Southern NM Memorial Day Weekend Trip

[MA_Trooper]

I was checking out dog canyon. It is really pretty there. My one little catch is that we will have to drive out and around Carlsbad and all the way down to the far south end of the park to get to Williams Ranch road. I would rather wake up and hit the trail in the morning before the heat of the day and then retreat to the LNF after running the ranch road. Will be pretty slow going. That is, if we even decide to do Williams Ranch.

 

[Levidale]

Ok I'll be fine with whatever I was just giving ideas no worries. There's also a way from dell city that you can back into the mountains from that side. It 60 miles both ways you go through Carlsbad or the way of dell city. Williams ranch is closer to dell city.

 

[MA_Trooper]

I didn't mean to imply we couldn't stay in Dog canyon. If it's only 60 miles from Dog canyon to Pine Springs then that's not too bad. We will have to stop at the Pine Springs Ranger station to get a key for the gates that go to Williams Ranch anyway. So I think Dog Canyon is still on the table. What are yalls thoughts?

 

[Levidale]

Any ideas on where to meet? Maybe at pine springs to get the key? The pine springs camp grounds are probably going to be packed for camping. Camping in the Lincoln national forest may be better.

 

[MA_Trooper]

Any ideas on where to meet? Maybe at pine springs to get the key? The pine springs camp grounds are probably going to be packed for camping. Camping in the Lincoln national forest may be better.

You are probably right about camping. I will be driving up Friday and was thinking of trying to camp Pine Springs Friday night but If y'all will be at Dog Canyon or somewhere near there I may as well roll the extra hour up to there. We can drive back down to Pine Springs Ranger Station in the morning to get the gate key. I imagine @Ryan Matthes will probably beat me there on Friday so maybe he just sends out a coordinate for whatever good spot he finds?

 

[Levidale]

Whatever is fine with me. I'll probably meet Saturday morning wherever the meeting point is. I won't be able to get off of work until Friday evening. So I'll drive in Saturday morning. I only live 3 hours away.

 

[MA_Trooper]

I just had a thought. Most of Texas is back on burn ban so we may want to keep camping in the NF on the NM side so we can have campfires.

 

[Levidale]

I just had a thought. Most of Texas is back on burn ban so we may want to keep camping in the NF on the NM side so we can have campfires.

Yes that's true and plus you can fly drones in the National forest Lol.

 

[JORGE ELIZONDO]

Hey guys really considering this trip to New Mexico need to know minimum requirements for the vehicle have a little cash for tires some equipment recommendations would be great coming out of Brownsville Texas
This will be my first trip out need to know if I need spare gasoline or other must-have equipment.
2015 4runner Trail Stock vehicle with on board air by (ABR) Otherwise might have to save it for another trip thanks

 

[MA_Trooper]

Hey guys really considering this trip to New Mexico need to know minimum requirements for the vehicle have a little cash for tires some equipment recommendations would be great coming out of Brownsville Texas
This will be my first trip out need to know if I need spare gasoline or other must-have equipment.
2015 4runner Trail Stock vehicle with on board air by (ABR) Otherwise might have to save it for another trip thanks

Your stock runner should do the trick. There is really no way of knowing how the Williams Ranch road will be. It could be impassable but we won't know until we start driving it. The Lincoln National forest will be all forest roads so any stock 4x4 should be fine there. I would focus on some stuff like a good recovery rope / tow strap. Make sure you have viable recovery points on the runner (should be there on front and back. factory should be OK.) We aren't doing any hard core wheeling. But there will be some washed out sections of the Williams Ranch road that may prove trick so recovery gear is probably good to have. If you have reasonable tires you should be ok.

Bring all the water you will need. 1 gallon per person per day is a good rule of thumb. Spare fluids for the vehicle is also good to have. It could be hot during the day when we are driving. I won't tell you not to bring spare gas. Thats up to you. I will probably not be bringing any cause my rotopax mount is gone. I know there is gas in Carlsbad.

 

[MA_Trooper]

Holy hell, I missed the part where you said Brownsville. That is quite the trek dude. Over 10 hours!!!! You heading out Friday or Saturday? If Friday maybe we could meet somewhere along I10 and roll the rest of the way up together.

 

[JORGE ELIZONDO]

Let me ask Chris how kid friendly especially for a 12 year old girl is this trip restroom and such and as a budget how much money are we looking for expenses just around number sorry to ask so much dust not enough time to get it all together and do the research

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[druff6991]

Id bring extra fuel. I live in carlsbad and it can be pretty desolate away from town. Rather be safe than sorry

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[MA_Trooper]

Let me ask Chris how kid friendly especially for a 12 year old girl is this trip restroom and such and as a budget how much money are we looking for expenses just around number sorry to ask so much dust not enough time to get it all together and do the research

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No worries, the more questions the better. There is currently no real plan other than hitting Williams Ranch and exploring the national forest. Dispersed camping in the nf is pretty much always free. Restrooms may be few and far between. Ryan is bringing his family so I imagine there will be plenty of stopping to explore and stretch the legs. We've left it pretty open schedule wise for that reason. Just sort of a, we have a map what do we feel like doing, type of trip. Not fast paced at all. Expenses will be gas and food and if folks want to go to the caverns there is a fee for that.

 

[JORGE ELIZONDO]

Thank you that is some great information. What time Friday are you planning to leave I was kind of thinking of leaving Thursday and staying in Comfort but that's still up in the air

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[MA_Trooper]

Comfort is a little out of the way for me. But I'm planning to leave Austin around 6:00-6:30 am Wich puts me in Junction around 9:00-9:30.
So you could still head out Thursday and stay in Comfort. Meet up with me Friday morning in Junction.

 

[JORGE ELIZONDO]

When are you planning to headed back

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[MA_Trooper]

Monday mid morning.

 

[JORGE ELIZONDO]

Okay that sounds good let me start putting it together see if I can make this fly

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[Ryan Matthes]

Last day of school today, picnic, preschool graduation, etc. catching up on thread now.

Certainly kid friendly - as far as restroom, we have a pop up potty shelter, but you'll need a lug a loo or similar. Very inexpensive, it's a toilet seat for a 5 gallon bucket, and then there are special bags that go in the bucket.

Stock 4x4 will / should be fine as Chris said. As long as you have recovery points, we have all of the recovery gear needed. So no need to go about buy stuff - we've got you covered as long as there are points on your rug to pull on.

I believe Williams ranch road is an out and back, if it's too rough, folks can stay at camp and chill while others go.

I have several hand held radios, so vehicles will be able to communicate.

What else am I missing?


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