West Fork Gila River backpacking adventure / Gila Wilderness New Mexico/ Long version

[@kimbrewsaugh6216]

Yes!!! Joey is back. That’s my best find on Black Friday!!

[@garethleitner9547]

Thank you Joey, Kat and Kyle for a wonderfully filmed and documented trip into one of New Mexico's gems!

[@noahkoch9153]

Dude is just casually dropping banger after banger

[@backpackingcapebreton]

So awesome to see you back on KZbin, Joey. I also didn’t know New Mexico had summer conditions in mid-winter.

[@Victorted]

I was anl volunteer outdoor educator for the American Red Cross for 15 years. Your backcountry decision making process and how you explain it is invaluable for those who are new to this hobby. On top of everything else that's excellent about your content, I especially applaud this.

[@ricklarry4212]

Gorgeous views and landscapes here. Good companions make for a good hike.

[@geri1864]

Always love your videos. You and Cat are the only hiking videos I watch❤. Awesome hike! I do wonder if your feet get blisters walking with wet shoes and socks?

[@MtBakerlife]

Thanks for the long format Joey! We appreciate your channel!! Hi to Kat ❤

[@traviskinchen2265]

That overlook rock at "Kyle's Camp" has been the mental happy place I go to whenever I need some peace. Yes, the exact same rock. It's been 30 years since I was actually there... hasn't changed much, thank goodness. I could hardly believe my eyes when I saw my favorite spot in a Joey video! Maybe I'll get to be there again before too many years pass.

[@MyOwnFrontier]

That's cool you recognized the spot! You gotta go back! Unfortunately, that was Kyle's last time there, so that spot will always be bittersweet for me. I'll never forget that morning light coming up and hitting us in the trees there, and then slowly lighting up everything else. Yeah the Gila is an awesome place!

[@karnosadventures6599]

This guy is a lenend, so glad he's back

[@samuelfox8126]

What a camp spot, right on the Gila!

[@troygunter2848]

Glad your back Joey. Hats off to the other Best Backcountry Guy. Our friend Travis.He kept me going.It was Great to see you both together. The two Best in my opinion. Looking forward to whats next Congratulations from the Sunshine State. FLORIDA!!!

[@butchlewis2136]

Great to watch you again Joey. Great trip. Stay safe and have fun.

[@MyOwnFrontier]

Thanks Butch! Hope your doing well and enjoying the holidays!

[@harrytraction1380]

So far I have not found a better more informative, to the point back packing videos on the Tube.

[@willderhoonin]

I just did this hike yesterday. I am so glad you are back. I really hope you upload some of your old videos. The ones of you in the kings canyon area are my favorite

[@journeywjessicat]

Its great to see you back Joey! I just got back from a road trip out west. It was amazing coming from Upstate NY. Now I can start living through your videos again :) Its so vast out there, looking forward to your adventures.

[@stonedapeadventures]

so glad you're back!! therm a rest has a great warranty they'll fix or replace that i bet.

[@delvecks3921]

Cool video, looked like a fun trip! Glad you are back making videos 🎉

[@wanderingsouthwest2374]

Thanks for posting this Joey. Rest in peace Kyle ❤

[@MyOwnFrontier]

Thanks Adam. I'm just now getting to a place where I can look through my footage. If you still want any photos or anything let me know. I am planning to make a tribute video for him and talk about some of the trips we did here coming up. I'm down in Florida so I don't have Cat's phone at the moment, but will be online everyday during the Holidays.

[@brianosborne1437]

So glad you’re back ol boy. So good to see ya. Peace

[@Ridgeback76]

Good to see you back on YT, Joey. Great video as usual! I used to have that tent back in the early 2010s. It's practically a collector's item with Eureka! Now being defunct. Fun fact... I asked you for some water beta on The Maze back in early 2016 and it helped immensely. Thank you for that. Happy (belated) Thanksgiving! 🦃

[@MyOwnFrontier]

Happy holidays my friend, great to know my info was still good! I haven't been back to the maze since 2017, gotta get back there!

[@OneMansOdyssey]

Great video, Joey. I am glad to see you posting on KZbin publicly again. It's crazy to think I have enjoyed your content for close to 10 years now (or at least it seems that way). I live in New Mexico and recently picked up a collection of some lesser-known Aldo Leopold essays. The way he talks about the Gila and the broader high country of southwestern NM/southeastern AZ makes one pine (no pun intended) for this country. Thanks!

[@MyOwnFrontier]

Yeah there is a lot of country there I can't wait to go back and explore. Very vast and wild and hardly touched. I could spend a month just walking around the Gila and never see the same place twice. Thanks man and happy holidays!

[@janm2473]

So nice to see you and Kat/Cat?

[@edschneider1780]

Beautiful trip!

[@happycampers6592]

Good to see you back Joey!

[@annclayton3420]

Thanks guy. You are thoroughly helpful

[@jamespazera3038]

Hug trees😊 Joey

[@Bassandbackpacks]

I was there in April and it was definitely sketchy on the middle fork. I went up the west and crossed over at hells hole. Then went up to lily park , then over to the middle fork. I had to search for safe crossing spots multiple times. I still have a little PTSD when I hear rushing water. I probably shouldn't have done some of the stuff I did being solo. I plan on going back around late summer so it's a little more chill. Your video brought back a mix of emotions. Love seeing you dropping all these awesome videos 👍🏻

[@traviskinchen2265]

October and even November are great for the Middle Fork - rarely over knee high. Some fall colors around then as well. Chilly, though.

[@jeremiahr4271]

Awesome Joeys back.

[@mikewanders]

Outfit for the pack load out at the end was a 10/10.

[@MyOwnFrontier]

Trying to attract the open minded crowd! Any big plans for next year? Let me know if you would be interested in connecting for a trip somewhere, whether it's the GYE or Alaska or the coast or Canada, I'm in the planning stages now!

[@mikewanders]

@@MyOwnFrontier absolutely interested. Let’s do it. I’m open July or August. More wildlife the better!

[@MyOwnFrontier]

@@mikewanders I'm going to message you in the next few days. Any interest in joining up for a new route in the Canadian rockies or doing something up by the Yukon/Alaska border? Have you been to or heard of a place called Kluane? What about the Victoria Cross Ranges in Jasper?

[@mikewanders]

@@MyOwnFrontier Kluane looks epic. Looks similar to Denali. Haven’t heard much of that range in Jasper but I LOVE Jasper. Wild beautiful country with tons of big game. Canadian Rockies in general is great. GYE also works with me. Yeah shoot me a message and can figure something out

[@Twobarpsi]

Excellent adventure!

[@wizard_walking]

We need to know more about this “emergency fire” in the Bob.

[@jago76]

Glad to see Joey back. Interesting that he apparently didn't see much wildlife. Years ago, before the Mexican wolves were introduced, I did a packpack into the Aldo Leopold Wilderness, which is adjacent to the Gila. One night I was awaken by the strangest animal noise I've ever heard. It was like a very loud, high pitched crazy sound and I have no idea what animal could make it.

[@traviskinchen2265]

Maybe elk bugling? That's a sound like no other.

[@jago76]

@@traviskinchen2265 No I know that sound, Something else.

[@MyOwnFrontier]

Could have been a screetch owl, a cat, or an elk "barking" a distress call. An elk bark is usually high pitched, and sounds nothing like a bugle. Or bigfoot? 😎

[@jago76]

@@MyOwnFrontier If it was Bigfoot, he must have been trapped in one of those metal traps with sharp edges. The best way I can describe it was as if a donkey was being subjected to extreme torture. It was much longer than an elk bark and louder and more powerful than a cat or owl. I guess it will have to remain a mystery.

[@denise20240]

You guys should invest in some waterproof hip waders when walking in the cold river for so long.

[@sacredstonecards9051]

Yes, I was wondering what type of boots Cat had on. They looked big and cumbersome.

[@MyOwnFrontier]

It would be too heavy, plus it's easy to get swept down stream with those on. The water really isn't that bad, even when it's cold, plus it's great on the body to get wet like that in cold water!

[@martinjcamp]

Not Extremely Long. Just right for me, Thank You.

[@dmn3773]

In 2023 I camped at a chill spot near Jordan HS and ended up getting poison ivy all over my ass and balls. Not sure how I missed that... I still dig the Gila though, hope to be back this summer. Cheers Joey! Thanks for the video. You also made a good call... The Meadows to Jordan is a bit of a mess and I am sure there are a few chest deep crossings in the more narrow sections of that canyon.

[@MyOwnFrontier]

lol, poison ivy has given a lot of people some very memorable moments. I did want to go down the river, and so did Kyle, but Cat wasn't having any of that. But I definitely want to hit it at high water again, it makes it so much more exciting. That middle fork is my favorite! Thanks man! and Happy Holidays!

[@MtBakerlife]

Hey Joey, I hope Kyle is okay.

[@numbereightyseven]

20:35 - are you sure that's a spork? It looked like a spoon.

[@MyOwnFrontier]

It was a knife! For sure for sure!

[@SteveMcNicoll]

Good to see you joe I’ll have a scoop of peanut butter with you crazy sun of bitch🎉

[@JOHNSMITH-bi9hr]

"THIS IS WHAT I'M GOING TO BE PUTTING THROUGH MY BODY FOR THE NEXT SIX DAYS. ITS NOT GOING TO LOOK LIKE THIS COMING OUT"....ANOTHER JOEYISM CLASSIC!

[@desertwaters_808]

😄😵😂