Here's an update, after hearing from all but a couple of the late-replying regular Pig Party attendees, after taking a look at maps and after consultation with NM locals Mark
@abqcruiser and John
@4Cruisers. I hope it meets with general approval, especially from those of you too quick to make me a hopeful "benevolent dictator."
First, the date. Pig Party 2022 will take place July 7-10. Reviewing all the replies, it seems there are various folks who have problems with either of the June dates or with the 4th of July weekend. No one mentioned issues with the mid-July dates in any posts since January 1, hence the choice of the earliest non-controversial July date.
Plans are to base camp at the Rio de los Pinos Campground 15 miles southwest of Antonito CO. It's a U.S. Forest Service campground at 8,000' in New Mexico's Carson National Forest near the Rio de los Pinos State Wildlife Area. I'll attach a video and link at the end of this post. While the USFS link shows only 4 prepared sites with 2 vault toilets, there are multiple options for dispersed camping at the same location. The You Tube video drives you past 10 sites, some individually large enough to host bigger groups. All are just a few steps from the river and should provide an experience similar to our first Pig Party in Rico. It is a "first come, first served" campground with no reservation option but use is said to be "light." Bonnie and I will check it out personally on one of our trips to Albuquerque in mid-April and mid-May and would plan to get there a day or two early for the Pig Party if necessary to "hold" some sites. Mark, John and I plan to get together around a table with maps while we're in Albuquerque in April.
Maps show a ton of USFS roads and loop tour options just south of the campground and west of U.S. 285. 4Cruisers knows the area and agrees there are many choices for daily backroad excursions. They would include the possibility of "chasing the train" one day along dirt roads which parallel the Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad from Antonito to Chama NM. As mentioned previously, Bonnie and I plan to attend the Rising Sun TLCA group's annual train run June 9-12 and will check that out. Those traveling to the Pig Party will also have multiple opportunities to extend your trip in all directions, including nearby Taos, Classic Cruisers in Poncha Springs CO right on 285, Medano Pass and the Great Sand Dunes National Park to the north and east, Moab and Monument Valley in AZ to the west, and the Valles Caldera and other sites to the south.
I sincerely hope this works for most regulars and others who've indicated an interest in attending their first Pig Party, fully realizing we're not likely to please everyone. I'm hoping for a "thank you" from Rush for giving him an extra three or four weeks to get ready. No excuses now.
Jim
Carson National Forest - Rio de Los Pinos Campground
www.fs.usda.gov
