On the Way to Picacho

[kingfisher24]

I am marking time, seeing whats to be seen...on the road to NYE with the 4CU..
so after leaving Guadalupe NP, i plan to stop at an Escapees Park near Artesia, NM...
then its either straight to Santa Fe, weather permitting, via 285 or to Socorro, via US 380... ( a not so good road?)...

if i go to Santa Fe first, then i will return to Socorro and the Bosque wildlife refuge to see the birds and then head west across US 60 with a stop in Pie Town and Datil Wells.

headed for Show Low and Fools Hollow State park, then to the Lost Dutchman SP and then a treck to Congress AZ and a SKP park to stay a few days and get mail and explore 89 up to Prescott and Dead Horse

all before heading to the New Years Rally with the 4CU....any thoughts , esp on the US 380 part of the trip????

and all of this with an eye on the weather

[Melody Ranch]

Sounds great! If you have a chance look at Las Vegas NEW MEXICO. I think it is still what Santa Fe used to be. Santa Fe....a sad, sad decline into popularity.

[kingfisher24]

left the davis mountains this morning and the original plan called for a trip to Guadalupe Mts, but weather forecast called for 80MPH winds...so we headed for Pecos, Texas to let the wind die down...forecast calls for the wind to lie to about 10MPH tomorrow...so we will head for the Guadalupe Mountains in the morning....hear the leaves are just beginning to turn.......

[mopariac]

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

...so we headed for Pecos, Texas to let the wind die down...forecast calls for the wind to lie to about 10MPH tomorrow...so we will head for the Guadalupe Mountains in the morning....hear the leaves are just beginning to turn.......

We are in Big Spring, Texas and leaving in the morning because the wind is suppose to die down. We will be in Deming, New Mexico tomorrow and plan on staying there for a while... Maybe we will see you on the road. If not, we are hoping to be at the NYE event at Pecacho Peak and we'll see you there.

Tharon and Connie

[kingfisher24]

I am going to stop at as many New Mexico State Parks as I can on this travel...the first being Brantley Lake.... Summer Lake...have read bad reviews about Storrie Lake


any thoughts

thanks

[Lily&Me]

We loved the Las Cruces, NM area.

Travel safe,


Maggie

[kingfisher24]

It is too close to El Paso....

[Lumatic]

We are in Estancia, on Rt 41. Stop in if you are passing by. You might enjoy Bosque del Apache just off I-25, near T or C and Socorro. Wintering grounds for Sand Hill Cranes, Snow Geese and a few of the few remaining Whoopers.

[LHall]

There are a few places along I-10 in AZ that may be nice for you to check out prior to the NYE Rally. By the way we are thrilled that you have made this a destination!

The Benson, Douglas areas are quite interesting. You have Tombstone and Bisbee between and there are many sights to take in. Tombstone is worh a visit to the Old Boot Hill Cemetary and the town itself. There are quite a few RV Parks in and around the area. Bisbee is an old Copper Mining Town Just south of Tombstone and is rich in history. You could easily spend a few days there.

The Patagonia area just west of Benson is supposed to be quite nice, we have not been yet, but definitely on our list. Gilbert Ray Park in Tucson is a great camping area in the middle of Sahuaro National Park and near Old Tucson Studios. You could easily spend a few days exploring Tucson on your way to Picacho.

I see that you are planning a trip across 60 through Datil and Pie Town. There is an excellent BLM Camp Ground at Datil Wells. I imagine that it gets a bit chilly around this time. On your route from Show Low down to Apache Junction, the towns of Globe and Miami are interesting and there are some decent antique shopping there. The drive down 60 from Show Low is one of the most scenic in AZ through the Salt River Canyon.

See you soon

[Bluto]

Originally Posted by kingfisher24

I am going to stop at as many New Mexico State Parks as I can on this travel...the first being Brantley Lake.... Summer Lake...have read bad reviews about Storrie Lake


any thoughts

thanks

This will be an interesting thread. I'd like to hear your comments about the parks in NM as you visit them during your trip. In the spring, I'll be doing some camping in that part of the country.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by LHall

I see that you are planning a trip across 60 through Datil

I found my favorite all time bumper sticker in the Datil store. "Jesus loves cowboys and cowgirls" In Catron county there is a law on the books every able bodied male over 18 years old must own a firearm.

[kingfisher24]

We have made this trip, once last year in January...and we cannot wait to go back again....it is truly spectacular

Yes I want to go to the Refuge in Socorro...

How is the road...US380 from carrizozo to socorro...the mountain directory says it is mediocre...at best esp between bingham and socorro

any thoughts......


I am trying to get used to the cold...cursed the Heat all thru the year wanting cooler temps and now...burrr

[kingfisher24]

Brantley Lake SP near Carlsbad...is a great place...on a lake formed by a dam on the Pecos river...very isolated but with water and elec connections and a dump station all for $14 bucks a night.....

[kingfisher24]

NM park update....Brantley Lakes, on the pecos, was great

We are now at Bottomless Lake State Park, near Roswell, on the pecos river...a great study in contrast in landscapes between the two...took NM route 2 from US285 to get here,...missed the shortcut through Dexter but got here just the same...

so far NM STATE PARKS ARE GREAT

[elfirebob]

Wow, ya'll are moving with the wind! Lots to see in this whole region. If weather pushes you toward the southwest corner of the state, try City of Rocks, Pecos Wilderness and Ruins near Silver City...the Catwalk near Glen wood I think was a nice day...
We'll see ya at Picacho!

[kingfisher24]

or so the sign proclaims

but it is a neat place......Lake Sumner State park on the Pecos river north of Fort Sumner, New Mexico..

and the Pecos river and the crossroads of US84 and US 60 are much, uh....most of the reason, if not all for fort sumner to exist...i guess we killed indians here on our way westward

but it is a winter retreat for trailer trash like us

[Lily&Me]

What we and the early explorers did to the American Indians is appalling, really. I often think when I encounter native Americans (and other minorities) in this country that only intense efforts at forgiveness have prevented them from rising up and slitting all our throats in the night.

There is a Wounded Knee Museum in Wall, SD, that was absolutely gut-wrenching to visit. We were the only whites of about 5 people in the whole place, a few blocks from Wall Drug that was absolutely jammed with tourists. Made me rather sick to my stomach.

Small rant, sorry, and I know we are not responsible for the acts of our ancestors.

Sounds like you are having a good trip, guys, and it's fun to stay posted on your travels. Hope you can get to Moraine View in June, here. A great bunch of people.


Travel safe,


Maggie

[Bluto]

kingfisher24,
When you get time. What other places have you stayed along your route that you liked? Any in AZ?

[TBRich]

Originally Posted by Bluto

kingfisher24,
When you get time. What other places have you stayed along your route that you liked? Any in AZ?

For lots of info and lots of pics about camping in parks and national forest of Arizona, check out our travel log... We are a bit behind with it being up to date at the momet, but there's still a lot there to keep you busy...

[jdthor]

We did a 12-day trip Louisiana to Las Vegas and back over Thanksgiving. Stayed at Picacho and City of Rocks on the way back.

At Picacho I saw the clearest and "longest" "shooting star" I have ever seen in my 60 years. Also got "swooped" by a monster-hawk that didn't care for me being on his side of the mountain.

Has anyone hiked the trail to the top of Picacho?

JD Thornton
Natchitoches Louisiana
(met some of you in 2009 at Heron Lake)