New Mexico Bronco Trail Run - Mt. Taylor volcano-**PicturesJune21***

[MarsChariot]

We had a little discussion about the proposed trail run on the Mount Taylor volcano while we were standing around with our hands in our pockets at the recent auto show and converged on the third weekend of June (21th or 22th). Two options: (1) A drive mostly along unimproved forest roads up and over 11,200 feet on the north side of the volcano, or (2) a drive on the south side with some crawling and a stop in a mountain meadow for lunch. Both would be suitable for all stages of Broncos. Neither would be fender bashing, just a fun summer outing with scenery and Broncos on New Mexico's second largest young volcano. Anyone interested? I know PonyPower is interested. Who else might come?
This is some of the route. The actual route would be a loop on the left or across the south flank and down. But this kind of shows the setting.

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

If I can get this beast running right I'm in. In fact, I've been waiting for this run all year.

 

[broncobusted]

Sounds fun I was just up there working at the repeater site nice views. I don't know if I can have the horse ready by then still in rough condition. It hasn't been out of burque yet a little rough over fifty lol. I will be looking for details .

Thanks dave

 

[PaveBronco]

Damn I miss those days..

 

[jim3326]

Count me in. Gotta get to work on the serpentine system so I don't have the same issue I had at the AZ Stampede.

Jim W.

 

[motoman]

Make sure whatever you guys work out you take some pictures and video! I wish I was able to make that trip with you. Volcanoes fascinate me... and obviously so do Broncos and the great outdoors!

 

[MarsChariot]

I thought that I would toss in a little more information to get people excited and get a feeling for the overall plan.
The Volcano Run would be a nice day trip, taking about 7 hours. There are two options for the run, A and B, as shown on the maps. Both are suitable for beginners and both have good scenery and plenty of places for rest stops. The Run starts in Grants, New Mexico where we would meet up on the Lobo Canyon Road and head towards Mt. Taylor. The pavement ends 8 miles from Grants, and is gravel until the 4Hi part of Loop A or the start of loop B.
Grants is about 70 miles from Albuquerque, west on I-40. It is about 14 to 15 miles from Grants to the beginning of the Option A Loop, which is 16.5 miles long and tops out at about 11,000 feet. Then it would be 14 to 15 miles back to Grants.
I have not measured it, but Option B , which tops out at about 9,500 feet, is probably about 30 miles long and ends at Route 66 maybe 15 miles east of Grants. Where it ends at Route 66, it is an easy drive to I-40 or back to Grants. Or you can take 66 halfway back to Albuquerque like I sometimes do.
Fun, short day with plenty of Early Bronco off road adventure.

 

[jim3326]

I would want to trailer mine to some point but don't know where a good place to stage would be.

Jim W.

 

[MarsChariot]

Forgot a couple of sample pictures.
First one is at Stop 1, Option A loop where we lock 'em in. Second one is at 10,000, in this case where they roads don't go. Here we crawled, sliced and diced our way through the spruce trees and popped out in a beautiful meadow with awesome views. No tracks or roads in sight. %)

 

[MarsChariot]

Jim,
If we did Option A, you could stage from Grants at the beginning of the Lobo Canyon road. There is a little shopping center there that would work fine. For Option B, you could do the same or leave the trailer at the point where the trail meets back up with route 66. Rural road. The cowboys do that all the time. Don't see why you couldn't do that too.
P.S./Edit: Or for either option, you could stage from the end of pavement on the Lobo Canyon road, and with Option B, just shorten the trip and drive back to the staging point by going west instead of east across the south flank of the volcano. In fact, that could be an option C for everybody. Makes for a shorter day and more time on the crawl for Option B. All sorts of possibilities.

 

[Ly-mo]

I wish I had been on this website when I still lived in NM! Have fun guys!

 

[jim3326]

Good to know, was a little worried about leaving it un-attended. I'm open to any option but of course the more challenging the better. Would like to go to the top even though it doesn't appear to be as tough as option B. Is the 4lo rating due to some actual crawling or because it's a rough road?

Time to go get a P/S pulley puller to get the serpentine system put on.

Jim W.

 

[Chief Master Sergeant]

Any of you local guys want to help diagnose my beast's issues? I know she's running rich, but this tapping sounds like more than an exhaust leak. Quite disheartening actually and makes me think I may not have a driver for the trip.

 

[jim3326]

Bring it down with your hood and we can kill 2 stones with 1 bird.

Jim W.

 

[MarsChariot]

Chief Master Sergeant, if you have not tried it, you can eliminate an exhaust leak real quick by attaching a vacuum cleaner to the exhaust and and going around with a length of heater hose listening for leaks. I found a good one that way on the header collector on the 76 recently.

Yes, the wife says we should just do the summit loop (Option A) this time and save the other option(s) for later. The 4Lo parts are mainly just rough roads, steep sections, where control is more important than speed. Some vehicles just need the extra rpms too because of the high elevations.

Jim, with the summit loop you could just stage from the end of pavement. There is a big dirt area there were the snow mobilers and other such part their trailers.

 

[jim3326]

I didn't know there would be so much snow we would have to compete with snowmobiles;D%);D

Jim W.

 

[needabronco]

I'm interested and could possibly get another rig or two to come down as well. Keep me I. the loop.

 

[broncnaz]

Hmm might have to plan a trip to visit my friends in grants on that weekend and drive the bronco up.

 

[MarsChariot]

needabronco, that would be great. Otherwise, so far we only have a handful.
bronconaz, we would certainly like to see you there. Globe, to Show Low and Springerville, hang a left at Quemado, NM, and hook up with NM117 and cruise into Grants. One of the greatest highway drives in the world IMO. Volcanoes along most of the way, too. Did it many times myself coming up from Tucson.

 

[jim3326]

I took that route to Show Lo to get my 4bt, fantastic views, little sketchy on the roads though. One of those forgotten hiways out here in the west.

Jim W.