Memorial Day weekend camping trip down south, near the VLA

[Beowulf]

You may want to shoot Frank an email just to let him know that you're coming.

E-mail sent to Frank. I can take Friday as a vacation day and leave early or wait and leave early afternoon (1-2pm) and meet at the base camp location. Do you plan to do any trails or exploring if you get down there early on Friday? Are you going to the VLA?

-Mike-

 

[OGBeno]

E-mail sent to Frank. I can take Friday as a vacation day and leave early or wait and leave early afternoon (1-2pm) and meet at the base camp location. Do you plan to do any trails or exploring if you get down there early on Friday? Are you going to the VLA?

-Mike-

VLA is WAY COOL and totally worth the trip. I could spend hours there just kicking it and hanging out with the radiotelescopes!

Safe trip guys.

 

[lurch]

E-mail sent to Frank. I can take Friday as a vacation day and leave early or wait and leave early afternoon (1-2pm) and meet at the base camp location. Do you plan to do any trails or exploring if you get down there early on Friday? Are you going to the VLA?

-Mike-

We (myself & brother n law) should be leaving around 1-2pm...he gets out of school around 12:30 and I'll be picking him up in Corales. So if you want to leave later...
But I have yet to talk to him so small chance I can leave in the AM

 

[alia176]

E-mail sent to Frank. I can take Friday as a vacation day and leave early or wait and leave early afternoon (1-2pm) and meet at the base camp location. Do you plan to do any trails or exploring if you get down there early on Friday? Are you going to the VLA?

-Mike-

I don't foresee any wheeling on Friday as most of the folks will be arriving after work I'm guessing. So, basically get there, setup camp and start drinking? I think the whole group maybe wanting to go to the VLA sometime during the weekend.

As of now, I see the Ali family hitting the road probably around 11 - 12:30 pm window. We're in no hurry to leave but also would like to get there by 2 pm or so in order to get decent camp spots. Although I have no idea of what to expect in terms of "prime" camping spots but if we get there first, we can cordon off an area for HDC members. It sounds like most of the NM4X4 will be coming in RV type things.

Lurch, I'll pm you my contact info.

Comm info:

NM4X4 uses:
CB: channel 4
HAM: 145.290 (only couple of folks have 2m radios).

I'll be monitoring 146.460 simplex and the mega link after we arrive at camp site.

thanks.

 

[jericho]

You guys have fun! Wish I was going... but duty calls. On shift this weekend. Be safe!

 

[alia176]

Holiday pay I hope!

 

[Beowulf]

We (myself & brother n law) should be leaving around 1-2pm...

Steve,
I will be packed and ready to leave around the same time (1-2pm). We can use CB Ch-4 (the NM4x4 channel) on the trip down if we are within eyesight of each other. I don't think you have 2M yet.

My cell is four-five-3, one, one, one, six and I do text so let me know where you are and what time you are leaving. The old number that I have for you is: (505) three-zero-one-1721

Should be a fun trip to a new area and we'll get to meet some new guys that enjoy our hobby!

-Mike-

 

[alia176]

Mike,

Bring your HT and I'll bring mine.

 

[Beowulf]

OK.

-Mike-

 

[OGBeno]

Pics?

Report?

 

[sirenmoses]

Pics?

Report?

x2. gotta live, if only vicarously.

 

[pappy]

All I know is something about lots of dirt under Isabelle's finger nails.

 

[marcfj60]

That's normal for my kids at home in the city.

 

[Beowulf]

I have a few on the camera so maybe I can get some posted this evening. 4 HDC rigs; Ali, Michelle, and Isabell, Mike & Rusty, Steve & Ryan, Paul & Lauren. Cool nights, warm days. Campfires each night. Pot luck on Saturday night. Tame trail on Saturday. The remaining HDC contingent elected to go to Chloride on Sunday, partly because I didn't have enough fuel for the trip that was changed at the last minute and I didn't plan ahead well enough to find out the change in plans. My fault completely, so instead of holding up the group, I drove back to Magdalena to refuel, then we went to the ghost town. That was a good thing because I really enjoyed the trail through the San Mateos and the ghost town. Rusty and I had a blast and I think that Steve, Ryan, and the Alis did too. (Paul and Lauren left early on Sunday morning.)

-Mike-

 

[alia176]

The trip was a blast indeed. We got a chance to see another part of NM that we haven't explored much in the past. The NM4x4 club members were very gracious and fun to hang around with. At the campfire, lots of stories from previous trips were being told. That club is very family friendly, with the members age range from young to the young at heart. It was nice to see three generations of the same family camping and wheeling together.

The trails consisted of forest service roads so no technical wheeling were present. Most of it could be done in 2wd but the scenery from the lookout points were spectacular.

We had good weather with the wind kicking up as the day got hotter, but the wind died down at dusk and the nights were nice and cool. It got down to the 40's during the last two nights.

The camping location picked out by Frank was excellent for any size group. There were trees scattered around for wind and sun protection and the ground was level with the occasional ant hills and rodent holes. For an outing to this location, you should bring a sun shelter, water and pack out your waste.

On Sunday we went down to the ghost town of Chloride which is always very interesting historically. This is also the jump off point to the Gila Forest where there are lots of forest trails. I think our club should plan a visit to that area and explore some of those trails and old abandoned mines. Lurch (Steve) scouted ahead and found us some cool trails and mines to explore. Evidently the U.S. Treasury mine is up there and it looks interesting.

photo link

 

[pappy]

This is an interesting idea ...

 

[alia176]

I've been seeing more of these lately it seems - turn the deck into a patio when camping. If the weather gets bad, all three sides go up for a cozy shelter inside.

 

[juane]

Chloride - my dad worked here as a seasonal forestry ranger in the early '50s.
Still one of has favorite places. He (92 years old) and mom went back for a visit this spring.

 

[TroutRunner]

This is an interesting idea ...

I've seen a few on Pirate for sale recently. Somtimes with a full camper instead of a bed of truck camper.

G