Vermejo's Offroad Log

[Vermejo]

http://newmexicobackroads.smugmug.com/photos/618463555_dwHJE-M.jpg



More images and exploration at http://newmexicobackroads.blogspot.com/

[Vermejo]

Hit Broad Canyon Saturday morning as the weather has been perfect. I'm getting some wheeling in before my rig goes to the shop for some serious repairs and upgrades. (Stay tuned to my other thread for that). All said and done I escaped without body damage only finishing off my stock skids in their long death.

Info on Broad Canyon: http://www.lascrucesfourwheeldriveclub.com/

Click on Trails/Hard

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[Vermejo]

I went with the LC4WD veterans this past Saturday to San Diego Mountain located 25 miles north of Las Cruces, NM. Rain storms over the last two years have washed out many areas of the trail raising the bar on drivers. Many of the obstacles are located on hillsides and are unstable where a miss could prove ugly. Short hikes off the trial yield deep mine shafts and ancient petroglyphs (pictured below). The vehicles included 2 jeeps, a Defender and my Runner. Everyone double locked w/the exception of yours truly. Carnage as it stood at the end of the day: the Defender and Rubicon slashed sidewalls, Jeep #2 turned back w/a bent idler arm and I finally killed my stock skids. Enjoy…

Link: http://www.lascrucesfourwheeldriveclub.com/

Click on Trails/Moderate

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[Vermejo]

“You and your vehicle must be prepared for hard four-wheeling and possible body damage on Hard and Extreme trails” The organizers did not lie to those that came from around the country to wheel in Las Cruces’ Chile Challenge. I managed to escape 4 days of hard trails with mangled skids, bent/dented sliders, quarter panel dents and injured IFS components. Both the skids and sliders were new before the event but look “war torn” as of today.

Trails driven in order:
Wednesday- Amatista Ledges
Thursday- Upper Broad Canyon
Friday- Hopping Jalapeno
Saturday- Broad Canyon (Hard)

More Info:

http://www.lascrucesfourwheeldriveclub.com/ChileChallengeTrails.htm

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[Vermejo]

The Lady and I went to the Lower Gila early Saturday for a little backcountry exploration. We left civilization at Silver City after a stroll downtown and Mexican lunch. We ended covering 150+ miles off-road in the Big Burro Mountains and along the NM Gila River Saturday and Sunday. Most of the travel was on private land making access to certain areas of the Gila River difficult. GPS, BLM and Topo maps showed roads as public access whereas the ranchers posted otherwise. We camped Saturday night on the Gila Box outlet at Redrock, NM. We settled on a river flat under a cottonwood tree as the river crossings were becoming too deep. Meghan, my spotter, did not feel like swimming.

Enjoy…

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[Vermejo]

I couldn’t wait any longer to run the lockers, gears and 35’s and opted to go out with some of the LC4WD veterans on a San Diego Mountain run Sunday. I screwed my old Tacoma mud flaps into the rear of the wells to keep my treads off metal; it worked. Climbing the mountain was steady but the ride down was more trying to keep the truck from becoming a bobsled. Angles in the pics softened the reality. The loop out was a bit hairy as the road was washed out in areas along the mountainside. Some areas were down to 5- ft. wide. Mistakes would award a roll good for a couple hundred feet. The feeling of 4 tires biting at the same time has only deepened my addiction. Enjoy

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[Vermejo]

I headed out Saturday for a short Box Canyon run to test some of my new junk and stuff the wheels. I hardly made it up the embankment on the first try as I placed the rear in a hole. Second try was a bit smoother after some heckling. Canyon only requires three obstacles in 45 minutes; a good quickie. Enjoy

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[Vermejo]

I ran Amatista Ledges early Saturday morning to show visiting family a bit my backcountry.

The trail follows a series of ledges and small waterfalls. It then heads up stream to the "Grease Pit", an obstacle officially on the Hopping Jalapeño trail. A short way up the arroyo is the "Bath Tub", a deep long "V" to straddle. The remaining trail up and out of the canyon consist of a series of ledges and waterfalls. –LC4WD Description

The “Grease Pit” yielded just that; I blew my CV and slung its blood and bearings over the rocks. We spent 30 minutes cleaning the big rocks with wet-wipes and packing the soiled gravel in bags. Everything was good on the nature front, finishing the trail in 2WD was the ugly part.

Once I was on the pavement I noticed the rear vibrating. I panned my mirror down to see the rear wheel pitching a fit out of true. Axle shaft bent.

I’m out till Moab

Moab or Bust – Busted ‘til Moab

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[xonetruthcrewx]

Thats sucks dude. However, your rig is looking bad ass. :thumbup:

[slosurfer]

How do you have the diamond plate attached to your rockers and fenders? I like the look. :thumbup:

[Henrythewound]

Excellent pics, i wanted to explore the Gila and some of it's backroads when i was there in Dec, unfortunately the Pinos Altos area was in clouds and it was really wet. I doubt I would feel good about tackling some of those roads you showed alone. Nice shots, makes me want to get out and explore!

[20005spd]

nice pics and trails, someday ill get out that way....

[Vermejo]

Thanks for the compliments guys. I 僧 headed to Moab on Tuesday to meet up with some of the AZ crew. I知 pushing to have the truck in order by Memorial Day. The diamond is fixed on the truck with 100+ rivets. PITA to install

As for the NM Gila: it痴 my favorite place to travel being an hour away. The best roads aren稚 on most maps and provide access to incredible areas. As stated the remote nature of these areas could be a problem given vehicle breakdown or bodily injury. When we explore those parts we take provisions to survive the elements. Being armed is also well advised

[Vermejo]

A buddy of mine, Steven, and I took off 10pm Tuesday night headed for Moab, UT. We arrived at 8am Wednesday to find off-road heaven; half dead, tired and hungry. Our second wind kicked in and we found our dusty/hot campsite at the start of Fins n’ Things, renamed by us as Fens and Hens. Later that night we met up with the rest of the Crew.

Trails:

Wednesday – Fins and Hens: warm-up where I discovered the bite of rubber + sandstone

Thursday- Moab Rim: everything to lose on this trail’s assent and decent, good obstacles and a better understanding of luck and the forces of gravity

Friday- Steel Bender: my personal favorite given ledge climbs and steep descents

We had a great time, wheeled with good people and saw beautiful country.

Links:
http://www.yotatech.com/f66/moab-2008-a-143843/
http://bstadelman.com/Site/Welcome.html


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[expatoz]

Great photos. Fins and Things and Rim are awesome fun. (despite me breaking a CV, an axle braket, and punching a hole in the sump!) I really like the angles you used in many of the shots.

[Vermejo]

After departing Moab we headed down SE to the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. After staying Friday night in Ouray, we attempted cruise the Alpine Loop linking: Engineer pass, Lake City, Cinnamon Pass and Animas Forks, with exit through Silverton. A 30ft snow drift stopped us a mile up the hill. A short trip to Silverton via the highway yielded a passable road (110) to the high country. Cinnamon Pass was traversable only to an extent before the road became nonexistent.

The trip into Durango produced a check engine light and near total loss of engine power to the truck. The local Auto Zone was open, ran the code and had the part; throttle response sensor. With the good luck we decided to hit the brewery and call it a day.

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[Vermejo]

The sis and I met up with the LC4WD Club Saturday for a Caballo Mountains run 60 miles north of Las Cruces. The Rio Grande collects at the base of the range to form Caballo Reservoir. With temperatures hovering above 100 for two weeks the rainstorms and cool winds were welcoming. The trail rated as “easy” has since been washed out providing plenty of obstacles in the lower canyons; most of us were unaware of these changes. I was informed by a fellow enthusiast as to the pain my truck would endure, “Your car isn’t going to make it; you are more than welcome to ride with me”. … I passed on the offer. Carnage ensued shortly thereafter for many of the group. Luckily my truck was undamaged as the skids, sliders and bumpers were working overtime.

We were able to watch the storm move in once we reached the summit for amazing views. Enjoy

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[Vermejo]

24 Hours of the Gila

Departing Saturday evening and returning the following day we covered over 400 miles most of which was off-road. Access to the Gila National Forest was at Mimbres, NM via FR 150. FR 150 in combination with FR 142 encircles the NE Gila Wilderness covering over 200 miles depending on the route. We Camped Saturday at Black Canyon Creek under heavy rains in the truck. Morning came with chilly air and a thick fog. We continued the loop on to Beaverhead and FR 142 where the forest breaks giving way to grassy plains and high mesas. The roads in this area are not the best place to travel solo as we passed not a soul; the rains have turned miles of dirt into mud holes and rock ruts. The route returns to heavy forest at Snow Lake and the burnt School Canyon into the high country. The forest in this area, Willow Creek and Bear Wallow, are vegetated like few parts of the Southwest looking more like sections of more northern states. Before hitting pavement at Mogollon my front end seemed to rattle and clunk like sure death at the start what was to be many descending switchbacks. Meghan was thrilled to be in a 5000 lb casket looking down a few thousand feet. I jerked on everything front end and found nothing so I pressed on. After descending, what sounded like a toolbox, I searched to find a rock wedged between the skid and sway bar. With no intention of budging I had to drop the back of the skid for removal. The trip home was cooled by cloud cover and desert storms, a great end.

With time too short this trip; I’ve already planned a return in a few weeks. Enjoy

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[Whitey]

Amazing stuff. Were those wolves?

[Vermejo]

Amazing stuff. Were those wolves?


Nah, those were just some wandering Shepherds although the Mexican Grey Wolf was re-released in the NM Gila a decade ago. These dogs have the life!

[Whitey]

Amazing stuff. Were those wolves?


Nah, those were just some wandering Shepherds although the Mexican Grey Wolf was re-released in the NM Gila a decade ago. These dogs have the life!

gotcha

[xonetruthcrewx]

Looking through your trip reports really makes me regret selling my 4Runner. You definitely go to some cool ass places with great scenery. I am a bit jealous.

[Vermejo]

Many thanks to Steve of Rising Sun with his FJ-62 for leading us on Chinaman’s this past weekend. We powered through the loop in about two hours including lunch thanks to Steve’s impressive pace and skill. We only encountered a lone cyclist and one buggy the entire run. The anticipation I had for Whale Rock was met with an equal challenge as pictures don’t describe the “pucker” a driver feels. A quick preview of Carnage by foot provided a few laughs as to the capability of our vehicles and our willingness to destroy them. We passed.

Afterwards Steve showed us up the way via dirt while winding along the Arkansas to Leadville and little Mexican bar and grill. Watching the clouds roll off Mount Massive and Elbert at sunset was quite the backdrop for combo plates, beverages and conversation.

Enjoy

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[Bob98SR5]

vermejo,

excellent pics, love the truck. one of my favorites---built just right :)

i wonder how big the spider was that built that web? did you find it?

bob

[strykersd]

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e352/BearJake/Chinaman/P1030558.jpg


Is this on Chinaman or Carnage? If it was on Chinaman, one has to ask...Did you winch?

[neliconcept]

dude i want chips and sauce now lol

[AxleIke]

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e352/BearJake/Chinaman/P1030558.jpg


Is this on Chinaman or Carnage? If it was on Chinaman, one has to ask...Did you winch?


That is the exit to Carnage.

[Vermejo]

-Gunnison - Crested Butte - Schofield Pass/Devil’s Punchbowl - Salida - Buena Vista - Chinaman’s Gulch - Leadville - Cottonwood Pass-

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[Vermejo]

Sierra De Las Uvas – Robledo Mountains – Corralitos Ranch – Choases Canyon – Broad Canyon – Faulkner - Rough and Ready Hills – Magdalena Peak

While the truck carried us to the foot hills and canyons the real exploration was by foot. November in Southern New Mexico is the "golden season".

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[Vermejo]

Saturday we met up with fellow Las Cruces 4WD Club members to run in the Chile Canyons. My sister’s boyfriend Phil from the UK tagged along for the ride. The trail leader decided on Patzcuarro’s Revenge/Rocatillo Rapids, Extreme rated trails, to my discontent. I managed a couple hundred yards before flatting. Following a quick change I managed a bit further before realizing I was over my head. After I watching the other trucks crawl through the boulder chutes pivoting with full body contact, I called it quits. A bit embarrassed I broke from the group and crept out of the canyon. We retired the rest of the day to running the foothills; nice and easy.

Trail Info: http://lascrucesfourwheeldriveclub.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=33&Itemid=47

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[Vermejo]

Saturday the LC4WD Club met to pre-run trails that will be part of our annual Chile Challenge event. Departing as two groups; hard and extreme- I found myself with 3 Rubicons when the dust cleared. All “jeep grunting” aside, I’ve known most of these guys for years and enjoy the company. The Dona Ana Mountains are our sick little version of Moab. Many of the slopes are solid rock but feature a dusting of shale to the likings of crusher-fine. The climbs and descents place drivers in precarious off-camber situations that would allow a roll to continue for a quarter mile in many areas. Not so difficult are the obstacles than the loose traction and consequences for error.

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e352/BearJake/Winter%2009/DSC_0437.jpg

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[Vermejo]

http://i43.photobucket.com/albums/e352/BearJake/CopyofDSC_0231.jpg


Broad Canyon : http://newmexicobackroads.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-chile-challenge-broad-canyon.html

Dona Ana Mountains : http://newmexicobackroads.blogspot.com/2009/02/2009-chile-challenge-dona-ana-mountains.html

Upper Broad Canyon : http://newmexicobackroads.blogspot.com/2009/02/chile-challenge-thursday-run-upper.html

Good times had by all

[Vermejo]

Trails
Hell’s Revenge
Golden Spike
Behind the Rocks
Poison Spider Mesa

Many more photos at http://newmexicobackroads.blogspot.com/

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[troyboy162]

damn! great pictures! i like the arch one and the one where your going up the steep rock crease waving your front passenger paw

[ttora4runner]

Good to see that 4runner is still in action. That orange buggy that is near vetical is sick.

[4runfun]

finally some new pics, everytime i think about chopping my ifs i see your truck and think maybe i should wait.

[Vermejo]

http://newmexicobackroads.smugmug.com/photos/624245596_UR4Zf-M.jpg

This past weekend I traveled into the Gila with Jones, my GSD. Over the past few months, using 50 year old FS Maps and Google Earth, I patched a long route from Mogollion to Reserve. The route covered over 200 miles of OPEN roads that traversed everything from fern carpeted forest to high desert plains. I’m always amazed at what I still have to discover here.

The Gila provides thousands of miles of road by way of rugged and remote terrain. As help or assistance is rare in these parts, it’s advised to go well prepared. I drove over 200 miles without seeing anything but wildlife.

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[Vermejo]

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[Vermejo]

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[Vermejo]

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