Camping trip: Water Canyon CG and wheel Mt Baldy August 9-11th

[alia176]

Time for another camping/wheeling trip. The plan is to head to the Water Canyon CG on Friday Aug 9th. On Saturday, head into the Mt Baldy area for some mellow wheeling and sight seeing. The temps should be decent at the higher altitudes I'm guessing.

Let me know if anyone is interested in going.

 

[sl33p3]

interested, let me consult the boss.

we are in, you taking the kamperoo? i'm sure we'll have the classic.

 

[jstncse]

I'm good with camping, I will even bring my tentand leave the house behind.

The North Baldy trail that we are going on carries you through a wash to an old mining road up some loose switchbacks past one of the old mine entrances to the top of North Baldy via a near vertical(it feels like it) 500' climb at the end of the switchbacks. Then off the mountain down toward the ghost town of Kelly then back through Magdelena to the campground

http://www.westernmininghistory.com/towns/new-mexico/kelly/

 

[sl33p3]

so is this leave abq friday afternoon, camp, wheel sat, then camp and head back sunday?

 

[alia176]

so is this leave abq friday afternoon, camp, wheel sat, then camp and head back sunday?

Yup, that sounds good to me.

 

[alia176]

Let's meet at the large dirt lot next to Subway on Gibson East at 4pm if that sounds good with everyone.

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msi...l=35.058825,-106.633928&spn=0.001315,0.003098

 

[OldRojo]

See ya on Saturday morning I'm gonna sleep in MY BED friday night

 

[TOYOTARIG]

So where are the pictures??? You guys have been home for at least a couple hours by now. How do you expect me to be jealous of not being able to go when I don't see pics?!? Just kidding hope you all had fun.

 

[jstncse]

A few teaser pics
Three switchback down while working on the first tire change, notice my 40 way down there


Running in the clouds


and the observatory

 

[alia176]

Trip Report

Once again, a fantastic trip and a beautiful place to camp and wheel. This campsite is pretty sweet, I must say. We were basically sitting in the clouds in the morning and got rain all night long. Days were overcast which makes for cooler temp wheeling and the photos look good.

Terrill, Bruce, Zack (Terrill's son), Franklins, Marty and Phil tooled around on Saturday. On Sunday, Terrill, Bruce and I tooled around to the observatory and checked out the area around the camp grounds. We found out that more primitive camp spots are located beyond the actual Water Canyon CG, should you need to find more secluded spots or the CG is full.

The group campsite is huge but the parking lot is quite far from the large tent site. If you want to camp next to your vehicle, you'll be at the gravel parking lot!!

One thing to keep in mind about this trail, you WILL get pin-striping on TOP and on the sides of your vehicle. Mostly Ponderosa pine, mixed in with Pinion branches and my roof top box received few scratches on top. Next year, I'm going with a clean roof top

The shelf road to the top of the Mt Baldy is rather sketchy with high pucker factor, for only about 400 yards I'm guessing. This trail demands a decent set of A/T or M/T tires due to the sharp rocks.

As usual, good times with good folks - can't be beat.

Ali Camp

Terrill compound


Chillin' at the camp fire

 

[alia176]

More pics

Coyote Mine



Cabin spot on the trail



Shelf road

 

[alia176]

more pics

In the clouds near MRO (Magdalena Research Observatory) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magdalena_Ridge_Observatory.



Isabelle and Tory


Lunch spot down the road from the MRO.


Some guy in my panoramic shot!

 

[TOYOTARIG]

Nice pictures, looks like a fun spot for sure. Now I am jealous.

Ali is that a new awning in your first pic?

 

[alia176]

Nice pictures, looks like a fun spot for sure. Now I am jealous.

Ali is that a new awning in your first pic?

nope, same awning I've always had.

 

[jstncse]

That is a really nice panoramic shot, the guy in the middle really adds to the landscape.
That camera takes good pictures.

 

[alia176]

That is a really nice panoramic shot, the guy in the middle really adds to the landscape.
That camera takes good pictures.

Yeah no joke, may have to leave the digital camera at home from now on

 

[Pyro-boy]

Nice report guys! Glad you had fun.

Vince