Planning a trip through NW NM & NE AZ?

[eubank]

Here's a trip I've been thinking about:

-Angel Fire up to Farmington. Been there, done that many times.

-Farmington via Shiprock (town) down 491, then west on BIA 13, which leads past the lower end of the Shiprock to Red Rock, AZ. I'm particularly interested in this route because I want to shoot the formation from that end.

-Red Rock on BIA 13 over Lukachukai mountains to Lukachukai and down to Tsaile; then on N64 down to Chinle. I've seen lots of nice photography from this area, especially looking from the mountains back towards Shiprock. Gotta shoot that!

-From Chinle south on 191, then west up through Hopi country towards Tuba City.

So the only question I have involves the underlined sections above, which I haven't done before.

Thx,

[eubank]

Has nobody done this poor route? I'm mainly interested in the section between Shiprock and Lukachukai. Google Maps didn't go much further than Shiprock, so it's kind of hard to tell road conditions through the Lukachukai mountains.

Lynn

[mhilley]

AAA has great maps of indian country.

[dscluchfc]

Originally Posted by eubank

Has nobody done this poor route? I'm mainly interested in the section between Shiprock and Lukachukai. Google Maps didn't go much further than Shiprock, so it's kind of hard to tell road conditions through the Lukachukai mountains.

Lynn

Google Earth is your friend for satellite photos of the road.

[eubank]

Woops, sorry, I used Google Earth, not Google Maps. There's no street view for the part I'm interested in, so have to rely on some pretty cloudy sat images. (Hence the request for personal experience with that part of the road.)

Lynn

[mojo]

Have been part way on the road from both ends but have not gone over the Chuska Mtns. It is a narrow road but can't be any worse than the road to Chaco.

[eubank]

Oh, if it's anything like the road to Chaco, I ain't pulling the Airstream over it! What I'm hoping for is that the road's been paved. It's hard to tell from Google Earth, but there are spots where the road appears to have stripes. But those could also be ruts, and I'd be in deep doo-doo.


Lynn

[mojo]

Lynn

I believe it is paved but not sure on the level of maintenance. Perhaps a call to the AZ/NM DOT's or the BIA in Shiprock. I would like to do that route too, someday.

[eubank]

That might be a good idea, Mojo! Could be that the agency to call would be the Navajo road authority, or maybe some part of BIA. But maybe they contract with the relevant DOT.

Come to think of it, maybe another way would be to drive down there from my stay in Farmington and take a physical look. That would have the advantage of allowing me to shoot the rock without having to find someplace to get the Airstream out of the way.


Lynn

[pmclemore]

Grinning as I say this, of course:

On your return leg of your scout trip, I'd like to know what the road is like from Chinle to Ft Defiance. I had a wild hair to take that route the last time we were at Canyon deChelly, but didn't pull the trigger. Good thing in retrospect, but I've kept wondering.

Pat

[eubank]

Roger, wilco! Actually, if I get to take this trip, the plan was to go from Chinle south on 191, then west through Hopi country on 264. However, plans change a lot as these trips evolve (including during the trip itself), so you never can tell!

Lynn

[dscluchfc]

Originally Posted by eubank

Roger, wilco! Actually, if I get to take this trip, the plan was to go from Chinle south on 191, then west through Hopi country on 264. However, plans change a lot as these trips evolve (including during the trip itself), so you never can tell!

Lynn

I have been the route from Chinle south on 191, and then west through the Hopi lands on 264 to Tuba City while towing my 31 ft.
It is no interstate by any means...narrow in places, a little bumpy in places with a lot of not much shoulder, but a relatively easy 50-60 mph drive most of the time and some 20-30 in some places such as coming up or off a mesa as the road twists and turns.
Closer to Tuba City glimpses of Coal Mine Canyon to the north.

[Splitrock]

I'd like to take a trip like that. Boy would my wife be pissed!

[eubank]

Oh, I don't think my wife would like it, either. This trip is my trip-in-the-pocket just in case Maria needs to go take care of her mom in Europe again (which seems a bit likely at this point). If she doesn't need to go, we'll just head straight from Farmington across and up to Page, then on to some national park or another.


Lynn

[dscluchfc]

My wife loved Canyon de Chelley, and the Cottonwood Campground at the park was FREE.
She also loves the chunky turquoise necklace she got at White House Ruin when we hiked down to the bottom of the canyon there.
There are ways to make sure wives enjoy the trip....
Jewelry usually helps!

[eubank]

Oh, she'd enjoy the canyon! We've been there before. What I don't think she'd particularly enjoy is getting there by the back door!

Lynn

[Splitrock]

My wife's favorite trips are the ones she didn't go on.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

I think you should scout it with your trailer in tow. I am sure you will be able to turn right and see what is over the next hill and the next one after that.

[pmclemore]

Originally Posted by eubank

Roger, wilco! Actually, if I get to take this trip, the plan was to go from Chinle south on 191, then west through Hopi country on 264. However, plans change a lot as these trips evolve (including during the trip itself), so you never can tell!

Lynn

I can attest that this route will present no problems. I had a breakdown in Ganado (actually Hubbell Trading Post). Good Sam towed my truck and trailer to Gallup following this route. So, I'd reaffirm that you can tow with confidence.

Pat