Philmont.
This trip, the photos above, are from the western half of the Valle Vidal where I have very little experience. The geology, geography, history, and scenery are surprisingly different.

Here's a topic from two years ago, when I took the boy for an overnight on the eastern side:
http://www.bladeforums.com/forums/showthread.php/1099782-7-Year-Old-s-First-Backpacking-Overnight

I think I do prefer the eastern side, which is like a cowboy movie compared to the west side's mountain man atmosphere. :)
 
We are very fortunate to live so close, not only to the Valle Vidal but also to so many other public lands and outdoor opportunities. :thumbup:
 
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