Camping
Like the PCT
and CDT, the Grand Enchantment Trail supports a mostly primitive camping
experience.
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|
Chihuahuan
desert campsite
|
No lean-tos, huts,
or hiker shelters occur along the route, and although you may come
across the occasional backcountry shanty, most would be unsuitable
for camping. Forest Service campgrounds are located sporadically between
the route's termini. Most are located near roads and are aimed primarily
at car campers. Now and then you may find yourself drawn in by the
social atmosphere at these places, or the creature comforts of a picnic
table and bathroom. Usually, though, you'll be camping in the woods.
Or the desert. By a babbling creek, perhaps. Or beneath a lone juniper
tree. Established campsites with fire rings can be nice when you find
them, but otherwise the route is a treasure trove of pristine ground
just waiting for you to throw down a bedroll and stretch out for a
restorative night's slumber beneath the stars. Few camping restrictions
exist on the ample public lands along the G.E.T. Just be sure to camp
far enough away from critical water sources so that wildlife and stock
animals feel secure in visiting them during the night.
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| Capilla
Peak Campground picnic shelter, Manzano Mtns |
The G.E.T. topo
map set highlights some of the more noteworthy camping spots along
the route. As do the guidebook descriptions.
Equipment
Although starry
nights tend to be the rule, you should carry shelter with you along
the entire route. Not only will this keep you dry in the event of
rain, snow, or the very real chance of overnight dew, it can also
keep you much warmer and less distracted by shielding you from wind.
A lightweight tarp is often a good choice for thru-hikers,
or you may want to carry an ultralight 3 season tent to keep
any insects and moths at bay. A full-coverage tent can be especially
useful during summer and fall hikes along the route's desert segments,
when warm temperatures and recent monsoon rains can create a sporadic
abundance of scorpions. In
selecting a shelter for use on the G.E.T., focus primarily on minimizing
its weight and packed size, and on simplicity of set-up.
In addition, consider
carrying:
- Thin-gauge
titanium tent stakes for easier purchase and less flexing in
hardpan desert soils. Avoid the "ultralight" varieties,
which bend like aluminum stakes.
- A lightweight,
full coverage ground sheet, especially when tarping, to reduce
exposure to spines and burrs, and any insects
on the ground (ants or, especially in desert washes, possible scorpions).
- Inflatable
mattress vs. foam pad - you'll need to be more careful when
selecting campsites if carrying the former, but in my experience
it is certainly possible to do so without having a puncture. Carry
an air mat inside your pack only, and bring a patch kit for
peace of mind. A half or three-quarter length inflatable mattress
can be easier to protect from puncturing spines, needles, cones
and twigs than can a full-length mat, reducing the need to preen
the ground beforehand (or selecting ideal campsites) and so simplifying
camp setup.
And as a side
note:
A somewhat delicate
issue, but when it comes to visiting the bushes (whether in camp or
not), please keep in mind that soils along a route such as the GET
tend to be thin, sandy or hardpan, and relatively inorganic. Toilet
paper in particular can be very slow to degrade and difficult to bury
at sufficient depth to prevent its eventual resurfacing. Packing out
all toilet paper is therefore strongly encouraged, and is in fact
a painless act when carrying a spare, gallon-size zipper-lock bag
as part of one's toilet kit between each town stop. Use of an ethyl
alcohol-based hand sanitizer gel as a final step is normally standard
procedure anyway, and does away with any concerns related to upholding
good Leave No Trace practice in this case.
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| Tarping
along Whitewater Creek, Gila NF |
