Sly
05-13-2006, 12:36
Blisterfree's posts circulated on the backcountry.net lists. Looks like an excellent route with fairly easy logistics... added to my short list.
Those of you not subscribed to the cdt-l may be unfamiliar
with the Grand Enchantment Trail, (G.E.T.) a brand new 700
mile wilderness hiking route across the Southwest which I
scouted, flagged, and have now described and mapped.
Home page:
http://www.simblissity.net/grand_enchantment.shtml
Journal:
http://trailjournals.com/grand%5Fenchantment%5Ftrail/
Google Earth virtual hike:
http://www.simblissity.net/get/google-earth.shtml
An online guide is in the works, although the now available
CD mapset is highly detailed, with directional notations and
around 1000 waypoints. Fall hiking season will be here
before we know it. I'll be on the route again, and these
beautiful but fragile lands deserve greater attention from
the hiking community at large. Much of this terrain, like
the communities and cultures nearby, have been all but
unknown to long-distance hiking... until now. Hope to see
you out there!
- blisterfree
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Simblissity Ultralight :: One-of-a-Kind Designs for the
Great Outdoors
www.simblissity.net
The Grand Enchantment Trail is a 700 mile long wilderness
hiking route across the Southwest U.S., connecting
mountains, deserts, canyons, and places of cultural and
historic interest. Beginning in the Sonoran desert near
Phoenix Arizona, the route meanders eastward, crossing
unique and diverse Sky Island mountain ranges, deep and
water-blessed desert canyons, the pine-studded Continental
Divide, and the southernmost Rocky Mountains, before
descending dramatically to the outskirts of Albuquerque New
Mexico at its distant terminus.
If you've ever felt the pull of wild places, of warm dry air
and strong desert sun, of thorny deserts and forested
summits, of sheer-walled canyons and deafening silence,
ancient cultures and dusty main streets, and the challenge
and reward of walking through a rugged, little-known land...
We invite you to discover the Grand Enchantment Trail.
------------------------------
May 27 :: Albuquerque, NM
Milepoint 713
The journey officially concluded last night. Sometime after
7pm, if I recall correctly. After bombing down off the
Sandia Crest - quite spectacularly, with jagged cliffs,
scree slopes, remnant snowpack, and other such wonders that
one would hope to find near the end of a long tour of the
wilds - I turned at last onto the much more pedestrian
"Tramway Trail." As the name implies, this trail terminates
at the tramway, the Sandia Crest Aerial Tramway, world's
longest, and as those who've ridden it know, one of the
world's most impressive. Along the way, the trail winds past
large boulders at the very edge of the mountain range, and
offers ever more intimate views of sprawling Albuquerque,
including some backyard glimpses of multi-million dollar
real estate, swimming pools and skylights inclusive.
Unlike with most long distance trails, the Grand Enchantment
ends not atop a tall mountain, or at an international
boundary, but at the wilderness/urban interface, same as
with its other terminus near Phoenix. Both cities end
abruptly at national forest boundaries, often literally at
the edge of officially designated wilderness, which seems
both a horrible and wonderful concept - the proximity seems
hopelessly inappropriate, yet inevitable, and if we accept
it, then how nifty that we can get away from the city so
conveniently and so utterly, visual and aural ambience not
inclusive.
Yet the GET soon leaves the city behind to the point of its
absolute vanishing, and stays away from the modern world
virtually the entire way to its other terminus. And that is
exactly the idea. Besides offering the ultimate in
convenience for thru-hikers, the trail links people with
wilderness. In the case of Phoenix and Albuquerque, we're
talking millions of people, many thousands of whom already
enjoy outdoor recreation. These folks have at their ready
disposal a route that will lead them, practically from their
own back yards, outward into the wilderness as far as they
care to go, and probably a good deal further. But just the
concept alone, the linking of two great cities, and its
people, to the land, is invigorating enough. Just knowing
that the wilderness is there, intact, ready to offer its
magic, its solitude, its story - that is justification
enough for its existence. The Grand Enchantment Trail is no
different. And thru-hikers will always be rare birds,
anyway. Nice birds, most of them. But rare.
Arriving at the terminus, I found little more than a modest
trail sign for the Tramway Trail, an information board, and
one torrey yucca blooming lavishly, apparently part of the
landscaping for the nearby Tram property. Alas, I found no
signs reading "Congratulations! You've arrived at the
eastern terminus of the Grand Enchantment Trail!" Of greater
concern, though, was how to manage a self-portrait alongside
the swansong sign that did exist. Luckily, three young
hikers who I'd earlier seen heading up the Crest had
apparently ridden the tram back down and were now about to
take the Tram Trail back to their vehicles. One was nice
enough to fill my request, but not before learning about my
trek, which I feel compelled to mention to anyone who will
listen, partly to prove my own existence, I think. Without
blinking, she declared with loving authority that I was
Forrest Gump, and then demanded a story from the trail. I
told the group about high water along the San Francisco
River (in southeast Arizona). Not sure whether they were
left thinking "Golden Gate Bridge" or not. And in any case,
I'm a shy story teller, tending to melt under pressure to
deliver.
Not many long distance trails can claim to have a fine
Mexican restaurant less than one hundred yards from their
terminus. The GET being the exception, of course.
"Sandiago's" (get it?) is located inside the Tram building,
alongside a gift shop ("thru-hikers, please bring your final
purchases to the register"), ATM machine, restrooms, vending
machines, paradise... I installed myself promptly at the
thru-hiker's table (party of one), and enjoyed a plate of
fish tacos and a Corona. Absolute nirvana. The buzz was
swift and certain. One beer. Must have been the altitude. Or
the certitude. Finishing a long hike had certainly never
felt so heady an accomplishment as this.
above entry from http://www.simblissity.net/get_blog.shtml
Those of you not subscribed to the cdt-l may be unfamiliar
with the Grand Enchantment Trail, (G.E.T.) a brand new 700
mile wilderness hiking route across the Southwest which I
scouted, flagged, and have now described and mapped.
Home page:
http://www.simblissity.net/grand_enchantment.shtml
Journal:
http://trailjournals.com/grand%5Fenchantment%5Ftrail/
Google Earth virtual hike:
http://www.simblissity.net/get/google-earth.shtml
An online guide is in the works, although the now available
CD mapset is highly detailed, with directional notations and
around 1000 waypoints. Fall hiking season will be here
before we know it. I'll be on the route again, and these
beautiful but fragile lands deserve greater attention from
the hiking community at large. Much of this terrain, like
the communities and cultures nearby, have been all but
unknown to long-distance hiking... until now. Hope to see
you out there!
- blisterfree
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
Simblissity Ultralight :: One-of-a-Kind Designs for the
Great Outdoors
www.simblissity.net
The Grand Enchantment Trail is a 700 mile long wilderness
hiking route across the Southwest U.S., connecting
mountains, deserts, canyons, and places of cultural and
historic interest. Beginning in the Sonoran desert near
Phoenix Arizona, the route meanders eastward, crossing
unique and diverse Sky Island mountain ranges, deep and
water-blessed desert canyons, the pine-studded Continental
Divide, and the southernmost Rocky Mountains, before
descending dramatically to the outskirts of Albuquerque New
Mexico at its distant terminus.
If you've ever felt the pull of wild places, of warm dry air
and strong desert sun, of thorny deserts and forested
summits, of sheer-walled canyons and deafening silence,
ancient cultures and dusty main streets, and the challenge
and reward of walking through a rugged, little-known land...
We invite you to discover the Grand Enchantment Trail.
------------------------------
May 27 :: Albuquerque, NM
Milepoint 713
The journey officially concluded last night. Sometime after
7pm, if I recall correctly. After bombing down off the
Sandia Crest - quite spectacularly, with jagged cliffs,
scree slopes, remnant snowpack, and other such wonders that
one would hope to find near the end of a long tour of the
wilds - I turned at last onto the much more pedestrian
"Tramway Trail." As the name implies, this trail terminates
at the tramway, the Sandia Crest Aerial Tramway, world's
longest, and as those who've ridden it know, one of the
world's most impressive. Along the way, the trail winds past
large boulders at the very edge of the mountain range, and
offers ever more intimate views of sprawling Albuquerque,
including some backyard glimpses of multi-million dollar
real estate, swimming pools and skylights inclusive.
Unlike with most long distance trails, the Grand Enchantment
ends not atop a tall mountain, or at an international
boundary, but at the wilderness/urban interface, same as
with its other terminus near Phoenix. Both cities end
abruptly at national forest boundaries, often literally at
the edge of officially designated wilderness, which seems
both a horrible and wonderful concept - the proximity seems
hopelessly inappropriate, yet inevitable, and if we accept
it, then how nifty that we can get away from the city so
conveniently and so utterly, visual and aural ambience not
inclusive.
Yet the GET soon leaves the city behind to the point of its
absolute vanishing, and stays away from the modern world
virtually the entire way to its other terminus. And that is
exactly the idea. Besides offering the ultimate in
convenience for thru-hikers, the trail links people with
wilderness. In the case of Phoenix and Albuquerque, we're
talking millions of people, many thousands of whom already
enjoy outdoor recreation. These folks have at their ready
disposal a route that will lead them, practically from their
own back yards, outward into the wilderness as far as they
care to go, and probably a good deal further. But just the
concept alone, the linking of two great cities, and its
people, to the land, is invigorating enough. Just knowing
that the wilderness is there, intact, ready to offer its
magic, its solitude, its story - that is justification
enough for its existence. The Grand Enchantment Trail is no
different. And thru-hikers will always be rare birds,
anyway. Nice birds, most of them. But rare.
Arriving at the terminus, I found little more than a modest
trail sign for the Tramway Trail, an information board, and
one torrey yucca blooming lavishly, apparently part of the
landscaping for the nearby Tram property. Alas, I found no
signs reading "Congratulations! You've arrived at the
eastern terminus of the Grand Enchantment Trail!" Of greater
concern, though, was how to manage a self-portrait alongside
the swansong sign that did exist. Luckily, three young
hikers who I'd earlier seen heading up the Crest had
apparently ridden the tram back down and were now about to
take the Tram Trail back to their vehicles. One was nice
enough to fill my request, but not before learning about my
trek, which I feel compelled to mention to anyone who will
listen, partly to prove my own existence, I think. Without
blinking, she declared with loving authority that I was
Forrest Gump, and then demanded a story from the trail. I
told the group about high water along the San Francisco
River (in southeast Arizona). Not sure whether they were
left thinking "Golden Gate Bridge" or not. And in any case,
I'm a shy story teller, tending to melt under pressure to
deliver.
Not many long distance trails can claim to have a fine
Mexican restaurant less than one hundred yards from their
terminus. The GET being the exception, of course.
"Sandiago's" (get it?) is located inside the Tram building,
alongside a gift shop ("thru-hikers, please bring your final
purchases to the register"), ATM machine, restrooms, vending
machines, paradise... I installed myself promptly at the
thru-hiker's table (party of one), and enjoyed a plate of
fish tacos and a Corona. Absolute nirvana. The buzz was
swift and certain. One beer. Must have been the altitude. Or
the certitude. Finishing a long hike had certainly never
felt so heady an accomplishment as this.
above entry from http://www.simblissity.net/get_blog.shtml