Chloride, New Mexico

Thursday, March 23, 2017

My location:  San Mateo Mountains Northwest of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

(Continued from yesterday)

Yesterday, I was in search of the elusive Springtime CG and finally got there and turned down the lane to go the half mile to see the campground.  I must say, the forestry service did an excellent job of making this place look nice.

There are small three-sided protective log structures with concrete tables outside the openings.  There must have been about 10 of them around the area nestled in the Pine trees.  The sound of the wind blowing through them was quite soothing.  This is where I need to be on such a hot day.There was not a soul there and I wasn’t surprised because of the tough road to get there.  No way, I could get the RV up here though.

There is an Apache Kid Wilderness Trail leading up to San Mateo Peak, but it is 4 1/2 miles.  I knew I couldn’t hike that far uphill, but we did hike about a mile of it.   I was hoping to break out of the pines and get a shot of the peak, but never happened.

Yuma had the best time running up and down that trail.  I was afraid he was going to kill himself.

We did pass the spring the camp is named for though.  I couldn’t believe as we were walking up the trail, water streamed across.  And just a few feet above the trail, I could hear a bubbling sound.  I looked to see where the sound was coming from, and right next to a large Pine tree, there was a small rock formation and spring water was bubbling to the surface from a very small hole in the rock formation.

Well, that’s it for Springtime Campground.  Will never go there again, but it was fun to do once.

Just as we got back on the road to head for home, I had to swerve to miss this guy.  He laid there motionless, hoping I wouldn’t see him, just like the king snake I saw earlier.  This guy is a Racer.  Very slender and about three feet in length.  When I touched its tail, it was gone in an instant.

The 14 miles of forest road leaving the campground to the desert was not near as bad as the way we came in.  It followed Chaunte Canyon all the way down to hwy 1.  However, there were some very rough washes making it impossible for me to bring my RV to the campground.

It was a long, but beautiful 40 mile circle

----------------------------- Today’s post ----------------------------

This morning, Yuma and I didn’t rush our morning.  First, we took our walk and again we saw the cows the cattleman was looking for yesterday and couldn’t find.  Hopefully, he stops by today and I can tell him.

I sat around eating little white donuts and drinking coffee till around 10:30 and then had my breakfast.   I couldn’t believe it was getting so late.  We need to get going if we are going to get anything done today.   The wind outside is ferocious today.  There is a wind advisory for 15-25 mph with gusts to 50.

We decided to take a Jeep journey to Chloride, New Mexico.  About 60 miles away, it is an old silver mining town.  Now it is a very small tourist attraction in the middle of nowhere!

There were clouds and spitting a little rain as we pulled out around noon.  Dark clouds over the mountains looked ominous.  But we were determined to go.

We headed West on our forest road 139 and followed it for about five miles where it hit hwy 142  blacktop at the little tiny village of Monticello.  Has a church and a fire station and some homes.

Followed hwy 142 for twelve miles until it dead ended into hwy 52.  Turned right towards Winston, 27 miles down the road.  Soon, we hit the blip in the highway named Cuchillo.  Nice historic home for sale.

The Old Cuchillo Bar and store.

We continued along the desert floor heading for the mountains ahead.

Soon, we were turning left and right, up and down as we made our way through canyons until we hit the small town of Winston.  Still black clouds and spitting rain.  Very windy the whole way, and of course we’re heading West and the wind is coming out of the Southwest. 

Can’t say much for the way this place presents itself to those passing by, except for the General Store.

On the western outskirts of Winston, there was a sign pointing towards Chloride about two miles down the road.  Just as we pulled into the town of Chloride, the clouds turned puffy white with an abundance of blue sky.  I had worried the whole 60 miles, that I would get here and it would be cloudy and spitting rain.  You cannot ask for more beautiful weather.

I’ve hit the photo limit for today’s post and unfortunately, I will have to leave you hanging again.  Tomorrow, I have lots of photos of Chloride, New Mexico for you to see, I promise.

See you later.

Jeeping around the San Mateo Mountains

Wednesday, March 22, 2017

My location:  San Mateo Mountains Northwest of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

Walked Yuma up the road this morning to get a view of San Mateo Peak.  We are in a valley and can only see the top of it from the RV.  Saw an antelope briefly, but Yuma saw it first and both were gone in a second.  Unfortunately, I didn’t get a picture and Yuma didn’t catch up with it.

While eating breakfast, our neighbor who owns the cattle around here, stopped by to say hello. 

He was out looking for a few stray cows and asked if I had seen any.  As a matter of fact, I had.  When Yuma and I were walking, several disappeared over the hills nearby.  I told him where I saw them and he headed off to round them up.

After breakfast, Yuma and I decided to continue on road 139 and see if we could find the illusive Springtime Campground.

We went about three miles and came to a fork in the road.  We turned off 139 to 225 heading for San Mateo Peak.  I believe Monticello is a village.  May check that out tomorrow.

 

This is looking back the way we have come.  We’re camped behind the mountain on the left.

The road is rugged and definitely not meant for any kind of RV.   A truck camper or tent campers with a four wheel drive vehicle.  We kept going up the mountain till we reached Luna Campground.  There was one rock at the campground that had morteros dug into it.  A sign said five miles to Springtime Campground.

 

We kept going.  This was the longest five miles I have ever been.  The road went up and around the canyons.  It was so steep at times, I had to put the Jeep in four wheel drive.

Finally got to the top and as I looked over the crest, I could see we were heading down into a canyon far below.   I thought about turning around at this point, but the road looked safe to travel, so we kept plugging along.  Still no Springtime Campground!

This is as close as we came to the San Mateo Peak.  From here we, started heading East (to the right).

Began to get into large Fir trees and Pines.

Had to stop for this guy.  He thought if he was real still, I wouldn’t see him.  Thank goodness I did or he would have been flattened.  It is a king snake or rat snake, about four feet long.  Very pretty snake and non-poisonous.

 

Urged him a little and he was on his way.  I grew up around snakes, so I know which ones to look out for.

After I had given up ever finding Springtime CG, there it was.  1/2 mile away.  And hwy 1 is only 14 miles away.  Yesterday I turned left off hwy 1 onto forest road 139.  So, I went in one big 40 mile circle today.

Because, my Internet is very slow, I’m going to continue this Jeep excursion into tomorrow night’s post.  At least we know there is a Springtime CG!

Plus, it is time for Survivor!

See you later.

San Mateo Mountains near San Mateo Peak

Tuesday, March 21, 2017

My location:  San Mateo Mountains Northwest of Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

For some reason, I awoke at 7:30 Mountain Time and was ready to get up.  Dawn was just trying to peek out from the East.

Last night, around 9 o’clock I moved my RV to a different place in the Walmart parking lot because a huge semi parked right next to me and kept his motor running.  The Deming Walmart tries to separate the RVs from the big rigs just for that reason, but they still try to park in the RV section.   I don’t think security has the power to tell them to move.  Oh well, that’s why I’m in an RV.   So, I can move if I don’t like my neighbors.

Had a quiet night’s sleep after the passing trains quit for the night.  That was about 11 o’clock.  They were loud.  There must be a switching station close by, because there was a lot of clanging going on.

We didn’t eat breakfast.  I just answered a few blogs and had one cup of coffee and about five little white donuts to hold me till breakfast.  Last night, I decided first thing this morning, we would travel down towards Las Cruces and stop at the Roadrunner rest stop about 60 miles further down I-10. 

This rest stop overlooks the city of Las Cruces with the Organ Mountains in the background.

In a little over an hour, we were ready for breakfast.  Had to make a gas stop for the RV and Jeep at the Love’s Truck Stop, the exit before the rest stop.  We sat around there and relaxed while I tried to decide where to stay tonight. 

I had planned to stay at Organ Mountains-Desert Peaks National Monument just east of Las Cruces.  I called them to see if I could get dispersed camping and the young guy didn’t seem to know anything except they had campgrounds and there was a fee.

So I decided not to go there and instead, head up towards Truth or Consequences on I-25 and check out the state parks up there.  One of my readers, Moonfly13, suggested several in that area.  They looked good on the Internet, so that’s where we’re headed.  Of course, this changes all my plans for taking the southern route home.  Now, I will be going to Albuquerque and across on I-40 when I leave the area.

One more border guard check that we passed in flying colors on I-25 heading North.

I-25 goes through high desert with a lot of rolling hills and mountains off in the distance.  Beautiful country.

Only about 80 miles north on I-25 to Truth or Consequences, so we were there shortly before noon.  Truth or Consequences is one of those small towns where you  exit the interstate at one end, go through town on Main street and back up on the Interstate at the other end of town.

 

As I was driving through the town, I spied a little park and decided to give Yuma a break, while I checked out the Internet. 

I had already passed Cabela Lake SP and made a quick run through part of it.  It was packed with people.  I found later that this is Spring Break, so families and kids are heading for the state parks.

While at the park, I noticed this older guy (around my age) filling his old RV with water across the road from the park.   I went over and chatted with him and he told me there was a Ranger Station at the North end of town and I could find places to boondock there.

On the way out of town, I did stop and the ranger was very nice and told me there were some dispersed camping areas in Cibola National Forest near the San Mateo Mountains about 40 miles northwest of town.  Sounded good to me, so we headed in that direction.

He told me it was about 12 miles down a dirt road to Springtime Campground near San Mateo Peak. 

I was instructed to take hwy 182 that parallels I-25.  There are the San Mateo Mountains dead ahead. We came to this huge canyon, I believe it is named Colorado Canyon. 

I followed hwy 182 down the canyon and it dead ended at the bottom of the canyon right next to I-25.   Of course, there was no turn around big enough for the RV and Jeep.  So, unhooked and turned around and hooked back up.

Just up the road, I stopped and talked to a road grader.  He gave me better directions to the dirt road to the campground.  When I turned onto the road, the sign said 24 miles.  Oh no!

The road was 139 and went past the Bar X Ranch entrance on the way to the forest land.  I kept going West on 139.

We ended up going about seven miles on this bumpy, dusty dirt road till I reached the Cibola National Forest boundary and then stopped at the first fire pit we came to with enough room to safely park the RV.  We are now in for the night. 

Tomorrow, I will take the Jeep and see what is around the area.  Hopefully, I find a better area with shade trees.  But the further I go, the weaker my Verizon service becomes.

See you later.