Bailing on the New Mexico Backcountry Discovery Route (NMBDR)

With the constant reminders of Global Warming over the past 30+ years (don't hit me—it's simply comic relief), India and I thought what better time to travel the New Mexico Backcountry Discovery Route (NMBDR) than in the middle of winter, 11-19 Jan 2024—thinking that with Global Warming, winter in New Mexico ought to be a pleasant time to travel there. NOPE!

Aside from seasonal temperature and likely snow in the higher elevations, evening sunlight would be shortened by almost 3 hours, with sunset in summer ~8 pm versus winter ~5 pm. On the other hand, sunrise is less of a factor regardless of season, as my morning mainly consists of taking India for a walk and then leaving to have breakfast elsewhere or later in the day; it's just a habit when I travel. Otherwise, I am not a morning person.

Although I gave myself 14 days to complete the NMBDR, for me, timetables are more of an inconvenience than a favor as I am unable to estimate time—not in the sense of reading a clock, especially a digital one, but being able to distinguish between five minutes and five hours (it's a hardwire brain thingy—and another story).

While most annual extreme weather-related deaths are 3:1 hot versus cold weather (Source: https://www.statista.com/statistics...d-by-weather-conditions-and-storms-in-the-us/), for me, cold weather is most challenging—and another story. On that note, I brought the bike in case India and I had to abandon an incapacitated 4Runner. A bike knowing snow would challenge an extrication by bike. However, a bike could cover greater distances, even if it included hike-a-bike at times during the winter season, and with fewer folks to run into in the middle of nowhere who could help.

This is the official NMBDR from their interactive website (https://ridebdr.maps.arcgis.com/apps/webappviewer/index.html?id=c7e559fa199d448485a6e2e1e45e0f3d).



This other map is my bailed-out track (supplemented with the official track in red due to GAIA shortcomings). In Weed, NM (#1), the route became challenging just six miles after leaving our overnight campsite with about thirty miles to High Rolls, NM. Similarly, after overnight camping at Snow Lake, NM (#2), I headed toward Glenwood, NM, past the ghost town of Mogollon. Unfortunately, I didn't get far as the snow, again, too deep to be alone. After turning around, a Forest Service employee I ran into along the route told me that section of the route likely had "…five feet of snow back there." He also asked me how I liked my 4Runner. He owns a 2022 4Runner ORP and a 1983 Tacoma. Finally, the straw that broke the camel's back (#3), two more challenges. The first one, after refueling in Reserve, NM, and spending the night at Pueblo Park Campground, we continued to Pinehill, NM, past Alma, NM, only to be bogged down on a curve due to snow drift. It took almost three hours to self-extricate and get going again, trying to make up for lost time before sunset. Then, just shy of two miles from the bog down, a second obstacle, a fallen tree, which I pulled off the road. By then, daylight was no longer; thus, we camped in place and slept on tomorrow's plan. Otherwise, the NMBDR is a great route and experience, which I will likely return to complete during milder weather.



South to north, the NMBDR begins in Dell City, TX. After driving through the night (10-11 Jan 2024) from Phoenix, AZ to Dell City, TX, India and I slept at a gas station waiting for daybreak and breakfast at Rosita's Café (31° 56' 19.728", 105° 12' 3.312") before heading out.


The wind (32° 27' 31.56", 105° 6' 37.07") was unrelenting all day and night on day one. One of the goals on this trip was to use the shower in cold weather. However, for three days, the wind would not cooperate.



Day one (11 Jan 2024) ended in Weed, NM. While filling up with gas (32.80725, -105.50942), I met the Fire Chief, a native New Yorker as well now living in Weed, NM, and he invited me to spend the night at the fire station (32.80600, -105.51349) as snow and heavy wind were forecast. Despite the wind rocking the 4Runner most of the night, India and I slept through it. We woke to 26F and <1" of snow on the ground the following day. After our morning routine of taking India for a long walk, we headed out but had to return through Weed, NM, after our first encounter with snow drifts (32.71635, -105.64502) on the route. Looking at the mapped route, we reached this point just six miles from the fire station with another 30+ miles before reaching Cloudcroft, NM. It being the first challenge of the trip, I spent little time thinking about turning around due to being alone and too early into this route, knowing we had plenty more to enjoy along the road. So, we turned around.



At Cloudcroft, NM, this knucklehead blocked the entrance to the Forest Road (32.97517, -105.75643)…



…so, I went around him because the owner was some twenty minutes away with the keys.



We then ran into this gal a few miles down the same blocked Forest Road. Jumping the gun, thinking this animal was abandoned, my first thought was, "What is wrong with humans?" Fortunately, this girl was not abandoned in the middle of nowhere and instead was chasing cars that came by, as hiking with the human out of the picture was not enough exercise. After chasing us about 400 meters, I reversed on the road to reunite her with the owner, whom the dog ignored when called to chase cars instead.



Just before Bent, NM, driving on US Hwy 70 near Round Mountain, NM (33.14869, -105.88359), the 4Runner's shadow with the bicycle on top in front of the vehicle looks like a Google Maps Street view recorder.



While seeing wild horses in the middle of nowhere is always amazing, it's not unexpected. Seeing wild horses crossing the four-lane roadway in front of the Chisum Valero gas station in Alto, NM (33.40506732161489, -105.67565143871072) is surprising and even amazing. The four horses caught India's attention from her front seat before I noticed from the driver's seat. WHAT!?! Four wild horses just trotting along the sidewalk. Not to mention, we had just returned from India's walk along the same sidewalk. AMAZING!



In the driver's seat at the Valero, I was looking for a public shower as it was the third day since leaving home, and I had no shower due to the unrelenting wind. While the water heater was working fine, heating it to 104-110F, the wind made it too difficult to set up the pop-up shower tent. I am too much of a baby in the cold to shower and get hit by a gust of cold air. Brrr! I want my mommy.

Of the many RV parks in the area, I only found one with community shower services, Stone Mountain RV Park & Resort (33.48790, -105.67378) north of Ruidoso, NM. Not wanting to stay at an RV park, we headed out in the dark after a warm $10 shower to find a hasty spot to pull over and spend the night. The following day, I woke to this surprising view at the corner of NM 37 and Lincoln County 107 (33.45038, -105.68252).



On day three (13 Jan 2024), I accepted that the mountainous roads had snow, and not running into anyone in these segments because of the weather was a huge plus. Until, of course, we're stranded and need help. Nonetheless, it's primarily why I Overland, to get away and recharge one amperage of wilderness at a time.



If you slow down, just outside Carrizozo, NM, on the south shoulder of US 380 (33.60956, -105.74995), Smokey the Bear. (https://www.fs.usda.gov/detailfull/lincoln/home/?cid=stelprdb5190286)



With the US Army White Sands Missile Range (WSMR) south of US 380, and between Carrizozo, NM and San Antonio, NM, missile firing is common enough to have a sign on US 380 that says so. Thus, US 380 is subject to closure during missile firing. Who knew?



However, I could not determine which way the missiles were fired from the sign if WSMR is south of US 380. That's being sarcastic, as I am sure, whether intent or not, the sign was referring to stray missiles. Not to mention, just before San Antonio, NM, the NMBDR turns south on County Road 153, paralleling the western boundary of WSMR, where Children are at Play.



Along the County Road 158 corridor are several wilderness areas to the west. And, of course, being hunting season, hunters were plentiful along the route waiting for game to wander off those wildness areas. No objection; a carnivore here. But, aside from golf, what more passive sport than hunting? These hunters were surprised that I would dare bike along this road if needed—a piece of cake. The hunters thought it too much of an effort to pedal a bicycle. Again, hunters!

Surprisingly, none of the vehicles I encountered on the NMBDR were Jeeps. Mostly Toyota Tacoma and Tundra, then GMC, followed by Ford. But no Jeeps. Not one. Not even with hunters.



At the end of day three (13 Jan 2024), I reached Elephant Butte Lake, NM (33.14773, -107.18030), which, surprisingly, has dispersed camping. With much better weather here, 58F and no wind, I hurried to put the kayak in the lake before sunset.



From her first voyage, India liked the kayak. She also likes riding in her basket on the bike. On the other hand, India does not like being in the 4Runner. Eventually, she will with more trips, I'm sure.



Despite the great weather and day at Elephant Butte Lake, unfortunately, the trip ended abruptly after blowing the inverter's fuse. How? I'm a knucklehead, as this happened last winter, 2023, in the same manner while in Flagstaff, AZ. While making dinner using the oven (1800 watts), the unnoticed drop in temperature inside the 4Runner triggered the heater (1800 watts) to come on, surpassing the inverter's 3,000 watts capacity, thus blowing the 300-amp fuse. While the oven, heater, and outlets are each isolated with their own on/off switch via a fuse box, I forgot to turn off the heater before using the oven. When it happened in Flagstaff, I had a spare fuse and replaced the blown fuse with the spare fuse, and went back to cooking. Unfortunately, like a knucklehead, I forgot that happened and forgot to replace the spare. Thus, there was no spare when it happened a second time. Neither Auto Zone nor O'Reilly's in Elephant Butte had an ANL 300-amp fuse. While O'Reilly's offered to have one available in two days, with the night temperatures dropping into the low 30s and not wanting to stay at a hotel, I ordered it from Amazon with next-day delivery to my home in Phoenix, AZ.

After a happy meal at McDonald's, we drove 452 miles home that night. After installing the fuse that arrived the next day, we drove 452 miles back to Elephant Butte, NM. We then continued the NMBDR as if nothing ever happened.

After refueling in Winston, NM, and much later airing down (33.41523°, 108.29417°), I continued the NMBDR towards Snow Lake, NM, with hopes of taking an NMBDR alternate route to Catwalk Recreation Area in Glenwood, NM.



Distracted playing with India while driving, the 4Runner slid off the road (33.41864°, 108.47254°) into the shoulder drain ditch. Uneventfully, I drove through the shoulder to where the ditch allowed the 4Runner to climb out, and we were back on the road. Lesson learned—no playing while driving.



On the way to Snow Lake, NM, we encountered about four elk crossing with ten to twenty elk in the herds. At a fifth crossing, which this picture does no justice to, the dash cam recorded just shy of two minutes with what seemed like a hundred elk crossing in front of us. A HUNDRED! WOW!



Shortly after, we arrived at Snow Lake, NM. After circling the empty parking lot, we settled into the northeast corner opposite the pit toilets. Unfortunately, the lake was frozen, and instead of kayaking, which I hoped, India and I played freebie. After a long day and dinner, we went to bed.



From Snow Lake, NM, the main NMBDR is to Reserve, NM, with an alternative route into Glenwood, NM, to access Catwalk Recreation Area, NM. With Catwalk Recreation Area being a place I have wanted to visit for some time and being so close, we left at sunrise the following day, hoping to get to Catwalk Recreation Area, NM. NOPE! I was surprised to find out the route had been plowed after Snow Lake to Reserve, NM. It was not plowed toward Glenwood, NM. And only plowed because of construction in the area, I was told by the Forest Service employee I ran into after having to turn around from trying to reach Glenwood, NM. Luckily for me, as the Forest Service employee said, the road to Reserve, NM, was plowed because of the active construction. Otherwise, I would have to turn back to Snow Lake, NM, and back to Winston, NM, before finding a way to Catwalk Recreation Area, NM, almost 200 miles away via asphalt from Winston, NM. With the road plowed from where I spoke with the Forest Service employee to Reserve, NM, I took that available choice to Catwalk Recreation Area, NM, which was just shy of 50 miles from Reserve, NM. On the other hand, I would not have driven 200 miles from Winston, NM to Catwalk Recreation Area, NM. Thus, yes, I was lucky.



Once in Reserve, NM, the road to Glenwood, NM and Catwalk Recreation Area was paved and clear of snow the entire way, getting there quickly.

I am glad I opted for Catwalk Recreation Area, NM. Aside from the engineering feat interest of the catwalk layout and construction, the catwalks challenged India's confidence, which is always a plus for me. At first, India was not interested and cowered—no bueno. After a tug to get her on the catwalk and then ignoring her for her to figure it out, she improved on each catwalk section. Of course, when not on the catwalks, India wanted to climb and explore faster than I could keep up with her, as the trail had patches of ice that could have caused a fall. No bueno. While being extra cautious I gave India as much leash as possible for her to show off, as it helps them build their confidence.



After the catwalks, it was time for early dinner to get back on the route and settle in wherever sunset surprised us.



Aside from the Overlanding adventure interest, I take advantage of these trips to learn what works and doesn't work, improve my setup, and gain experience to share with others.

On this trip, I wanted to find my electrical setup consumption limitations regarding the following:

1. The shorter days of driving and DC to DC charging the house batteries.
2. The lower sun angle for charging the solar panel while stationary (like parked at the Catwalk Recreation Area for 2-3 hours).
3. The draw on those charges from (3a) heating water, (3b) cooking during daylight hours, and (3c) the heater while sleeping.

(1) For most of the trip, the short days of driving did not diminish the DC to DC charging and use from sunrise to sunset. Every day, reaching 13.3-13.2 volts at bedtime after making dinner despite being depleted to 13.1-13.0 while using the space heater and heated blanket during sleeping.
(2) Although there was only one experience on this trip of depending on the solar array while stationary, the same could not be said for using the solar panels while parked. During the almost 3 hours parked at Catwalk Recreation Area, 600 watts of solar panel did not keep up with the water heater draw. During the parked 3 hours, 600 watts of solar barely harvested 25amps. The water heater consumes ~20amps draw. Thus, this was a net loss while stationary with the other draws, like the fridge, etc. Aside from the variables that I could control, like the angle of the panels to the sun, the variables I could not control had a more significant effect; it was mostly cloudy during the 3-hour harvest period. Although I would be driving for DC to DC to charge the house battery afterward, I had to cancel heating water to ensure the house battery was fully charged after cooking dinner and before bed. As staying warm while sleeping is a greater need than showering before bed.
(3) Luckily, after the drive and making dinner on the induction stove, the house battery settled to 13.3 volts before bedtime, giving us sufficient power to use during sleep. I learned long ago that the heater cannot freely cycle the entire night. Instead, I must manage the heater coming on as needed instead of on demand. While slightly inconvenient, I manage the heater by turning off the inverter after heating the space to ~60F. If I wake up because I am cold, I turn the inverter back on for the heater to get the space back to ~60F and then off again. Rinse and repeat. On the coldest night of this trip, ~7F, I had to turn on the inverter ~5x during 12 hours of darkness. One thing I found to be most beneficial during cold weather is a suggestion from My Life [sic]: instead of covering myself with the heating blanket, I lay on top of it. It works much better in this manner, and you do not have to chase the blanket when it falls off. However, rather than lay on top of the heating blanket, I sandwich the blanket between the mattress and the cover sheet, and then I place the sleeping bag over the cover sheet. In this manner, the heating blanket is under the sleeping bag and cover sheet instead of directly under me. The latter is how forest fires are prevented.

After the Catwalk Recreation Area, I refueled in Alma, NM, before scoring site #7 at an empty Pueblo Park Campground, NM (33.59439, -108.96189). After running around the empty campground with India, we settled for the night, not knowing what the next day would bring.



After waking up to 27F and running around the empty campground with India again, we headed out, not knowing what was ahead that day. In comparison, while there was plenty of snow already on the road, ~3-4", after leaving the campground at 6,225' above sea level. At 8,602' above sea level, some 20 miles away, the snow was almost double, and we encountered a few down-tree obstacles.



After having the luxury of following someone else's tracks, which went away from the NMBDR before I noticed, we had to turn around and head in the correct direction (33.91896, -109.02821), plowing through deeper snow to make tracks.



Only to find ourselves hitting a snow drift that stopped our forward motion. Unfortunately, while trying to get going again, the back of the 4Runner found its way into the ditch off the road, ending perpendicular to the road. It took almost three hours to move from anchor point to anchor point and employ several winch configurations, 1:1, 2:1, and even 3:1, as the snow drift would not release the 4Runner without significant strain on the winch. The last thing I wanted was to burn the winch motor in the middle of nowhere. Eventually, I pulled the 4Runner onto the road and got going again.



Then, it was a race to get as far as I could before sunset, which brought us to another fallen tree over the road. After removing the tree from the road, I decided to spend the night in place, still on the road (33.95862, -109.00044), hoping that no one would be coming this way during the night, and I would depart just before sunrise.

After walking India up and down the 4Runner's tracks, otherwise, we sank about 1-2' into the surrounding snow with each step, and then we both had dinner. Afterward, I sat in the driver's seat to figure out the following day's plan: continue forward or turn around.

According to the 4Runner's calculator, I had 158 miles of fuel per an average of 10mpg to the current point. The unknown road and its condition to Pinehill, NM, the next available gas station, and the end of this section of the NMBDR was about 60 miles as the crow flies. Versus, the known road and its condition behind me to Alpine, AZ, and the gas station in that direction was about 20 miles as the crow flies (in somewhat of a zigzag).



Thinking it would be easier and use less fuel to turn around and drive on the tracks from the day before I turned around. Surprisingly, the snow-packed tracks from the day before were frozen. Making them significantly slipper than the day before, and driving back was a lot more difficult as the 4Runner slipped, slid, and swayed from shoulder to shoulder where there were shoulders. In some places, the 4Runner came close to coming off the road due to lack of shoulder. YIKES! I drove 10 miles from the fallen tree in 4Lo, as 4Hi did not have enough torsion to get us to better road conditions. At the gas station in Alpine, AZ, the fuel computer read 84 miles left of fuel. While not accurate, a fair calculation nonetheless, from the fallen tree, I used up almost half the fuel available, 158 miles, to backtrack to Alpine, AZ. Most of that consumed slipping, sliding, and swaying from left to right in 4Lo. Had I continued to Pinehill, NM, some 60 miles of unknown route, I would likely have run out of fuel. No bueno!



Once I refueled in Alpine, AZ, I headed back to Phoenix, AZ. Along the way (34.39027, -110.53544), I hosed down the 4Runner.



The Relive video for NMBDR first attempt.



NMBDR II
At home, I learned I could take another crack at the NMBDR from 29 Jan-2 Feb 2024. Knowing another 2-3" of snow had accumulated in northern New Mexico since we left. And that the weather might get worse with a winter storm headed to the region towards the end of the same week. India and I set out to try and finish the remaining ~400 miles of the NMBDR we still needed to finish.

In the following map, the first attempt is in red and the second in purple, with six turnarounds between the two attempts circled in red and numbered, including two defeats near Alpine, AZ.



Wanting to start where I left off, I returned to the Ranger Station in Alpine, AZ (33.84909, -109.14681) on 29 Jan 2024. I left the bicycle this time, not because I lost the need but because I dislocated my left shoulder (x7 since 2019) while trying to load the bike the afternoon before—but that's another story. Interestingly, while larger, heavier, and cumbersome, my unstable left shoulder makes the tandem bicycle easier to load and unload for me versus the single bicycle, but the tandem was unavailable for the trip. While I carry a 5-gallon fuel bladder, I rarely use it. Because of the fuel concern the last time, I filled the fuel bladder, attached it to the hood, and off we went.



Short of the downed tree where we spent the night and turned around last time, we had to turn around. While I thought another 2-3" of snow had accumulated from when we were here last, more like 6-8" covered our previous tracks. If the snow before was too much then to be alone. The additional 6-8" was even more reason to turn around.



From this point (33.96155, -109.01255), we turned around to spend the night at the intersection of Forest Road 220 and Bill Knight Gap Road (33.84758, -108.96033), which had some six vehicles drive by during our short stay. The following day, 30 Jan 2024, it was a delight to find Bill Knight Gap Road, a well-maintained dirt road.

Before noticing the distant homestead, and while not appreciated in the photo, two beautiful English Mastiffs ran from left to right in front of me. Again, my mind sank as to How terrible humans are—a huge relief once I noticed the homestead. Pardon the drama. I have a bad habit of looking out for animals. For any animal in distress, whether domesticated or wild, I will try to help if I can safely.



With much drier roads, it took us no time to reach Zuni Salt Lake, NM (34.45385, -108.77783) the same day. What beyond the down tree could be so attracting the NMBDR organizers want us to experience? Oh, the unknown.



After fueling up at Pinehill, NM (34.88996, -108.41838) and making great time, I drove towards Oso Ridge Lookout (35.03830, -108.11662), a NMBDR point of interest. Unfortunately, the snow was too deep to be alone, even if just 5,000' shy of reaching the lookout. It's just not worth it. After another self-extrication, I backed off the road (35.03433, -108.10908) to spend the night.

Here, finally, the first and only opportunity to use the shower on this trip. For the most part, the shower setup turned out well and was much worth it. There's nothing like a hot shower at the end of a long day.



The following day, 31 Jan 2024, the NMBDR takes a short scenic departure from Forest Service Road 40 (35.06599, -108.07391), I guess. Because after a brief peek from the intersection I opted to continue Forest Service Road 50. Not to mention, it looked like another vehicle had turned around due to snow depth.

Not too far from where the NMBDR short scenic segment reenters Forest Service Road 50, now Zuni Canyon Road, I pull over to air up (35.14830, -107.92247) after airing down the evening before trying to get to Oso Ridge Lookout (35.03830, -108.11662). While airing up, India decided to take a hike, so I followed. On the other side of the hike, the below picture shows a clear view of Mt. Taylor, NM (35.24098, -107.60864), which rises to 11,316' above sea level. I have driven through Grants, NM, on I-40 several times and have yet to notice Mt. Taylor during those travels. While planning this trip, Mt. Taylor caught my attention as being just off the NMBDR and where we are headed after airing up.



Unfortunately, ~2 miles shy of the Mt. Taylor summit, the road is blocked by a wall of plowed snow (35.26318, -107.62785), which, it appears, only snowmobiles and pedestrians have crossed over and continued to the summit at least until I drove over the wall to continue on the other side. Nope! Once on the other side, the 6,540 lbs. 4Runner sunk into the snow. After self-extricating and setting a set of tracks in the deep snow to back out, which was the only way out. The new problem became backing up. This is a problem because the entry and departure angles that allow me to cross over before sinking into the snow are reversed when exiting backward. While moving forward, the front end cleared the obstacle with no problem. With the hitch and spare tire now leading the way out, in reverse, the 4Runner got hung up. Duh! No bueno!

While plastic or metal trackboards may have helped, they're not something I carry. Thus, I must make with what I do have, a shovel. The shovel allowed me to carve out enough of the middle of the wall for the hitch and spare tire to clear, and that removed snow pressed into the would-be tire tracks to keep the 4Runner from sinking.



Once out, India and I played frisbee until the altitude (9,490') forced us to end the game. Then we headed back down the mountain, onto the NMBDR heading east. Mostly plowing snow again over others' vehicles' tracks until only snowmobile tracks again before reaching this sign (35.28684, -107.62982) that reads, "Sharp Curves Next 2 miles", I think. And, again, shortly after the sign, stuck!

While the sharp curves were for another two miles, according to the sign, it was another 10-12 miles total following the NMBDR through here to get to the asphalt at the other end. With this segment from Grants, NM to Cuba, NM being part of another route I plan to travel, The Great Divide Mountain Biking Route (GDMBR), it was a simple decision to forfeit for now and travel it in fall 2024 as currently scheduled (fingers crossed).



After another short stop in Grants, NM, I headed to Cuba, NM, knowing I would only make it there after sunset to spend the night at a Circle K gas station (36.01870, -106.96090). The following day, 1 Feb 2024, I returned to the NMBDR, heading south before turning north. Shortly after leaving town, the pictured Class C RV in the mud caught my attention, so I turned around to assist if it was stuck in the mud. As I neared the cattle guard, the gentleman reached me before I reached his space. We spoke briefly, and he said he was not stuck and appreciated that I turned around to check on him. Fair. India and I left. However, I could not help but notice the shovel leaning against the chair on the passenger side and a microwave outside on the ground on the driver's side. Huh? Wasn't "Breaking Bad" recorded in New Mexico? Not judgment. Simply a question. Yes, I said, a microwave outside on the ground.



Unfortunately, construction interrupted the NMBDR (35.95630, -106.94925).



Fortunately, had I gone down the NMBDR as intended, where construction turned me around, I would have run into the entry road being closed once there, as the exit of the route was closed on this side. Worse, although it would not be the first, nor the last time either, getting to the far end only to find the gate closed and having to turn around then, especially if you must plow through snow and self-extricate only to turn around because the gate is closed at the other end. Thus, it's a relief knowing that turning around at the construction closed road sign was good instead of bad news.



A warning…



…yet it's early in the day. Knowing that I will likely have to turn around and not want to air down to air back up, I choose to forge ahead without airing down.



Surprisingly, I made it four miles up this snow-covered road without airing down—and four miles because the snowmobile tracks only went a little further (35.99960, -106.73252).



However, when I try to turn around, I do get stuck. Of course! Imagine that! First, I sank in the snow, and when I attempted to drive out, I reached ice below the snow. Thus, I air down and winched again to return to the asphalt.



As the Pinehill, NM to Cuba, NM, this section from Cuba, NM to Abiquiu, NM, and then to Antonito, CO, also complements the GDMBR. Because I already have it planned for Fall 2024, I decided to drive the asphalt to Antonito, CO, the end of the NMBDR, south to north. Not to mention, a winter storm is headed this way, too.

Taking asphalt, I made it to Abiquiu Lake, NM (36.25575, -106.43403), where the weather was fair, and I so wanted to drop in the kayak with India. Unfortunately, daylight was not our friend as I tried to make it to Antonito, CO tonight to close this chapter. While Abiquiu Lake is not part of the GDMBR, it will be for India and me when we come through.



...continued here as Bailing on the New Mexico Backcountry Discovery Route (NMBDR) II after exceeding photos allowed (50) on a single thread.

 

That's an epic adventure!

 

Wow, awesome! That's some deep snow to go exploring solo. Definitely beyond my comfort level, but excellent photos and write-up. India probably loved it (aside from the 4Runner). And just as a head's up, I'm not convinced all dogs do get happier in vehicles as time goes on, unfortunately. I've had dogs that did become more used to it, but my current pup still doesn't enjoy driving and she's crossed the country 4 times and lived out of it for several months.

 

The Knitted Brow
You were in my neck of the woods. I live on Highway 152 right at the bottom of the Black Range on the Silver City side. Today, it’s about 85 degrees. Next time you come through give me a call and we got an extra room if you need it. Our house is at 6500 feet and completely isolated from city life.

 

It's funny you say that. I've reached the point that I say, in another eight years, India will be 10. She'll finally find the passenger seat, only to be upset she didn't find it earlier.

Thanks.

 

You impress the shit out of me. Most people would never try that, and with the snow.....you sir do not mess around.

 

Thanks for the kind words, I think.

I joke that I'm a survivalist, not because I think a world-ending apocalypse is near but because I do a lot of stupid stuff.

I thought I would identify as a snowmobile on that trip before going all in on the full transformation.

 

I very much meant it as a big compliment. I don't impress easy.