Southeastern New Mexico Overland - January 2018
- Thread starter wngrog
- Start date
wngrog
Adventurer
Yeah, we are all close. I can't imagine going on a trip of this scale without knowing everyone really well.
wngrog
Adventurer
wngrog
Adventurer
We knew we were at altitude and up high there is always a chance of snow but checking earlier in the day there was 3% chance of precipitation.
Or not.
Patrick jumped up and made us some breakfast while we stoked the fire and tried to contact the two that went low and camped.
I got in my truck and headed down toward them to get a signal. This is the sign that made us all reluctant to go down there with trailers and such.
Turns out it was bogus and they made it through and down to Truth or Consequences.
We took the main road down in the snow
Or not.
Patrick jumped up and made us some breakfast while we stoked the fire and tried to contact the two that went low and camped.
I got in my truck and headed down toward them to get a signal. This is the sign that made us all reluctant to go down there with trailers and such.
Turns out it was bogus and they made it through and down to Truth or Consequences.
We took the main road down in the snow
wngrog
Adventurer
We finally broke out of the clouds at about 7000' and the view was magnificent
Glad we did not see this sign going in.....
When we got to the bottom you could still see it snowing at the top
Once we hit gravel we hit speeds of 60-70 mph to rendezvous with the other two in our party and head further south
Glad we did not see this sign going in.....
When we got to the bottom you could still see it snowing at the top
Once we hit gravel we hit speeds of 60-70 mph to rendezvous with the other two in our party and head further south
wngrog
Adventurer
After restocking the coolers in TC, we drove about 5 miles south on I-25 and hopped across the Rio Grande into the Caballo Mountains
And we climbed......
The trail wound along a very cool shelf road into Palomas Canyon.
When we got to the top, we turned south along a watershed. We drove along until it narrowed to the point that we could not go any further and had to backtrack. We turned 10 trucks and 2 trailers around in a 14' creek bed. It was pretty ugly.
Once we got out of the watershed we peeled out across the plateau in search of a better route south
And we climbed......
The trail wound along a very cool shelf road into Palomas Canyon.
When we got to the top, we turned south along a watershed. We drove along until it narrowed to the point that we could not go any further and had to backtrack. We turned 10 trucks and 2 trailers around in a 14' creek bed. It was pretty ugly.
Once we got out of the watershed we peeled out across the plateau in search of a better route south
wngrog
Adventurer
As we drove south the Caballo Mountains loomed to the west with a full array of antenna along the top that was pretty intriguing. It just so happened it was just about sunset so we took off to watch it from the edge and try to find a campsite along the way.
Elephant Butte to the north
Once on top we took it all in
Elephant Butte to the north
Once on top we took it all in
wngrog
Adventurer
We had passed one good campsite on the road up but a guy had a large Toyhauler parked in the middle of it. We were going to go crash his party until I found a nice little shelf just off the main road under the ledge to the east of the antenna farm.
Just to the east of us in the valley below is Space Port, the private space launch port owned by Elon Musk
Dinner and a huge bonfire were on the menu.....
Just to the east of us in the valley below is Space Port, the private space launch port owned by Elon Musk
Dinner and a huge bonfire were on the menu.....
wngrog
Adventurer
The next morning I was able to get the "feet out the rooftop tent" shot with the most epic sunrise of the trip to date
Breakfast was more meat. More cheese. More awesome.
After that, we packed up and headed down the mountain
One at the bottom we crossed over the RR tracks that serve Space Port
Then we turned south for a 25 mile run on some super rough, super dusty, super crowded gravel road. Lot of road graders. Oil trucks. Cars. It was weird seeing so many people in such rough country
This sign told the truth
The gravel beast of a road dumped us right onto I-25 near Hatch where we turned south again for Las Cruces
Breakfast was more meat. More cheese. More awesome.
After that, we packed up and headed down the mountain
One at the bottom we crossed over the RR tracks that serve Space Port
Then we turned south for a 25 mile run on some super rough, super dusty, super crowded gravel road. Lot of road graders. Oil trucks. Cars. It was weird seeing so many people in such rough country
This sign told the truth
The gravel beast of a road dumped us right onto I-25 near Hatch where we turned south again for Las Cruces
wngrog
Adventurer
Our last night would be up in the mountains north of Cloudcroft at about 8700'
On the way in we passed a Vibe.....
And an 18 Wheeler delivering a piano....lost as a goose.
But once we found our spot we spread out, tossed some hatchets and made a big *** fire
That night we dined on everything left over. From brisket, to steak, to cream corn, to lemon squares....we ate like kings
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