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Boondocker · 03-11-2009, 01:00 PM

Its time to start giving serious thought to this summers "Sons of Perdition Traveling Seminar"

There are tons of unknowns for me at the moment, so to start I am just going to go on the idea that the tour will go from May 9 and go into June. If everything turns out good, then the tour may go into August.

Here is what I'm thinking at this point.
Phase I: Depart Lawton May 9 and work down to Big Bend National Park.
From Big Bend, work up to Guadalupe NP and Carlsbad NP.
From Carlsbad up to the south east corner of New Mexico
and the Lincoln NF
From there, over to Gila NF

This is all new territory for me, I will be looking for boondocking, cool sites, fly fishing, historical sites, and photo opportunities. Thanks in advance for the tips

juel · 03-11-2009, 03:13 PM

Ah, going South this year. Be careful of the drug wars and keep an eye on your trailer. I thought you were having major problems with the Tradewind. I guess it's good to go now. If you have problems, get in touch with Horizon RV, Mark, in El Paso for help. He's a good guy.

HiHoAgRV · 03-11-2009, 03:16 PM

Whooo hooo!
Last night I was thinking of my favorite things here on the forum and your summer tours are sure 'nuff top 10 fodder.
Ya know we do expect lots of photos now that you no excuse for poor internet connections...

eubank · 03-11-2009, 03:18 PM

This time I won't be able to help that much! It's been years and years since we spelunked that territory so anything I could add would just be very old (and unreliable) memory.

Still gonna look forward to great photography from you, though!

Lynn

Boondocker · 03-11-2009, 03:19 PM

It looks like the Trade Wind will be in fighting trip again by the end of April (fingers crossed). I'm starting south and checking out areas I haven't been to yet. As I mentioned, how long I will be able to stay out on the road is up in the air right now. Even if I stay out on the road until August, there is a good chance I will limit myself to the Four Corners region for the most part. With any luck I will be able to get the satellite internet going by then, so no matter where I am the images will be coming.

Boondocker · 03-18-2009, 02:04 PM

Anyone have the Gila dialed in? Looking at the map, the Cliff Dwellings and hot springs look good, as does the area up by Reserve and Luna.... and maybe into eastern Arizona.

Gene · 03-18-2009, 05:56 PM

Gila NF: lots of stuff all through there, but the hot springs at the south end weren't pretty small, really small, when we were there. I think they were along the Gila R. and not far from the cliff dwellings. I think there are lots of places in the middle of the forest, west of the Very Large Array, to boondock. It's been a long time since we've been there, so memory is fading (oh, that's because I've been alive a really long time). You should be able to find out all you need to know with a little research on the internet. It will be very hot in southern NM in summer.

Not sure I'd want to stay anywhere near the border this year.

The Arizona mountains along the eastern border with NM are a nice south to north (or vice versa) drive and a pretty quiet place. Can't remember the name of the range either. I think they are different from the mountains further west in the middle of Arizona.

I know I'm being vague, but that's the best I can do right now.

Gene

Over59 · 03-18-2009, 05:59 PM

Word is the border area is hot, esp in remote areas. Elements look to be pushing the trade out of their traditional staging areas. Be careful.
There is a road along the Texas Mexico line I would love to do if it ever is save.

Boondocker · 03-18-2009, 07:06 PM

In terms of the heat (thermal) I was thinking of doing the southern parts of the trip in May when it is cold up at the higher elevations. Is mid May to late to comfortably be in southern NM?

In terms of heat (drug runner) I don't know how I will play that other than to say I am not prepared to be be frightened in my own country to the point that I am afraid to move about and the criminals are not.

eubank · 03-18-2009, 07:36 PM

Oh, speaking of not being freightened in border country, I gotta tell the story of a good friend of ours. She's elderly, very active, as feisty as she can be, and very, very much into native grasses and macro photography. She goes all over the southwest in search of rare species. (When she's up here, she camps here for the night, and then we keep her pets while she goes into the backcountry for a day or two.)

So last year she was down near the NM bootheel in the backcountry, looking for a particular species, as usual. Out in front of her, she heard all sorts of commotion, so she stopped, and along came a big crew of border agents, all decked out with weapons and the works. The leader approached our friend and demanded to know what she was doing out there. Her response: "I'm looking for grass."

Lynn

Gene · 03-18-2009, 07:38 PM

Lynn, when does she get out?

Gene

eubank · 03-18-2009, 07:39 PM

Oh, you'd have to know her! A real southwest original, she wasn't about to let anybody as green as a border agent get the best of her!

Lynn

Boondocker · 04-21-2009, 11:07 AM

The day is rapidly approaching I should get my trade wind back tomorrow

The itinerary is completely in the air other than I have to be in Indianapolis at the end of July. I am half way tempted to start out by cutting south and camping on the beach at padre island for a few days. Margaritas, sand between my toes, all that. Then maybe cut over to Big Bend NP and work north.

Have any of you ever canoed the canyons at Big Bend NP? I have always wanted to, but I wonder if the water would be high enough and if border issues wouldn't be to much.

Boondocker · 04-23-2009, 10:16 AM

How miserable hot would it be on the beach at Padre Island in early/mid May? I see from the climatic records that the temps are likely to be in the mid 80's, however, I know that the lack of shade would be a factor...

At this point, I am tempted to swing down there for maybe a week or so of beach time before hitting the mountains. I hit a fair amount of cold in the Mountains in May last year, so there is some appeal to this. Which reminds me I need to find a good spot to hunker down for Memorial Day weekend.

Boondocker · 04-23-2009, 10:28 AM

Can anyone give me a general feel for the snow pack from the winter? I remember last years was massive and it created issues for me all summer.

Gene · 04-23-2009, 10:45 AM

Rodney, the snowpack totals are published in Colorado dailies. Go to the Denver Post website and do a search for it.

There still looks to be plenty of snow up in the mountains and the rivers have begun serious runoff. We had plenty of snow and some rain in the past month after several months of hardly anything.

Hope we can cross paths this season somewhere. We are still thinking of going to that rally in northern California in August, but have to get this coming trip under our belts.

Gene

Boondocker · 04-23-2009, 07:59 PM

Does anyone have experience with the primitive campsites at Big Bend along the river road? I was looking at them today and was thinking that they might be good camping. Has anyone dragged their AS down the "high clearance" roads?

Also, does anyone have local knowledge (ie not unfounded fears) about safety issues related to camping along the border within the park?

pmclemore · 04-24-2009, 10:23 AM

Rodney,

We stayed at the Cottonwood campground in early Oct 2007 (which is in the park, no gens allowed in this cg) and thoroughly enjoyed it. We were especially enthralled by the dark night skies. There is potable water in the cg, not at the sites.

I think that would be a great place to base out of...there are outfitters in Terlingua that would help you with your float. We had no concerns for our safety; when walking the trail you have a chance to buy contraband in the form of walking sticks and copper wire hadicrafts. You just read the little sign, drop your money in the jar and call out "gracias amigo" or just wave if you see them down by the river.

Cottonwood had resident road runners, a turkey who was very friendly, and the ever-present javelinas.

We left Cottonwood early because the temps just got to be too high for comfort - in October, yet!

We'd like to go back but it's a good piece off the beaten track.

Pat

Pacerized · 04-24-2009, 08:07 PM

Rodney:

Snowpack is less then it was last year but still slightly above average. We've been in a pattern of 60 degree temps for 3 days followed by snow for the next 3 for a few weeks now. It was in the high 60's today and it's supposed to snow Sat. I think camping at higher altitudes may come a little earlier this year but it depends on when the snow finally gives up.
Have a great time on your trip.

Charlie