NM Adventure Series

Which truck will you be driving?

 

I'm thinking the Tacoma this time. It hasn't been on a trip since September, and early February before that. The 4Runner is spotless right now and has been putting in work all summer. I'm going to send you a PM.

@tomtom , talk to you shortly.

 

I was impressed with how clean it is. Seeing how clean your 4Runners were the other day motivated me to finally wash ours! It was filthy since the summer.

 

It would be fine in that configuration for everything except North Baldy, which may or may not be runnable. I am working off info I got from the FS office in Magdalena and several maps of the area. The rest of the route will be pretty mellow, but scenic. I understand though, that thing is your new baby and you have to take care of it.

Thanks, man. I even detailed the engine bay, AND put tire dressing on the STTs... that's a first for me. They look all black and new now. 4+ hours worth of washing and cleaning and only an hour on the trail to get it filthy again.

 

It literally looked like it just rolled out of a SEMA product show display!

 

Hmmmm.... in that case... I got a turkey tag too... what does the days timeline look like? Leaving and getting back?

 

Waiting to talk with Tom, but I'm shooting for no later than 8am departure, in Magdalena by 10-11, Withington summit by 4pm, home by 7pm.

I'm doing my homework on the route and it will be well over 100 miles of dirt through some fairly remote country. Lots of old infrastructure and scenery.

 

Note that the above plan is fairly ambitions and completion will depend on the amount of stopping/bs-ing.

 

Alrighty! Just post up the plan when finalized and let me talk to my wife see what our plans are. Pretty interested - even if we can't make it all the way due to my configuration

 

Plan: 8:20am at Discount Tire, NE corner of Montgomery/I25. Proceed south to exit 175, eta 10a. Take exit 175, merge onto Old Hwy 60 and cross old Rio Puerco bridge to Rd 12 heading NW around Ladron Peak, hook SW toward Rio Salado 30.2 mi. Rd 12 turns into FR354, proceed south another 20.5 mi from Rio Salado to Magdalena, eta 1pm. From Magdalena, south on Kelly Rd to Kelly Mining area, lunch and look around. MAYBE: attempt 4 mile out and back trail up to N. Baldy, probably impassable. After Kelly/N.Baldy, head back into Magdalena, then west and south on 107 ~22mi to FR330 up the east side of Mt. Withington south saddle. Continue 330 to summit Withington ~18mi from 107 eta 4pm, then continue to north side down FR549 and out to HWY60 ~13mi. 60 to I25 north back to ABQ ~2hours.

103 miles on dirt, at min.

 

Will be there! If you guys decide to do N. Baldy or a part becomes not stock friendly to us we may go off and try to get a turkey and/or squirrels

 

Yay!

 

Squirrel.

 

Made it home safe! Awesome day everyone

 

I can't wait to see some pics

 

Me tooo! Be prepared for lots of puppy photos

 

Today's shenanigans brought to you by BigFishAllDay, WildLand, Tors and myself.
Whatever you do, Nick, don't look down:


Too late:

Got to see my old truck in action:

Really old church in Kelly, N.M.:
Sign at the town limits:

Toyotas parked and pups frolicking:


Traffic jam!?! Out here!?! I'm writing my Congressman!
Action shot:

The obligatory pano from atop North Baldy (elev. 9858 feet):

Tiny Toyotas, sqish, sqish!

Toyotas all lined up in the ponderosas:

Looks to be the old furnace and steam stack from the Kelly mining operation:

The old elevator tower:

Peak-a-boo!

The day is close to done:

It was glorious times. Took the lead for a good stretch of the road from I-25 to Magdalena and tested my suspension. Think it is time for limits traps and bump stops.

 

Looks like fun!

 

Looks like it was a pretty awesome trip!