Mountain biking Gallup.

So Chris, Seco and I headed to the Gallup area for a spring weekend of mountain biking and camping.. After the 2 or so hour drive on I-40 West, we turned off on to Highway 400 South into the Zuni mountains at Ft. Wingate. We pulled into a great camp site around 10 pm, unloaded the truck and hunkered down for a night of mixed weather..

In the rain/snow mix the new Tacoma, and a 3 inch down filled sleeping pad, sleeps real nice...

With an early start at 9:30 am, We reloaded the truck and headed into Gallup hunting for some hot eggs over-easy and fried swine. Chris had been to Gallup not too long ago, so he had all the best spots mapped out. We reached our destination, sat down and placed our order. To my dismay, we were greeted by locals selling their wears inside the Restaurant, which was a new one for me.. It was like the State Fair comes to breakfast! Some nice items tho-
Making quick stop onto Main Street, which was a unique travel back in time when old Route 66 was a’shifting and a'driving. The street was alive with old hardware stores, the classic flashing movie theater marquee, amongst other great throw back store fronts. We poked our heads in the infamous 'American Bar' and we were awarded the classic "you ain't from around here?!" looks, we left. So, it was onward to the local bike shop for some tubes and beta on what to ride that day. After a nice interaction with the local bike/gear shop employee, a good dose of beta and buying way over priced tubes, it was time to ride! We drove into West Gallup, I suppose a suburb of East Gallup? Our plan was to ride the "supposedly great" trail system the City of Gallup and local volunteers had built, the 'High Desert Trail System'. http://gallupnm.org/visitors/pdf/high_desert_trail_map.pdf

Arriving at the trail head After fixing several bike problems we were finally able to get on the trail- The ride started out with a nice tight, buffed single track switchbacky climb with lots of exposure that put us on top of the first mesa.

RBM on top of the first mesa. "Come on, make me sexy!!!!"

(Note the carin size at beginning of the ride.)

The local Boy Scouts (I think) have built monolithic size cairns along the trail, you know- you got'a see that next cairn from 5 miles away! I bet it was troop vs. troop, who could build the largest cairn- b/c as the ride continued, they became much larger...

"look ma' , 'nother rock pile"

" A Botnick used for scale"

The ride consisted of 3 loops. Easy, Moderate, Hard. Chris and I rode the Southern route, which placed the climb, also the "hard" section, first and this was the direction the Dusk 'Til Dawn Race was going to travel the following weekend. The first loop we rode was fun, some shelve drops, great views and geology-

Features along the first loop we rode.

Under the ledge.

Need I say more?

Following highly buffed single track that was fast and undulating with some slick rock sections- nothing long enough to write home about or text your buddy's what they were missing. We ripped the second and third loops, which were classic open desert ridding. Not much more to say- Good times. However, if you looked around while ridding, seeing all the possible "off piste" lines, there is tremendous potential for a fantastic bicycle playground.

oops,some accendintal backcounty ridding.

On the way down. Peddle faster, I hear bango's!

All along the third loop were great technical lines and big drops, however only if you are willing to earn your turns- It reminded me a lot of the lower section of Asmaback in Moab, obviously less developed.. Now, don't go and break any access rules. These are just my observations.. Also-leave any sort of suspension at home. Break out the rigid 29er, single speed or cross bike. Trust me- you'll get off more. But all in all, I got'a say- Kudos to those who put the effort into making this a great place ride. I'd hit it again!

Chris and I made it safely back to the trail head, spread some love with high fives all around.. Thus begins the part of the day when my tummy is screaming and kicking to feed it. Anyone who has been around me knows when RBM needs calories. Oh no, Clif Bars or those GU things that make you severely constepated, although in the woods isn't a bad health issue to obtain won't cut my hunger. It becomes, wait for it... Beef brisket burrito time! beef brisket burrito time, beef brisket burrito time, Oh come on you know the song (PP&J-a dancing banana ring a bell?).. Don't be pouring me a large luke warm glass of hateraide, just sing along and like it!

MMMMM, home made brisket, all the fixings.

Not to shaby for a tailgate meal.

Where you at!

After successfully meeting one of two primal human needs. The joy of loading entirely too much gear for a two day outing back into the Tacoma loomed.. By this point in the trip, we have the chore down pat... A semi-well oiled loading machine. I think we could hang along side those folks who wear shorts all day, listen to those large 80's headphones unloading luggage from planes.. "Does this safety orange vest make me look fat?" We headed to, "E.G.", East Gallup for yous not in the know, and resupplied for another night in the Zuni Mountains. 4 guesses what we bought? We arrived near the same spot we camped the night before and again unloaded the truck, I see a theme here, and set up camp...

Nice spot.

Seco pleaded with us to get some food going so he could steal our beers when we weren't looking. Per request, hot off the grill, Chris whipped up his local legendary broughtworst hoggies ..

Now that is a full stomach.

Are you like serious man?
I am not sleeping on that gound, OMG- totally gross!

I hope when I'm old, I'll get this type of pampering.

The evening wound down, we slept-then morning came along, again. Shocker.. I'll skip the truck part.. A rewind of the day before.. Enough said. However, today's plan was to ride the Zuni Mountains.. Again, we started East of Ft. Wingate from a well marked campground and trail head. There are several trail systems in the area, all alpine single track, my personal favorite! We chose wisely and picked Quaking Aspen trail ,which was also recommended by the gear store..

The bigining of Quaking Aspen-umm yea, still the best ridding enviroment!

As advertised, another great single track experience! The trail was relatively flat, well marked and fast.. We crossed this semi-slick/bedrock drainage. I did understand why people weren't bombing down this, looked like a grand time!!!

There are several differnt rides in the area, seriously- I don't remeber our exact route, my bad. All I can say it was beautiful and go see for yourself!

Is this legal? you go first.

We reached this great impounded stock pond and vista. Can you see my goose bumps? Yea, cold.. This is the point of the ride where you can plan your path home. Our map was some what smugged, so we chose the longer loop, again I don't remember the names.. All I got'a say is- "Yea, I got this at target, it was on sale."

After crossing this bridge, we attempted to navigate our way back to the truck. We hucked along this glorious open alpine single track, over an almost technical section, while on the horizon a pack of deer ran across the forest floor. We stopped and absorbed this wilderness experience into our permanent mental record. Trying to decide where we were.. Not sure of our location, we consulted the map and guide book resulting in more confusion.. It was at that moment of bliss, acknowledging you are lost as your senses heighten, now knowing you have time to take a leak.. We had not chosen wisely.. Chris and I were sure of our proximity to lost, and that our genitalia is place well outside of our bodies, both knew were we where. In each case- a totally different location. Unluckily, a very nice couple from Silverton, Co on billion dollar bikes, GPS in hand approached us. They were forthcoming with the same facts Chris and I had assembled, they were lost too. As in most cases the GPS hindered them, depending on and exact route rather than understanding topography and orienteering skills, using a much wider brush stroke , I think it's over there approach.. The couple figured out where the wanted to go, we back tracked. During this time, I finally figured out our malfunction.. The bike store had produced a map, that was slightly different in both scale and trail names to the guide book.. We put our best Magellan hats on and found our exit route.. All of a sudden, like Impalas bounding down the road, unfortunately not being chased by lions, here come the GPS gang, still lost! Seeing that it was Sunday- my nice guy day- gave up the betta so we all could get home. Thus- We ate, and drove back to Albuquerque.. Another great weekend warrior trip!
Okay- I'll admit it- I am not a guide nor do I pretend to be.. This blogg entry is just a tale of my experience, mostly exaggerated nonfiction.. If you'd like to read a more professional/local rider's directions and descriptions of this area please buy this book! http://www.gallupwaypoints.com/ I found it very informative, accurate and easy to use...

Until next time-

Hang loose and keep the rubber side down.

RBM