2012 Christmas Tree Run

[SteveLCetc]

I'd like to go too. I'll be driving down 4 from Los Alamos, where and when should I meet up with you all? Not planning to bring back a tree and need to be back by 3pm.

They'll be at Walatowa, which is about milepost 8 on NM4, about 10:00 getting tree permits - if the plan holds from there. White Rock is about milepost 62. Some are apparently going through Ponderosa and up Paliza, which comes out on 4 about milepost 35.

We're not going to make it on this one.

 

[Beowulf]

Bonnie and I are OK with getting a tree from the VC and doing Paliza. See everyone at 9am at N portal. Lets keep the group moving so Jon Boy can get back and dance!!
-Mike-

 

[evanz80]

I'd like to go too. I'll be driving down 4 from Los Alamos, where and when should I meet up with you all? Not planning to bring back a tree and need to be back by 3pm.

In general, Steve was right about being at Walatowa about 10:00 for tree permits, bu it sounds like we may skip that step if people are getting trees from the Valles Caldera.

It may make more sense to meet you at the intersection of Hwy 4 and the road to Ponderosa at 10:00. If I remember correctly, the road is a few miles south of Walatowa. We'll be on 146.460 if you have a Ham. If so, maybe you could pass along a call sign for us?

Also, it could be a stretch to get back to Los Alamos/White Rock by 3:00. It's a pretty long trail, and I'm not sure we can promise that. If that's a hard deadline, you may want to reconsider...

 

[marcfj60]

All of my complaining is moot. Both kids are still in pretty bad shape with colds. They don't need to go out all day and I don't need to be cooped up in a confined space with their hacking and sneezing.

Jon, do you want to pick up your bungees on the way out? I don't think there's any snow or ice to worry about but I wanted to offer.

Steve H. - I'm still going to stop by your house about 8:45 to pick up my radio.

 

[00N8]

In general, Steve was right about being at Walatowa about 10:00 for tree permits, bu it sounds like we may skip that step if people are getting trees from the Valles Caldera.

It may make more sense to meet you at the intersection of Hwy 4 and the road to Ponderosa at 10:00. If I remember correctly, the road is a few miles south of Walatowa. We'll be on 146.460 if you have a Ham. If so, maybe you could pass along a call sign for us?

Also, it could be a stretch to get back to Los Alamos/White Rock by 3:00. It's a pretty long trail, and I'm not sure we can promise that. If that's a hard deadline, you may want to reconsider...

I found Ponderosa Dr and NM4 on my GPS, hopefully that is it. I don't have a HAM, guess that is going on my checklist. If I can get to White Rock by 4pm that should work too.

My name is Nate, I'll be in the White and Black LX 470.

 

[pappy]

Well, I think this was a record.

• No snow, well almost.
• The section of road from the top down towards Ponderosa had been graded for fire fighting activities. Super smooth. No tank traps. The large rocks at the gate were gone.
• The section from the top to Hwy 4 had been repaired. Danny's trench is gone.

Two pics. The first at the top. The second on the way down.

We were at HWY 4 about 1:40.

 

[BionicCruiser]

how nice... they made it easier to get in and out just before closing it.

 

[2manycruisers]

how nice... they made it easier to get in and out just before closing it.

Of course, what's the fun now? Might as well close it.

We went up FSR106 behind Thompson Ridge Estates after the gymnastics meet. The tree was an easy score before the community, but the roads north of the community were a mix of smooth, ruts, gulleys, atv-width, down trees, etc. Nothing challening, but at least it justified the 80 instead of the Outback. The girls did a fair bit of driving on my lap; it was good.

 

[00N8]

I just missed you guys. Didn't get to the right location in time. But still had fun. I just stuck to FR10 the whole way which was basically just a dirt road. Saw plenty of off shoots to explore next time. My AHC is acting up so this week I'm getting it taken out and replaced with OME lift. What the next run?

Guess I need a ham next time, looks like there are a couple online classes I could take. Any recommendations?

 

[Chamba]

Lets hold off for now....

No dramas. They are heavy and steel prices are good.

Wish I could have made it today.was it good?

Josh

 

[alia176]

I just missed you guys. Didn't get to the right location in time. But still had fun. I just stuck to FR10 the whole way which was basically just a dirt road. Saw plenty of off shoots to explore next time. My AHC is acting up so this week I'm getting it taken out and replaced with OME lift. What the next run?

Guess I need a ham next time, looks like there are a couple online classes I could take. Any recommendations?

Nate,

there's a thread running on HAM radios and such in our board. As far as the test, pretty easy to pass. Various online resources are available that you can use to study up. Just remember one thing, you might be sitting next to a ten year old so the pressure to pass it can be daunting

 

[Beowulf]

Most of those that have done Paliza in December in past years will have a hard time believing this but we were back on pavement at 1:30 and that was with a very long lunch at the top before heading back down. The lower section was about the same; brush, rocks, and a few areas with some erosion. The berms where the G-Wagon rolled are gone. The stream crossing where we winched out the Land Rover was a distant memory. The section of trail that destroyed my factory steps is completely flat now. The eroded hole that sucked in Danny's FJC is plowed over and the only way that I knew we had been there was the pile of cigarette butts that Onur left in the once formidable hole... (they're now scattered about the area.) The area where we camped a few years ago on Father's Day weekend was still very nice and it looks like the fire crews camped there when they were fighting the Los Conchas fire. That area wasn't trashed or anything so we have the possibility of a final camping trip in Paliza Canyon this spring before they close it to our hobby forever.

Downed trees were already pulled off the trail. The most exciting part of the day was a large branch that extended across the trail at rack-level. It got caught in my rack and gave a resounding "thunk.... thunk.... thunk" as it ratcheted through the rails of the rack. Scared the dogs so bad that Gracie dropped to the floor behind my seat, whimpered uncontrollably, and refused to come out until we stopped for lunch and she could see the coast was clear.

Great day to be in the mountains. Good friends and good weather. No trees on Paliza and the pickins' were sparse at VC so Bonnie and I passed on their limited selection. We went back to Wallatoa, picked up a tag, and decided to go up through Gilman tunnels to Porter landing and look for trees in that area. Disappointing to say the least. Badly burned area that was very picked over so we left at dark and were back at home around 6pm.

A foot of snow would have changed everything but, as it was, Paliza is now stocker friendly as long as you are careful and avoid the basketball sized loose rocks on the lower part of the trail.

-Mike-

 

[OGBeno]

Most of those that have done Paliza in December in past years will have a hard time believing this but we were back on pavement at 1:30 and that was with a very long lunch at the top before heading back down. The lower section was about the same; brush, rocks, and a few areas with some erosion. The berms where the G-Wagon rolled are gone. The stream crossing where we winched out the Land Rover was a distant memory. The section of trail that destroyed my factory steps is completely flat now. The eroded hole that sucked in Danny's FJC is plowed over and the only way that I knew we had been there was the pile of cigarette butts that Onur left in the once formidable hole... (they're now scattered about the area.) The area where we camped a few years ago on Father's Day weekend was still very nice and it looks like the fire crews camped there when they were fighting the Los Conchas fire. That area wasn't trashed or anything so we have the possibility of a final camping trip in Paliza Canyon this spring before they close it to our hobby forever.

Downed trees were already pulled off the trail. The most exciting part of the day was a large branch that extended across the trail at rack-level. It got caught in my rack and gave a resounding "thunk.... thunk.... thunk" as it ratcheted through the rails of the rack. Scared the dogs so bad that Gracie dropped to the floor behind my seat, whimpered uncontrollably, and refused to come out until we stopped for lunch and she could see the coast was clear.

Great day to be in the mountains. Good friends and good weather. No trees on Paliza and the pickins' were sparse at VC so Bonnie and I passed on their limited selection. We went back to Wallatoa, picked up a tag, and decided to go up through Gilman tunnels to Porter landing and look for trees in that area. Disappointing to say the least. Badly burned area that was very picked over so we left at dark and were back at home around 6pm.

A foot of snow would have changed everything but, as it was, Paliza is now stocker friendly as long as you are careful and avoid the basketball sized loose rocks on the lower part of the trail.

-Mike-

Nice report Mike. Very descriptive of past adventures...

So Marc should have no reason to puss out as usual next time Paliza is mentioned?

:flipoff:

 

[marcfj60]

Nice report Mike. Very descriptive of past adventures...

So Marc should have no reason to puss out as usual next time Paliza is mentioned?

:flipoff:

I was thinking the same thing.

 

[Chamba]

Pity we did not go Sunday. We went up 31 mile road past the Conchas burn to get our tree yesterday. It began to snow heavily about 3 miles from the top and it did not stop until last night. We had a blast.