2 weeks on the NMBDR, ERT, and some wandering.

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

Few picks in the Santa Fe NF.
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!!! There has been an important change on the original path of the ERT as it goes through the Santa Fe. Where the original path came out of the forest and onto easements of some private property, new land owners from Cali have installed fences and gates. This caused an uproar in the local community with protests, petitions, and threats of violence against the new owners. It is now being played out in the legal system but for now the original path is closed.
There is the FS200 option, which I took, and that’s an iffy. The road is badly deteriorated and littered with technical areas, rock and boulder “mine” fields, bad off camber areas, serious washouts, and rock drops. You will need good lift, armor, tires, lockers, and driving ability to traverse this. I ended up with a bent idler arm, dented driveshaft, leaking steering box, damaged tires, and well scraped up skid plate/belly pan. I was going downhill which made it easier as I would not have been able to make the climb.
Then once I got to the NF boundary I found a fence had been put up. I had done my research ahead of time and knew there was an easement all the way to the highway so I took the fence down and replaced it after I passed. Other than more crappy roadway, I passed through the property line fencing and easements without hindrance the rest of the way. However this could end up playing out like the original path so be prepared.

This is the only good section of that path.
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More to come...

With the ground clearance you have, did you have any problems with that sketchy part of the road ? Picture's are hard to see much. Was the damage to your drive shaft bad enough to cause vibrations ?

 

[Offroadnutz]

With the ground clearance you have, did you have any problems with that sketchy part of the road ? Picture's are hard to see much. Was the damage to your drive shaft bad enough to cause vibrations ?

My ground clearance was not adequate and scraped my skid plate and belly pan frequently.
At one point I was dragging the truck on the belly pan over an obstacle and when it dropped off is when I dented the drive shaft. Not severely dented but yes it is causing a vibration.
That picture was of the only good section of road. The rest required my undivided attention.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

My ground clearance was not adequate and scraped my skid plate and belly pan frequently.
At one point I was dragging the truck on the belly pan over an obstacle and when it dropped off is when I dented the drive shaft. Not severely dented but yes it is causing a vibration.
That picture was of the only good section of road. The rest required my undivided attention.

If yours barely made it mine would not. I think you have more clearance than I. I dont have any armor for my under carriage either. I dont want to spend another $1000 for it so I may have to do a lot of turning around at times unless I travel the trails with someone. Do you think that a spotter would have helped any ?

 

[Offroadnutz]

This was on the ERT. There was no issues like this on the NMBDR. Yes I think a spotter would have greatly helped.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

This was on the ERT. There was no issues like this on the NMBDR. Yes I think a spotter would have greatly helped.

Good to know the NMBDR is not so sketchy as ERT. I'm too old to challenge the sketchy trails, especially when going solo. Good accounting Steven, I enjoyed following your thread. What kind of equipment were you using to identify your locations ? Do you use your cell phone for the pictures ? Do you have a dash camera?

 

[velo47]

My Gaia started acting up as soon as I entered Chloride canyon. The background got blurry and didn’t correct itself till I left. Anyone experience this before?
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I had no issues with GAIA in Chloride Canyon, but did have the GPS go wonky on the west side of WSMR.

 

[velo47]

Speaking of that, I saw signs on lots of creeks saying either red chili water or green chili water. I also saw trout in all the streams I camped by.

That's NMs cute designation for quality waters.
Red Chile Water is catch & release, artificial lures or flies with a single barbless hook.
Green Chile Water is 2 per day limit, but with same tackle restrictions.

 

[velo47]

Here are a few picks heading south on the ERT into New Mexico.
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The ERT parallels a managed trout stream for quite awhile. There are signs along the way saying “red chili waters” and “green chili waters” referencing the various fishing regulations.
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More to come...

Looks like the Rio Costilla, we were just up there scouting elk in the Valle Vidal this last weekend.

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

I had no issues with GAIA in Chloride Canyon, but did have the GPS go wonky on the west side of WSMR.

Possibly military interference for both of you guy's. This state is loaded with military electronics sending out blocking devices.

 

[Offroadnutz]

Good to know the NMBDR is not so sketchy as ERT. I'm too old to challenge the sketchy trails, especially when going solo. Good accounting Steven, I enjoyed following your thread. What kind of equipment were you using to identify your locations ? Do you use your cell phone for the pictures ? Do you have a dash camera?

I used Gaia on my iPad tethered to a Garmin Glo 2. All pics were taken with my iPhone.

 

[Offroadnutz]

That's NMs cute designation for quality waters.
Red Chile Water is catch & release, artificial lures or flies with a single barbless hook.
Green Chile Water is 2 per day limit, but with same tackle restrictions.

There was another one I saw too. I think it was clear chili water? If I’m remembering correctly it was something about no limit on non native trout.

 

[Offroadnutz]

Looks like the Rio Costilla, we were just up there scouting elk in the Valle Vidal this last weekend.

Good eye! That’s exactly where it was.... Beautiful area.
One thing that sticks out at me on this trip were the number of hunters I encountered. They were out in mass.

 

[velo47]

There was another one I saw too. I think it was clear chili water? If I’m remembering correctly it was something about no limit on non native trout.

There's red chile water with native trout conservation. It's same as red chile, but catch & release only on cutties and Gila trout, and no limit on rainbows, browns, & brookies, and
Xmas (New Mexican for red and green chile) that is limit 2 per day on any legal tackle.

I always have to look them up.

 

[velo47]

Good eye! That’s exactly where it was.... Beautiful area.
One thing that sticks out at me on this trip were the number of hunters I encountered. They were out in mass.

Lot's of bow hunters here. And everyone who has a tag brings the whole family along. Rifle seasons are even busier...

 

[Lanlubber In Remembrance]

That's NMs cute designation for quality waters.
Red Chile Water is catch & release, artificial lures or flies with a single barbless hook.
Green Chile Water is 2 per day limit, but with same tackle restrictions.

I didn't know that. Thanks, now I won't waste my time fishing where I have to throw them back. I have a lot to learn about fishing anyway. I just bought my first fly rod and reel but won't buy any fly's until I talk to someone who knows what they are talking about.