Re: [Philmont]: Trail from Cimarron River Trail Camp to Black Jacks to Miranda

The quick version - a very short, very tough hike, followed by a very
long, moderately difficult hike.

The long version:

CRTC to BJTC - Starts off with an easy trail that parallels the river
and Rt 64, maybe a third of a mile, flat. If you're lucky you will be
walking through a sea of yellow flowers, which as a WAG are goldenrod
(botany ain't my thing). The trail cuts left to the river, passes over
a short bridge, then ducks under Rt 64 via a short tunnel. The entrance
to Bear Canyon is on the opposite side. This trail has a gentle upgrade
for about a third of a mile, then splits into three. The "main" Bear
Canyon trail goes left, the old Bear Canyon trail (probably blocked)
goes straight, and the Midnight Mesa trail to New Dean cuts right.
Careful not to miss it, or it's gonna be a loooooong day. The Midnight
Mesa trail is narrow, rather overgrown, and quickly very steeply uphill,
about an 800 feet climb in maybe 2/3rds of a mile. You'll be sucking
wind, guaranteed. Only bene is some superb views behind you as you
climb, especially the last stretch. Don't miss them - you earned them.
  At the top, you'll crest a small rise, and intersect a 4WD road.
Straight/left goes to New Dean, all downhill. Back-cut right goes to
Black Jack's Trail Camp, all uphill but not as insane as what you just
went through. Another half mile or so to the camp. There is, I
believe, a solar well there, but I'm not positive on that. All told,
call it two miles, and just over 1100 feet in elevation gain. Finally,
although trail camp to trail camp isn't a very exciting day, don't
dawdle in the morning, because Bear Canyon is an airless oven in the
heat of the day. That will turn a challenging day into a miserable one.

BJTC to Miranda - Man, that's a long day. Plus I'm guessing you have
program at Head of Dean on the way, too (no, I haven't looked). Better
start at the crack of doom. You can retrace your steps to the road to
New Dean, or take an east trail down to Dean Canyon below New Dean. I
haven't done the latter trail in about 30 years, so I no longer remember
if it offers any scenery. The retrace route will probably be faster by
about a half hour as a guess. From New Dean turn left and head up the
Dean Canyon Trail to Head of Dean. Check your trails carefully at New
Dean - there are three trails heading up out of camp, then two more left
hand cutoffs from the Dean Canyon trail towards Santa Claus camp. Be
careful. Long but reasonable uphill grade to Head of Dean. Do Program
(Challenge Course). From HoD, there is a trail to Maxwell/Miranda, but
it was closed last year due to fire damage, and I don't know its status.
  If it's open, use it; since I've worked on it four times in the last
15 years, it's a great trail! Otherwise, take the road towards Baldy
Skyline Camp, then on to "Five Forks" (a multi-trail intersection above
Maxwell Miranda). From here, there is a trail that back-cuts to your
left that heads down to Maxwell. Easy, downhill trail. You can also
take the road down, but I wouldn't recommend it - it's miserably steep
(a real ankle biter) and hot in the afternoon. Assuming you take the
trail, it will cross the Baldytown Road at the bottom, then cross a
creek, head into Maxwell trail camp, then cut right to Miranda. There
is a spectacular view as you come out of the trees into the Miranda
meadow, with Baldy looming in the background. From there, head all the
way up the meadow, past the teepees, and to the staff cabin at the far
upper end. You've arrived.

Good Luck.

Becky Shifman wrote:
> Can anyone give me a description of the trail conditions and anything that
> would be a helpful tip for getting from Cimarron River Trail Camp to Black
> Jack's Trail Camp and then to Miranda? Our crew is doing Trek 28 and this
> is a part of that trek.
>
> Becky Shifman, ASM, Troop 834, San Ramon, CA

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Received on Sat Apr 12 18:20:29 2003