Southwest NEW MEXICO Rockdocking Rock Hunt- July/August 2015

[Ray Eklund]

Still raining at Castle Rock... Snow expected tomorrow. New Mexico will be a treat.

April 12, 2012 LOST- Gila Wilderness National Forest Rockdocking

This is under Boondocking. A post from several years ago. Would apply to this same area.

Someone with a trailer or RV longer than 25 feet can navigate the main county road into this area. Since Airstream trailers have low clearance, good for highways but tight for anything else, you might be able to find a place to park a trailer in Quemado and commute. The Forest Service might let you park in their large lot that is shared with the Fire Fighters.

The Gila Cliff Dwellings parking lot is next to the ruins. You walk up some steps, as these are along the cliff, but an easy walk. These are in as nice a condition as the Mesa Verde ruins. There is also, I recall, a RV Park just south of the ruins. Check me on that one, as I only went their once in 2006 or 2007. These ruins are not like Cliff House where you have to scale tall ladders to get out. Although, that was a bit entertaining.

[Airjeep]

Ray, there is a campground near the Gila cave dwellings and an RV/motel at the junction of NM 15/36. It had 5-7 spaces, friendly owners. This was 2 years ago.

We went up 15 from Silver City with our 27' EB. There were signs regarding trailer lengths restrictions. As a newbies, didn't pay too much to them as I thought they were for semi's. The campground owner was surprised that we made it up 15. Used most of the road going around some corners, glad it was in Feb., not tourist time. He asked if we would go back down 15, no we aren't that crazy!

Would our EB be suitable for your rock docking? No firm plans as of now, just mulling it over. Our TV is a Jeep GC Overland 4 wheel drive.

Don't ask about Palo Verde and the Opal Hill Mine!

Cheers, John

[BentMetal]

Very interested. We live in Alamogordo, NM. We have stayed at Casitas before. I'm restoring my Argosy, and we haven't done any off the grid camping yet. Would love to join sometime after the July 4th weekend and before August. Have you encountered monsoon rains in July? We get them in Alamogordo.

[Photobum]

I might be able to be there on June 15....

[BentMetal]

Love the July 13 date as I'll be back at work in August and still in WA state on June 15.

[Lily&Me]

I can't be there before at least the July date, as I have commitments here thru the middle of June.



Maggie

[Lily&Me]

I would like to do a week of wilderness rockdocking ....I love the sound of that..... and think that is doable if I bring extra water.

Am looking at the Reliance 2.5 gallon collapsible jugs, which compact down to about 2" when empty.

Anyone have any experience with these?


Maggie

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by Airjeep

Ray, there is a campground near the Gila cave dwellings and an RV/motel at the junction of NM 15/36. It had 5-7 spaces, friendly owners. This was 2 years ago.

We went up 15 from Silver City with our 27' EB. There were signs regarding trailer lengths restrictions. As a newbies, didn't pay too much to them as I thought they were for semi's. The campground owner was surprised that we made it up 15. Used most of the road going around some corners, glad it was in Feb., not tourist time. He asked if we would go back down 15, no we aren't that crazy!

Would our EB be suitable for your rock docking? No firm plans as of now, just mulling it over. Our TV is a Jeep GC Overland 4 wheel drive.

Don't ask about Palo Verde and the Opal Hill Mine!

Cheers, John

***********
We towed our 23 footer north on Highway 15 to the Gila Cliff Dwellings thinking there were some Forest Service pull outs, which there were none. I would believe that the RV Park would still be there. Looked like some Full Timers might be parked in there as well that work in the area. The trip towing is not impossible, but one round trip was enough for me. Just a lot of up, down and around...


There is one Forest Service road running North and South from north of Mimbres on Highway 35 called FR150. Forest Road 150 (gravel/dirt) runs to Highway 59, that comes in from the East from Winston, sort of... since the roads are all a bit irregular in this former mining area.

There is a LARGE warning sign about towing trailers on the North entry, just south a little from Highway 59. You get about a third of the way to Mimbres and there is one dip in the road that will hang up a 23 footer and then Rocky Canyon further to the south will tear your axles off the trailer... but the tow vehicle will make it. The sign is telling you the truth. I DID this in 2006 when they had just graded the road. The entire route, dragged skids at the dip. The following year we drove to Rocky Canyon, about mid way and it had washed out again.

Where we are going is a very mild off the grid trip and for those who have never tried this it will be a great opportunity to try. We now park the trailer at the first nice convenient spot and drive to any rougher roads. So, nobody should think that I am taking you on a "wreck our trailer jaunt through the forest"...

Tell us more about your experience at the Casitas. Their chalcedony rosettes were from this same Volcanic Caldera... probably was larger than Yellowstone before it blew.

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by BentMetal

Very interested. We live in Alamogordo, NM. We have stayed at Casitas before. I'm restoring my Argosy, and we haven't done any off the grid camping yet. Would love to join sometime after the July 4th weekend and before August. Have you encountered monsoon rains in July? We get them in Alamogordo.

*******

What is nice about this area would be the Forest Service maintained road we come in is an all weather, so wet or dry it handles traffic well. The campsite we find the best will handle five or more trailers if organized and about 1/4 mile off the main road. Some roads into the area you have to cross some dry creek beds, which during a rain storm would be worth waiting out. We are not doing any of those for obvious reasons. This route we will be using is the easiest in and out. There are two other routes from the South that would require a bit more experience to maneuver and does offer some mesa camping, but you have to drive miles to get to where we want to collect agates.

We were down there a few years ago and when the Monsoon's arrive, the clouds begin to slowly show up in the deep blue skies around noon. Then a few more the next day, and the next more, and so on. By that time we are already exhausted and left the area when it was already partly cloudy at sunrise. When it was cloudy at sunrise we figured we might catch some rain. But so far have missed anything that did not dry up after sunrise.

The Midwest has their rain and tornadoes and even the high and dry country of the Southwest gets rain... hopefully not while we are there. We had an inch of snow in April one year, which melted as soon as the sun was up and maybe two showers in eight years that dried quickly.

Watch the forecast of the National Weather. We catch some radio station weather reports on local AM Radio, but everywhere has weather... although I want sunny and warm variety of it while there.

PS. It began snowing at the house at 6PM and expected to get down into the upper 20's by morning and up to 6 inches of Spring.

[BentMetal]

RE: Rosettes at the Casitas
I found several small rosettes there, but nothing larger than a quarter. Tons of Jasper, but I think NM is made of Jasper . I would like to find some larger pieces of chalcedony.

[BentMetal]

Yes. New Mexico is full of those creek beds that run across roads, especially on the less traveled roads. Keep me posted on your dates! We are very excited about the possibility of doing some NM boondocking with people who have done it before. Combine that with rock hounding, and it's perfect! Thanks for your reply.

[Lily&Me]

Ray has obviously thought this thru, and designed it to be user-friendly for greenhorns.

A good thing.



Maggie

[skitique]

This sounds very interesting. Can we pull our 34 ft AS to this site?

Jane

[traveluminum]

We are interested, and plan on being in the Black canyon camp above Santa Fe for the first two weeks in August, so the July 13 date would be great for us. We love escaping the Texas heat in the summer.

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by traveluminum

We are interested, and plan on being in the Black canyon camp above Santa Fe for the first two weeks in August, so the July 13 date would be great for us. We love escaping the Texas heat in the summer.

**********

July 13, Monday will be the meeting date at Quemado, New Mexico.

IF you are going through Albuquerque, NM we will be their the night before at the Sandia Casino in their EAST parking lot area where RV's and Trailers will be seen parked. You can just follow who ever is in front of the ... convoy. Gas up the afternoon you arrive at the Sandia gasoline station. Best price in the region, too. You will then be ready to depart in the morning.

Sandia Casino Parking Lot, Albuquerque, NM to
Quemado, NM is 191 miles. Figure 4 hours travel time with time to spare.
Anyone at Sandia. We have breakfast at the Casino Buffet or Restaurant. One Hour. Leaving Sandia at 9AM to Quemado, NM arrival at 1:00PM at the Forest Service Office.

Water up at Quemado NFS. Ice at the Conoco gas station.

Leaving Quemado at 2:30PM in the event some late comer(s) have not arrived. You do want to get to the camp site while there is sunlight.

Top off your gas tank in Soccoro, NM as the main station in Magdalena, NM may or may NOT has gasoline. There is another station off the highway, but you will have to maneuver to stop. We have discovered twice going through Magdalena that the station was open, but NO GASOLINE. Long story about that...

You will need to PM me and leave me a contact telephone number and an email address for other instructions. Otherwise you are on your own if late or LOST.

Our choice of camping spots is less than 45 miles from Quemado. If for any reason once you detach your trailer and need fuel any time... Quemado is closer than Reserve, NM and the fuel is a lot cheaper. It is, believe me. You will not need to carry extra gasoline, unless you have a generator.

You will need the following items for collecting:

A five gallon bucket, or two.

The collecting is like an Easter Egg hunt. You bend over, pick up and put what you want into the plastic bucket you are carrying. We carry one bucket, a satchel collecting bag you through over your shoulder. You have the bucket in a central spot while you wander around like a drunken... whatever. When the satchel is getting heavy, you dump everything into the bucket. Class Over.

That is it. We are not digging, they are like hunting mushrooms and are light colored on a dark soil or surface of Basalt or Rhyolite igneous rocks. You bend over, brag about how BIG or small it is, drop the ones you like into your bucket.

Now that you have had the Rockhound Lesson, the rest is just meeting up in Magdalena. There is cell phone service IN Magdalena. There is NO service where we will be. No TV. No Phone.

July 13, 2015 leaving Magdalena, NM at 2:30PM preferred.

[Ray Eklund]

Originally Posted by skitique

This sounds very interesting. Can we pull our 34 ft AS to this site?
Jane

********
I would consider parking in Quemado, detach and follow us into the National Forest. As you enter Quemado on the EAST side of town is a fairly large parking area with trash cans to detach. Leave a note that you will be coming back.

OR check in at the NFS office if you can park in the large parking area. The NFS office is the first turn to the NORTH where Highway 36 comes into town. The office is on the WEST side about 1/4 mile. If you miss it... you are already too far out of town.

We will be taking Highway 32 SOUTH when we leave Quemado. It is the only highway going South near the center of town.

A 34 foot trailer will travel well on the main road. It is finding a pull out with a hunter's camp where the drop does not get your rear bumper dragging. Up to 25 foot will be demonstrated by us how easy it is done.

[Lily&Me]

Okay, I'm in for July 13th.

Will pm you email and cell phone number.

I had thought of giving the kids the number for the ranger station in case of an emergency, figuring there will be no signal where we will be camping?



Maggie

[Tincampers]

We are interested but can't commit right now. We are on the cusp of selling our house. Closing is expected sometime in June. I should know more over the next couple of weeks.

[Ray Eklund]

This is the Quemado, NM NFS office. Think about getting a Gila National Forest map. Latest edition I have is the 1997. You WILL WANT A COPY if you plan to explore the back country. Call ahead and have a copy waiting. I do not know how many they keep on hand. The Rangers can tell you if they have them on hand, or where you can call and order one.

District Ranger: Emily Irwin
Address: P.O. Box 159, Quemado, New Mexico, 87829
Phone: Phone (575) 773-4678, Fax (575) 773-4114
Office hours: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm Monday to Friday. Office is Closed on all National Holidays.
Directions: 0.1 miles north of the intersection of US Highway 60 and NM State Highway 36.

[Ray Eklund]

Now that two dates are established. June 15 is the date we plan to be checking the area out.

July 13 for the best time, as I will know what to expect after the first trip for the season into the back country.

June 15 is when we are going down and checking out the camp sites in the general area around our standard easiest access site. We would be in Quemado watering up, filling the gasoline tank and moving along if we do not hear from anyone for this earlier time. Same time frame as I gave earlier for times from Sandia to Quemado.

July 13 is the date that is the most popular of the later dates. That will be the date. So get this out earlier enough so anyone interest can make plans.

I am going to do a post just so anyone a bit worried can be brought into a comfort zone of not knowing what you are getting into. I understand. I have taken other RV Park campers to Wyoming to remote places and they now would follow us anywhere... but we never offered the Gila NF, as they like to ride their bicycle the dirt roads while we are rock hunting. OK with us. You can do anything you want.

If you PM me. Give me your email address and cell phone on the road number. Otherwise if you get lost getting to the "big town" Magdalena, we can steer you about 2 blocks to find anything.

There is NO cell phone service that I am aware once we are in the mountains. We just never thought to try calling anyone when out there. The phone is kept somewhere as I do not even look for it while out rock hunting.

IF it is RAINING the day we arrive at Quemado... we will park in town. If it rained the night before and sunny the next morning... we will be going into the camp site in the forest.

You might get dust, mud, dirt, cow patties flicker or whatever on your tow vehicle or whatever you are towing... it will was off at the Socorro, NM car wash on the SOUTH side of town, just before the entrances to the Interstate I-25. High pressure and it will make you all shiny and clean again.

OK. If you have a question, ask on the Forum Thread as others might be thinking the same thing. I will make one more Post and hope those giving this serious thought can feel confident that this is more than a fly by night operation... which it is, but there are few flies where we are going.

We will be technically be in the Apache National Forest which becomes the Gila National Forest in the higher country to the South.