Since moving back to Santa Fe, the weather has prevented any exploring for the past couple of weeks, so have been looking at alternatives.  A contractor from La Posada recommended an ATV group he’s ridden with a couple of times, so I joined their on-line forum and introduced myself.  Sound like nice folks, so when they planned a trip southwest to the Zuni Mountains (very close to Inscription Rock) last Saturday, Apr. 18, I asked to join them.  “Come on and welcome,” was the reply.  Hard to get along with, I can tell already.  :-)  OK, I did join them, and we met at 9:30 AM at Blue Spruce campground at Grants, NM.

“BR” was to be our leader for the day, and it turned out that he knows every nook and cranny for miles thru those mountains.  It was a great trip.  We went in a caravan for about 10 miles up Zuni Canyon, a great and scenic drive in its’ own right…………………..

A large open area was our staging ground and I was amazed.  Trucks and trailers everywhere.  Finally figured out that we had 11 ATV’s (quads) and 12 people with us for the day……………..

In a surprisingly short time we were unloaded, rounded up and headed out.  This is high country, not far east of the Continental Divide……………

Today we got a taste of just about everything, including some snow and ice in the shaded areas.  We started around 7,500ft elevation and went uphill from there……………..

Farther along, we got onto the steep slope and switchbacks heading up to Mt. Sedgwick………………..

Finally, we came out onto the summit at 9255ft elevation, with a tremendous view of 11,301ft Taylor Peak in the distance with Grants, NM and I-40 in the mid-distance………………

What goes up must come down, tho’, and here comes the group……………..

Until they ran into a small problem……that turned out to be no problem.  We met several pickups and SUV’s on the trip and all were courteous and helpful, as were we………………

We took our 1st break in a large meadow and had a very good B.S. session, during which I got to meet and speak with many of the others.  Very nice group.  This area is thick with Ponderosa Pine and it grows well spaced and with almost no undergrowth which makes it seem like a huge park for miles up here.  The Coconino National Forest near Flagstaff, AZ, 300 miles west is very similar…………….

>From our picnic area we got into some good mudholes…….or should say “waterholes,” cause the mud was thin and easy to go thru.  I’d expected much worse.  I have an education coming here, being a desert rat, an’ all.  I have no experience at all in mud.  Several promised - with big grins - to aid in my education.  I….uh….can hardly wait.  Should be interesting….and prob’ly fun - messy fun…………….

>From snowbanks and mud(water)holes we got it all today.  Next was long stretches of dust.  I missed a great shot here.  When I 1st came over the rise the quads were strung out like beads on a string, each showing in a pocket of dust……..like a herd of turtles zooming along.  I was too slow for that shot, but did get a partial view.  I soon found that I could jam on the parking brake and while sliding to a stop, r’ar up on the quad and get the camera going…………….

Next stop was at an old lava flow area (called “malpais” - pronounced mahl-pah-EES - Spanish for “badlands”)……………….

Guide BR, at far left, above, told us of a small lava cave here.  Just a slot showing…………….

But it sure opened up underground.  My understanding is that these were pockets of gas in the lava flow.  Holes and caves are very common in this very extensive Malpais…………..

Now we headed for the high point of the trip………a side road up to San Rafael Mesa……………….

A rugged and challenging side trip it was, too, with tremendous views in the clear New Mexico air…………..

It ended up on top at West Trail Lake, a cattle watering pond at about 8,200ft elevation……………

Then, of course, the hair-raising ride back down.  This was a great side trip……………

A long ride across the flats brought us back to the trucks after a loop of about 43 miles, just as BR predicted at the beginning………………

Here’s my GPS track for the day.  Grants, NM is right where Hwy 53 meets I-40 in the upper right and goes about 3 miles east.  Since breaking the trusty old Garmin  eTrex Legend a couple of months ago, I’ve bought a Garmin GPSMap 60CSx.  What a terrific toy.  Now, just gotta learn to use it……………..

I had a wonderful time on this day and met many very nice people.  I did threaten them, tho’ - told ‘em if they didn’t stop being so nice they just might be stuck with me on future trips.  :-)  Didn’t seem to bother ‘em too much.  You can bet I’ll be out there again……..soon.                         Lar.
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Larry Bourne
Santa Fe, NM
www.gogittum.com
www.gogittum.com/blog

Posted: April 19th, 2009 under 09 Santa Fe, 09-4-18 Zuni Mtns Ride.
Comments: 1