Northern NM and CO June 18-22, 2007

[RoundOut]

I'll be leaving Houston to drop off my son and his buddy for summer camp in Northeast NM 6/17 and picking them up 6/23. Looking at the cost of transportation, it appears cheaper to camp in NM/CO and do some wheeling than it would to return to Houston and turn around to head back to NM.

I would love to hook up with some ExPo members for some timber trails, mining roads, or similar fun. I'll probably have my 16 y/o daughter with me, too. We'll be camping, doing some scenic off-road trails, hiking, eating right, and taking some great pictures.

Let me know if your weekdays are free that week.

Gary

 

[devinsixtyseven]

I might be able to make a weekday free, or at least get an evening with an overnight or something.

Most things should be thawed by then, if you want to try something at altitude and possibly difficult.

 

[Rubi-Khan]

I might be up for something.

Have you gotten anything in mind yet?

 

[Dirty Harry]

Are they going to Philmont by chance? :26_7_2:

 

[RoundOut]

Have you gotten anything in mind yet?

I'll be putting together some ideas this afternoon, hopefully. Stay tuned.

Are they going to Philmont by chance?

Yup! Gonna be a blast. Wish I could stay!

 

[Ursidae69]

A friend of mine ran Goose Lake in NE NM a few years agao. Here is a link to some coordinates off a Jeeper site.

 

[RoundOut]

All Right... We check my son and his buddy in on Sunday, June 17 at Philmont and have to pick them up on the Saturday June 23rd. I figure we'll start this adventure by finding a suitable campground somewhere in the Carson National Forest, probably at Goose Lake, per Ursidae69's referral. We can probably get that far Sunday afternoon without hurrying and still get to enjoy the sunset. From Goose Lake, we could do Greenie Peak on the morning of the 18th and then meander up to Colorado. Both of these trails are easy, probably the best way to start the week.
:roost:

From there, I'm still working on the list of places to visit, but I would like to get some of the trails in the Silverton area such as Imogene, Clear Lake, Engineer Pass, Nellie Creek, & Stony Creek in the first half of the week, then drive up toward the Boulder area and do some of Coney Flats, Iron Clad, Plane Crash, PA Gulch and/or Switzerland Trail on Wednesday & Thursday. By Friday, I'd like to be in Medano Pass and the Great Sand Dunes National Monument, which will leave us a shorter trip back to Philmont on Saturday morning.

Sean (D67) will probably meet us for some evening runs near the Boulder area. I would sure love to have some travelling buddies for the other areas. Anyone game?
:jumping:

What is your schedule looking like Rubi-Khan?
:safari-rig:

 

[Ursidae69]

I've been wanting to check out that part of the Carson NF for years. I'd check with ranger station to make sure the trail is open. Should be, the whole state has been getting a lot of moisture for a change.

There are cool critters there to see like bighorn sheep, yellow-bellied marmots, and pine martens. I'd come join you but I'm working that weekend. Have a great trip.

 

[Rubi-Khan]

What is your schedule looking like Rubi-Khan?
:safari-rig:

I should have checked your post before I sent you the flurry of emails!

There's a decent chance I might be game for a good portion of the trip.

What type of camping are you planning? What about radio communication? I can do CB or FRS, but my CB is giving trouble so I'd better get it worked out quickly.

What route do you plan from NM to Silverton? If you're not set on going through Durango, consider going up to Lake City and taking Cinnamon/Engineer over to Silverton via Animas Forks Ghost Town. That would put us near Stony Pass as well. Just a thought....not a big deal to me either way.

Imogene is an awesome trail IMHO, but is often closed until July.

Do you still plan to have a co-pilot? I will have one of the four-legged kind.

 

[RoundOut]

What type of camping are you planning?

Tent. I have a Taj Majal (sp?) - the kind we put cots in and still have room to stand up - if we base-camp and return to it, and a two-man hiking tent for quick set up and take down. I'll probably just use the two-man and put a big tarp on some poles for an awning/canopy.

What about radio communication?

My CB sucks too, but it will have to do. I also have some GMRS/FRS radios that we can use and I'll bring. I just sold my HT 2-meter, and may get a mobile 2-meter at some point, but probably not before this trip.

What route do you plan from NM to Silverton? If you're not set on going through Durango, consider going up to Lake City and taking Cinnamon/Engineer over to Silverton via Animas Forks Ghost Town. That would put us near Stony Pass as well. Just a thought....not a big deal to me either way.

I would prefer the back-roads, unless it just gets to be too much driving. Major milestones include being in Boulder by Wednesday late or Thursday early. I'm planning on hooking up with Sean (DevinSixtySeven) for some early evening runs Wednesday night and Thursday night. We'll have Thursday to do whatever, either off-road or in civilization. Depending on what kind of work stuff I get thrown at me, I may need to spend an hour or two on the web before getting back to the fun. Another major milestone is to get back to Medano Pass for the whole Medano/GSDNM effect! I'm really looking forward to that one, too.

Imogene is an awesome trail IMHO, but is often closed until July.

That sucks, cuz that was one of my "REALLY-HOPE-TO-DO'S".

Do you still plan to have a co-pilot? I will have one of the four-legged kind.

My daughter will be navigating.

 

[RoundOut]

Here's a link to Silverton's Alpine Loop info

There are some ghost towns along the "Alpine Loop". Here is Silverton's information page. This loop includes Engineer & Cinnamon Passes.

 

[Rubi-Khan]

There are some ghost towns along the "Alpine Loop". Here is Silverton's information page. This loop includes Engineer & Cinnamon Passes.

We shouldn't have any problem with these being open. These two are heavily traveled by stockers and rental jeeps. The majority is 2wd in good weather. I did Cinnamon in May last year. I think there are some formal camping areas on these trails as well.

There's a little place in Silverton that we must visit, but I don't recall the name. They are famous for Lime-aid and funnel cakes. I've sort of made it a tradition.

 

[RoundOut]

There's a little place in Silverton that we must visit, but I don't recall the name. They are famous for Lime-aid and funnel cakes. I've sort of made it a tradition.

Sounds like a plan. My daughter will like that idea!

 

[RoundOut]

Time to move this thread

Awesome trip. Will be posting details soon.

Gary

 

[Rubi-Khan]

Agreed!

Here are a few teasers of the newly named Alpine Tundra: