Backpacking The Manzano Mountain Wilderness

The Manzano Mountain Wilderness, created by the Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978, encompasses 36,970 acres on the Mountainair Ranger District of the Cibola National Forest in central New Mexico. The word "manzano" is Spanish for "apple." In the 1700s, explorers visiting a small village on the eastern edge of the mountains noted apple trees growing in the village. The trees appeared to be very old but no one knew or how or when they arrived; apple trees are not native to this country. The village and the mountain both became known as Manzano.

Elevations in the Wilderness range from 6,000 feet in the foothills to 10,098 feet on Manzano Peak. A rule of thumb to remember about climate and elevation is that every 1,000 feet gained in elevation is the same as traveling 400 miles north. You start out in the desert of central New Mexico and end up in the spruce-fir forests of lower Canada. (...so to speak.)

This video footage was recorded May 29th, 30th and 31st, 2010. (Memorial Day Weekend)

Category:

Howto & Style

Tags:

• Backpacking
• The Southwest Backpacker
• High elevation Backpacking
• desert backpacking
• Cibola National Forest
• Manzano Mountains
• New Mexico Backpacking
• The Backpacker
• wilderness hiking
• wilderness backpacking
• canyon
• camping
• mountain
• climbing

[bubbyman50]

great views of the western slope of the manzanos. not to nit-pick, but "manzano" is sp. for "apple orchard" and "manzana" is apple. no biggie. those orchards came from the occupation of Quarai and other east mountain pueblos (Chilili, Torreon, etc.) by the spanish in the early to late 1600's. one of the good things they brought.

i love that shot of yellowstone springs. how did you gain access to the encino TH? I thought that was all blocked off now. I remember in the 70's going up Trigo.

[CrazyTaileZ]

@bubbyman50 Thank you for watching and the correction on "manzano/manzana". I took the Wikipedia description and used it for this video description. Thats what I get for "copying" the literature from Wiki. So my understanding is that today, all NFS trails on the western side are no longer being maintained. Encino (to my knowledge) was never a NFS trail but instead used as a stock trail. It can still be accessed on the Rio Del Oro Loop rd that takes you to the foothills but it's grown over badly.

[WorldofCornelius]

Great video!

[CrazyTaileZ]

@WorldofCornelius

Thanks for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it.

[medicjimr]

Great video skills and editing now on to the hike were you able to get more water or was the snow drift it. ?

[CrazyTaileZ]

@medicjimr

Thanks for watching! We discovered on the wilderness map 2 springs that were only 2 miles away from the big snow drift with really clean water. One was called Yellowstone Spring and the other was Cave Spring... both are perenial springs and both were gushing with clean, mountain spring water! What a treat!

[djbarryiii]

Great trip...thanks for posting it.

[Bushmanzweden]

Hey hello, nice movie. very beautiful nature. Nice trip. Please visit my channel. I think you like my hiking trips. Greetings Bushman

[slodeth5]

Always interesting, the desert. For land parched by lack of water, it is the most interesting landscape to me. Thanks to both of you for letting us tag along.

[CrazyTaileZ]

@den80241

Hmm. You must be the same muchacho who poured a cup of Sprite over his head when he tried to sober up from a heavy night of "Drinkin with the Guys" way back when! I was all ready to drink some beer with you guys but Carlitos told me you were going to be here on Saturday, but turns out you had stopped by on Tuesday. Carlitos misinformed me! Send me an email or message the next time you are in town and I'll buy you a beer.. ..and a Sprite! BTW: No more Oakland A's. Da Rockies!!