NM Adventure Series

This weekend ive got a camping date but I’m down to explore man!

 

I'm available Aug 29-30 and Sep 5-6

 

I haven't been up that way in a while, I'd be interested depending on day/time. Would you plan on heading up through Ponderosa or dropping in onto 10 from Hwy 4?

 

No cabin fever here, but give it a week or so. I'll keep an eye out for the final dates you all decide on... now that the kids are back to school I'll probably be getting out by myself a bit.

I've been laying low this year and staying offline, but have been out and about much more than I deserve/thought I ever would. I noticed his thread has been stagnant since May and I'm wondering if anyone else is getting out. Here area few pics to stoke the fire. Anyone else got anything to share?

@Phessor , did you sell your rig?

@tomtom , lets see some CO goodness!

 

And a few more...

 

My wife and I own a home in Corrales and have been living in WI for two years but we will be moving back to NM in mid September. Bet your ass I will be posting in here and looking for new NM adventures!

Damn I can’t wait to be back out west again!

 

I still have it, I'm not actively trying to sell it.

 

The thread is a bit slow but a few of us have been getting out and about. What lake/river is that? I've been looking to get into fishing a bit more so look for some spots.

Anyway, I realized I had only posted this over in the 2.7L thread but this is a trip from beginning of July up to CO.

July 6:
Left Albuquerque Monday morning and made the 5 hour drive to our dispersed camp spot off FR600 in the Rio Grand NF. Had a little convoy on the way up with my Taco, Delica, and a CRV to meet my buddy with his 470GX.

View from camp, about 10,000 feet with the Rio Grande below.


Part of the group camp setup


GX set up closer to the cliff.


My buddy gettin dinner started in his dear setup in the Delica.


Had a nice sunset the first night.


July 7:
Made our way up to the Wheeler Geologic Area, 36 mile round trip from our camp spot. Here's a cool write up about the geologic area if you're interested -> https://rootsrated.com/stories/the-fascinating-story-behind-wheeler-geologic-area

On our way up to the site


Open high altitude meadow roughly 10,500ft


Making our hike up to the geologic site. From the parking area its about a half mile in before you get to fork in the trail. It's a large loop but we decided to make our way to the lower portion and explore some of the small canyons.




July 8:
We left our camp spot off FR 600, our buddy with the CRV brake off and headed back to Albuquerque, and then headed into Creede for some gas and then made our way up hwy 149 to FR520. This graded first road takes you the the "trail head" for Stony Pass roughly 18 miles. From hwy to hwy in Silverton its roughly 50 miles and took us about 4 1/2 hours with an off shoot to Kite Lake.

Making our way up to the "trail head" - I call it the "trail head" because there isn't an official sign/starting point its where the road is no longer graded.




Stopped for an adult soda break


Roughly about mile 24 you hit this mile or so hill climb with big loose shale type rock (im not a geologist so not sure what its actually called) it's a fairly steep. Definitely low range 1st gear considering the weight of the FlipPac and camping gear I just didn't have the power in 2wd or 4Hi haha.

This is at the top of that climb


We decided to take the offshoot up to Kite Lake its about 6 miles one way. pretty easy graded road up to the last half mile then its a little busy and 4x4 and low range, at least when we went it was a good amount of driving through the creek to traction was an issue.

this was at one of the parking areas.


Kite Lake


And what I think is good pic of my buddy, his girl, and dog.


Made our way back through the tow creek crossing and to the peak, 12,650ft. we had a bit of a snow ball fight during July which is always fun to say.







Making our way down to Silverton, you hit the old mining town of Howardsville and take County road 2 into Silverton.



After getting into the Silverton we headed north on hwy110 and found a great camping spot along Cement Creek. I don't really have any pictures of that area but we got lucky and didn't have any neighbors. The running creek is always some good good to bed sounds.

We woke up the next morning and made our way to Ophir Pass. Super short/easy pass and worth the scenic drive.



We then took hwy149 into Telluride before our buddy the the GX split off and headed home. The Delica and I took Imogene into Ouray.

At social tunnel.





Stopped at the Tommyboy Mine Site and looked through some of the old structures. Here is a little read on the area if you're interested -> https://westernmininghistory.com/towns/colorado/tomboy/

The guy in the gray talked my buddies ear off about the Delica, he's got that sweet black FJ80.


View from above the Tommyboy Mine Site



Our ascent to Imogene pass. We waited the the bottom the of the climb for a while because there was about 1,000 jeers/sidedxsides making their way down.



Finally at the peak



Making our way down to Ouray.

This 3rd gen dude stopped my buddy to tell him he's insane taking a van through Imogene haha.



After making our way down Imgene we headed up to Yakee Boy Basin but I don't have green pictures of that. Afterward we headed into Ouray and check into you AirBnb for the night.

July 10:
We split ways with the Delica and started making our way to Marble. Along the way we stopped at the Black Canyon of the Gunnison but thats were I stopped taking pictures. On the 12th we made our way back to Albuquerque.






Overall a really great trip, I highly recommend gettin out and going to the wooded areas.

 

@BigFishAllDay Nice to see you and family out again. Great photos and beautiful area.

 

Damn @BigFishAllDay those look like some
Incredible spots. I’ve been out almost every week someplace, although Mia on here. If anyone can head out during the week on a Monday-Wednesday please let me know. Me and my buddy @Land Shark would love to have another one of you join us

Elwood pass/East fork Pagosa




recent trip out to the glorieta fire tower

 

I’m seeing some bad ass pictures of some rivers and bodies of water!!! Love it!!! Need to figure out where some of these places are and get out and explore!!! Stuck good ol grants where it’s dry and out lake ain’t even open! Lol

 

I would love to make that trip. Thanks for sharing.

 

Where do you head out from?

 

Santa Fe, but definitely wouldn’t mind driving to meet up someplace.

 

I'm in eastern Arizona, so I would have to drive up there anyway. I work a rotating shift, so sometimes I have weekends off and sometimes I have weekdays off.

 

Welcome back, in advance. There are lots of guys on here who can point you to some nice areas. I look forward to seeing some trip reports/pictures from you.

Good to hear! I have always liked your truck and followed your build, so when I saw your FS ad I thought to myself "WHY?" Unfortunately I had to sell my Tacoma because I was in a situation that forced my hand so it's just the 4Runner for me now. Still hope to run into you some day on a trip.

Man, your post brought back a lot of memories for me. We took almost that same route on a family camping trip back in 2016. We worked our way north from our cabin through the San Juans and into South Fork, over to Lake City, camped on Stony Pass, then Cement Creek, then ran all the passes around Ouray. The only difference was that we went west to Carnero Pass/Saguache Creek then back to our cabin at the end of the trip.

Some friends and I went up to Wheeler in 2018 and all I can say is that that road is a GRIND. I think once was enough for me. We went during a motocross event of some kind and there were hundreds of bikes out on the trail, we were yielding right of way every 5 minutes for hours. Plus the trail is not really technical, but it's a gut buster and tooth rattler the whole way. However, it is worth making the trip at least once, especially if you hike to the top and take in the views of the whole area.



Regarding your question, I'm not sure which photo you're asking about, but there are many areas pictured... from the top of post 1:

Ojito Wilderness
Glorieta Baldy
Greyback Mountain
Alamosa River drainage
Rabbit river
Pronghorn west of La Jara, CO
Elwood Pass
Greyback Summit
Treasure Creek
Summitville
Lookout Mountain
Rabbit River
one of many "Lost Lakes", in CO
Ladybugs on Glorieta Baldy, followed by the lookout tower
Horned lizard near Heron Lake
Strange chunk of wood, Massey Gulch

Post 2

Rinconada, SE flank of Mt. Taylor
Confluence of the S.Fork and main stem Rabbit river
Spud Patch, NW flank of Mt. Taylor
Shuree Ponds, Valle Vidal
Rabbit river
Comanche Creek, VV
Lobatos Bridge
Brazos Ridge
Falls @ Truillo Meadows
Apache Creek
Rio Chama headwaters

Great photos you got, and thanks for posting.

Thank you, it has been a blessing to be able to get out with them again.

You and I have been frequenting some of the same spots, I'm surprised we haven't run into each other. Your truck looks amazing now that you got rid of that drop bracket lift and brought it down some. One of my favorite Tacos, by far! Your last round of mods took it to next level.

I'm still dealing with my situation, but God has blessed me with some more time, so I'm getting out while I can. Send me a message next time you're headed somewhere and have room for one more, I'll be looking for some company now that it's school time for the kids.

Dang though, I ask for some trip photos and you and @Taco505 blew it up.

 

@BigFishAllDay

I just pm’d ya. Let’s definitely head out and make the best of the remaining summer!

 

I'm up for a road trip, send me some dates.

 

Ya it was a great trip I've done Ophir and Imogene a few times but first time heading up Stony I highly recommend that!

Oh wow ya that's basically the same trip and camping in almost the same places, I guess great minds think alike. I'd totally agree that road up to the geologic area is super long and bumpy, luckily when we went it wasn't super busy just a few side x sides zipping around. You're right though that's a road you take once and that's about it, I think it took us about 2 hours each way.

I totally should have been more specific but I appreciate the listing of places for sure, seems like you're always getting out to the best places.

I second Phessor, send some dates and I'll see when I can join weekends are good for me but I can probably do a few Monday-Friday trips as well.

 

awesome! Are you guys thinking an overnight trip, day trip? I’ll look at some dates and see what days might work out. I’m consistently off Monday-Wednesday.