Cattleman Trial - Continental Divide Trail

10/14/2017

After a couple nights at Rose Valley RV Ranch in Silver City, NM to do some shopping and laundry, we headed to another National Forest dispersed camping location about 25 miles southwest of Silver City,  Cattleman Trial.  The main draw for this location, other than a free place to camp for a few days, is the Continental Divide Trail which runs through the campground.

If you read the comments about this location they mention that the best sites are near the road.  Well, we forgot that little piece of information when we arrived.  We passed some sites as we were driving in but preceded on to find something further down the road.  There’s a loop drive at the end of the road with evidence of some campsites.  The terrain has (what appeared to be) a gentle slope.  We picked a spot and started to “try” to setup.  To make a long story short, we spent over an hour trying to make the trailer level in several locations and wasn't comfortable with the stability of any of them.  Disappointed, hot, tired and frustrated, we gave up. As we were driving out, we noticed the sites we’d discounted earlier.  Deciding to give it one more try, we finally got setup, still on a little slope but the camper was level.

Lesson learned, don't try to make a silk purse out of a sows ear!  If it's not right, move on and find something that is.

Still on a slope, but acceptable.

10/15/2017

The next day we hiked a small portion of the Continental Divide Trail, here’s some pictures…

Trail hazard!

View from the top of the hill, our goal for the hike.

Heading down. arrow points to campsite.

Coming next, Rockhound State Park NM.