The Gila Wilderness is located in southwestern New Mexico. Aldo Leopold, who authored the very popular Sand County Almanac and is considered to be the father of wildlife management in the United States, worked there for 19 years as a forest service employee. Leopold was an American ecologist, forester, and environmentalist and was influential in the development of modern environmental ethics and wilderness preservation.

Through Leopold’s advocacy, the Gila became the country’s first wilderness preserve in 1924. Today, it’s also the largest wilderness area in the country. It’s vast and diverse. Most of it is at or above 6,000’. It offers dramatic canyons, 400 miles of fishing streams, hot springs, and thick forests of spruce and fir. Wildlife includes elk, bear, mountain lion, javalina, panther, deer, antelope, eagles and wolves.

The natural beauty of the wilderness area attracts many visitors each year. There are also many other interesting areas in and around the Gila, including the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument. These dwellings were established by the Mogollon Indians over 700 years ago in the cliffs above the Gila River. It was also in this area where Geronimo sought refuge from the U.S. Army in 1885.

To get to the Gila, we drove south of Albuquerque to Socorro to head into the highlands. From Socorro, the road climbs out of the Rio Grande Valley to the high plateau and highlands. A fascinating stop near Magdalena, a very small town on the route, travelers will find The Very Large Array. It’s an astronomical radio observatory that consists of 27 huge antennas that are aimed toward the skies to listen for sounds coming from outer space.

The location is perfect for radio telescopes. It’s high, flat and far away from any cities, and any electrical interference. This is true for times when there’s not an electrical storm in the area. When storms arrive, lightening displays here are legend. Not far from Magdalena, an artist has placed tall metal poles around a large flat open area. He’s also built viewing huts not far away. The huts are used by photographers who come just to photograph the lightening displays above the poles. Signs around the VLA warn visitors to seek shelter during electrical storms.

The antennas are nearly 100 feet tall and weigh 235 tons. Each aluminum dish is 82 feet across. They are moved around on railroad tracks and set in a variety of configurations along the tracks which form the shape of a “Y”. The nature of the research being conducted determines the location of the antennas. When the antennas are spread out over the entire length of track, they function as one mirror with a diameter of 22 miles.

Sci-fi buffs are familiar with SETI (Search for Extraterrestrial Intelligence) and the movie Contact. This aspect is mentioned, but downplayed in the facility’s public relations. There’s a wide range of educational opportunities offered by the VLA staff. Theoretically, anyone can use the facility. Users must submit plans and compete for time on the antennas. Most of the users are educational and research organizations. It’s an incredible place.

Most of the area throughout the highlands is undeveloped and unspoiled. There are reservoirs that are maintained to manage water and provide recreational fishing. Lake Quemado and Roberts are two lakes that we visited. Both were situated in very scenic settings – and offered good fishing.

Here are a few photos from two trips to the Gila, one in 2006 and a return visit in 2008. The photos speak best about the Gila.