New Mexico-TAT

[ajayhawkfan]

This past weekend I was in New Mexico with my nephew antelope huntings. We where hunting on the 90,000 acre Pachico Ranch, north of Clayton, NM. While driving around the ranch as well the surrounding areas, I was thinking how cool it would be to ride around here. (There are 1000's of miles of ranch roads open to the public that cross range land and canyons.) On a high point I spot a KLR riding 2up fully loaded shooting down a gravel road. That had me curious. I stopped him and ask about the riding around here. He knew nothing about the area because he was from VA was was doing the TAT!! We talked for only a few minutes because storms were rolling in they needed to move on. What I did learn was that they were from Virgina and had been riding for two weeks. They were having a wonderful time and stayed long enough for me to take their picture.
http://picasaweb.google.com/ajayhawkfan ... 3882293938 I wished them luck and off they went.

That encounter and seeing that area has me thinking about either riding the TAT or at least riding in that area. Anyone interested?

[safiri]

interested but doubt the wife will give me that much time ...

Of note:
To get through Colorado you are going to need to get there no sooner than early July, and get through before the snows hit the high country ... probably late September.

Don't try to take the 1200 on the Rainbow trail along the Sangre De Christos. Don't believe me? Talk to Troy!

Lots of write ups on this over on AdvRider. Have me salivating every time I read one.

[ajayhawkfan]

There is no way I could do the entire trail either but I would be interested in riding in the Clayton, NM area. There are lots of incredible roads and trails.

[kchusky]

The Rainbow trail is a blast. But, I would not take anything other than a dirt bike on it. It would be a bit much for a street DS type bike.

[will_kc]

After looking at TransAmTrail.com, we need to blaze a trail through Kansas for Colorado! That way everyone can choose between Kansas or Oklahoma.

Mile 0 (safiri's driveway)!

[The Harm]

Oh Yeah a gravel route all the way through Kansas to Colorado would be awesome!! I'm in!!!

[kchusky]

How many tubes would that take? Does sound fun, I have been thinking about it for a while. Need to get a GPS!!!!

[will_kc]

Yeah! Two tubes and a new GPS! Not to mention a new Dunlop 606 or two.

I guess the first thing is to decide where to start a jump off point from the existing trail. Then Westward HO!

I have an atlas of all the gravel roads in Kansas and a Some of Mighty Mo.

[safiri]

Mile 0 (safiri's driveway)!

I will have coffee made and my bike warmed up.

[kchusky]

will_kc wrote;
I have an atlas of all the gravel roads in Kansas and a Some of Mighty Mo.

Where did you get it and what is it called. I'd like to get one.

[will_kc]

Man are you lucky. I brought the book to work today. The book even comes with GPS grids!

Kansas Atlas and Gazetteer.
DeLorme publishing

http://www.delorme.com

[MacWildcat]

The Delorme Gazetteer is a great reference guide, but be careful to cross match to a more recent mapping source. The delorme shows roads that existed in the 1950s. You might also take a look at the KDOT county maps http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/Mapscounties.asp
Be sure to check the update dates on the far right, some of the county maps haven't been updated for 20 years! Lazy bums

[safiri]

The Delorme Gazetteer is a great reference guide, but be careful to cross match to a more recent mapping source. The delorme shows roads that existed in the 1950s. You might also take a look at the KDOT county maps http://www.ksdot.org/burtransplan/maps/Mapscounties.asp
Be sure to check the update dates on the far right, some of the county maps haven't been updated for 20 years! Lazy bums

Two thumbs up on the above.

The DeLorme shows bridges where no bridge has existed for 30 years, goat trails across pastures, driveways, etc. MapSource is a just a tad better.

[will_kc]

Looks like no matter where we check, it's ride it and find it.....

[kchusky]

will_kc wrote;
Looks like no matter where we check, it's ride it and find it.....

I like that idea. Makes for more of a adventure.