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Customized guided wilderness adventures expertly
designed to concentrate on the surrounding environment, plant and animal
identification methods, as well as seasonal foraging techniques. Your
customized pack trip will provide you with an opportunity to experience
fundamental techniques and knowledge of outdoor living skills;
experiences essential for a safe, minimum impact, leave no trace, active
enjoyment of this rugged and vast country.
Your trail guide is Joe Saenz, of Chihe'ne (Warm Springs Apache)
ancestry, with an extensive guiding experience in horseback and
backpacking expeditions, throughout the American Rocky Mountains,
including Canada, Mexico’s Sierra Madre and Alaskan Brooks Range.
Accommodating all levels of experience from beginners to advanced
riders who want to "cover some ground"; from the occasional rider to
"trail munchers" ... a customized "small group" adventure will
enhance your personal vacation during this backcountry getaway .
"Chiricahua Apache Ride"
The "Chiricahua Apache Ride" ride is for the serious minded;
experienced rider and adventurer... and for those few novice riders who
are all heart. Named after an Apache War Party code, this ride is a
horseback educational outdoor survival skills journey.
Travel horseback through this rugged country. The region and homeland of
the Chiricahua Apache, who when pursued, would just dissolve into it's
landscape, taking routes through these mountains... trails and routes
that we'll retrace.
Ride through Chiricahua country, discover the raw beauty of Gila's
sunrises, sunsets and the endless miles of challenging trails, varied
terrain and Gila's ever changing weather.
Participants must be in relative good health. Trips consist of daily
intensive riding, and routes are always in a loop. These rides emphasize
philosophies of minimal environmental & Leave No Trace minimal
impact.
This trip with its authentic guide presents Native American historical
indigenous perspectives and interpretive services in regards to American
western history and to the appreciative relationship of the natural
resources of Dzil, which were once preserved and protected by Ndee
ancestors. So for your group getaway, an educational journey, your solo
wilderness trek, a romantic wilderness escape, or a family reunion, come
join us for an experience your heart and senses will never forget!
 RTNM05 
Rates include accommodations, meals starting day
two, 5 riding days, nature guide
7 days/ 6 nights $ 950
Single room on first and last night $60/night
- shorter and longer trips available
Dates 2008:
.... any time on request
Gratuities: 15% to pay locally
Meeting: Gila National Forest trailhead
Airport: Silver City, NM - El
Paso, TX
Transfer: private transfer from El Paso
$200 return- to pay locally
from Silver City airport $30 one way by taxi
Horses:
Quarter mix
Tack:
Western
Level: All levels
Min/Max Riders: 1-5
Note: All horseback rides include guide/wrangler, saddle
horse and packhorse, camping gear and meals. You provide your own
sleeping bag and personal gear. Food provided is a variety of healthy
and popular types. From "Gourmet Meals" to trail snacks, all food groups
are represented. Meats, Vegetables, Pasta, Dairy, Fruits, Grains,
Snacks, Tea, Coffee, Honey, Butter, and great Sandwiches!
Note: First and last day do not include dinner or any riding.
Day 1: Arrival and overnight at a local B&B or the outfitter's
home.
Day 2 to 6: Five riding days with overnights in tents - return to
B&B or outfitter's home for last night.
Day 7: Departure after breakfast
The Ancient and the Gila Region
Ancient Native Peoples were created
here and have inhabited these sacred mountains, valleys and canyons
throughout time. The Ndee (Chihe'ne, Chokone'ne, Bida'nku, Ndenai),
known as the Chiricahua Apache People predate all other cultures present
in the area. The ancient Pueblos, referred to as the Mogollon, Anasazi
and Mimbres cultures of the preserved Gila Cliff Dwellings, attempted to
settle this region, unsuccessfully.
Traveling through "Dzil" (mountains, the Gila region) offers
opportunities to view ancient homesites, and to discuss living
conditions and survival philosophies of these ancient builders; and the
true inhabitants and inheritors of this country, The Apache People.
The Ndee’s fierce defense and nomadic lifestyle allowed this region to
flourish and exist in harmony for countless generations in it's purest
essence. In more recent history, well known Apache band leaders, war
leaders, and warriors, like Cochise, Mangas Coloradas, Nana, Loco,
Victorio, Naiche, Chihuahua, Geronimo, Porico and Lozen joined forces to
drive all intruders from these sacred grounds.
Located
in southwest New Mexico, the Gila Wilderness is America’s first and
largest designated wilderness. At 3.3 million acres, the Gila National
Forest offers one of the continent’s most pristine and rugged wild areas
known today. Elevations range from desert and 4500 feet, to alpine at
10,000 feet. The Gila River’s immense watershed system creates valleys,
mesas and canyons only imagined in dreams.
The wildlife present will give visitor a glimpse into an ecosystem
desired by your soul. Soaring eagles, hawks, heron and kingfishers
haunting the sky, while deer, elk, antelope, black bear, lynx, cougar,
bighorn sheep, wolf, coyote and Javelina roam the shadows of the
forests, meadows and canyons.
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