A trail constructed about 1975 takes you to Cimarroncito Reservoir
on the south side of the narrow valley are several crevices that provide
a natural air conditioning. Cool air streams forth from them even during
summer's most sultry days. Watch for traffic as you hike the road around
the reservoir.
Here a choice of scenic places confronts you. One can go on to Cyphers
mine or take a side trip up the trail to get a commanding overlook at Window
Rock and see a little of the tranquil, photogenic meadows of Hidden Valley.
The trail to Window Rock rises on a steady ten percent grade that permits
you to take in magnificent views as you go.
A wide variety of plants and wildflowers grow in the immediate vicinity
of Cito Hunting Lodge, built by Waite Phillips.
The North Fork route is rugged and primitive. Towering moss laken cliffs
dripping with spring water, outcroppings of red shale and lovely Rocky
Mountain maples highlight this trail. If it is raining, portions of this
trail can be slick and treacherous.
The Middle Fork trail follows the remnants of an old mining road that
was devastated by a flash flood in 1969. Many aspen trees were toppled
by torrents of water. Beavers periodically work this area, engineering
dams out of aspen limbs to form moats around their homes. These industrious
creatures are usually best observed at dusk and dawn. Along with prairie
dogs, bats, and others, beavers are one of Philmont's colonial animals
(they live in a colony).
The Contention and Thunder Mines at Cyphers were initiated by Thomas
W. Knott and Charles L. Welles in 1880. Charlie Cyphers operated a mine
here from 1900 to the early 1920'2 but compared with the mining in the
Baldy country, Cypher's was a "piker". After several productive
years, his hopes dwindled with his profits. At Cypher you can visit the
old assay office, now a museum, filled with paraphernalia from these former
mining days. Magnetite, abundant near the Thunder and Contention mines
at Cyphers, is only iron ore with considerable magnetic properties. Known
locally as "an old mountain goat," Charlie was reported to have
"backpacked" loads of 100 pounds or more into his mining camp.
Your packs should be a few pounds shy of that. After showing only meager
profits for his efforts, Charlie finally closed operations. Charlie's Mine,
the Contention extending several hundred feet into the mountain, has been
carefully shored and is inspected every two weeks during the summer so
that tours can be conducted. While you're here visit the museum containing
artifacts of days gone by. Spotted and striped skunks frolic about Cyphers
as well as a number of areas on the ranch. Unless provoked they usually
are not "obnoxious."
