Over the last few months, I have read some very positive things about the mountain bike trails around Gallup, NM. I found a trail guide for sale online (here -I ordered the first edition but the second edition is not available – kool!), ordered it, and upon review; decided I needed to go try these trails for myself. Thanks for a fine guide and the motivation Stan!
I departed work early on Friday and got an early start to my camping/mountain biking/back to nature weekend.
By just after noon, I was truckin’ down the road. The first few miles toward Gallup is fairly bad two-lane road – on Highway 6. The steering column shake that I’ve been fighting was much, much better but there was still enough to warrant concern. After I turned onto the Interstate, I felt better. The improved road helped a great deal. There is still a vibration in the motorhome but it is improved by about 80%. Apparently, due to the front brake repair that I performed.
I cruised at about 70 mph all the way to the highway 400 exit just east of Gallup. Then, south for about ten miles and into the Cibola National Forest. This is where the Quaking Aspen campground is located. The campground was right where it was supposed to be and a quick cruise thru netted me one fine camping spot. Quaking Aspen is a no-frills campground – that means no hookups and not even a host. I was a little surprised when I got to the self-pay area and found that it was only $5 per night. Wow – I didn’t think anything was that inexpensive anymore – happily pleased. The campground is very nice. Every spot (maybe 20??) has a nice graveled driveway/parking area, a (finer) graveled concrete picnic table and fire pit area, and also a fine gravel tent area. All very well done! Kudos to the Forest Service!
My goal for the weekend was to experience the mountain bike trails in the area. After a few minutes settling in, off I went on my bike. I took the highway the half mile or so to the Hilso trailhead figuring that would be a fine place for a newbie to start. The info boards include a map of the trial system. I elected a short ride on an easy trail and it was very nice. From the map, I could see that there was a trail that returned to the campground and that sounded great. Time for dinner!
The trail was the Quaking Aspen trail and missing the campground is fairly easy to do. It’s not very far but one has to spot the split in the trail. It has been a wet monsoon season here in New Mexico and the trail to the campground was basically a muddy stream. However; the fence crossing about thirty yards away was the giveaway.
For dinner? Nothing fancy – a can of beans with some hot dogs all warmed up together! I know… not healthy but camping is camping!
I really hate leaving my bike outdoors for fear of it being stolen – in spite of the cable lock. I argued with myself for a while and the “leave it out, there is barely a soul around and none of them are here to steal your bike” side won. However; I didn’t sleep well. Each of the three or four noises in the night had me up and checking on my bike. So, it’s coming inside from now on!
I was up bright and early Saturday morning. Friends (Mike and Jan) gave me a stove top, percolating coffee pot to use so I would not have to fire up my generator (to run my Mr. Coffee drip machine). This worked fantastic!! Whilst the coffee was brewing, the sausage and gravy and biscuits were cooking. Hmm, hmm, hmm – fantastic! No, I was not concerned about the calories – I knew I would soon be burning them off!! And that I did…
By 8 am I was on bike on the trail. I had my phone running Osmand and guide book in hand.
I took the Quaking Aspen trail out of the campground and up into the mountain. This may have been the hardest climbing route available – at least that’s what two hikers told me! No worries, it was spectacular. With the water running (monsoon season), there was plenty of mud as the trail crosses the creek bed a bunch of times. The sections were the bedrock was exposed with water running down them were really beautiful. This was a pretty challenging ride for me. The water/mud, rocks, technical sections, and climbing all combined to push my skills. That’s just fine by me, I enjoy a challenge and improvement.
Being a bit of a gluten for punishment, I took the longest route possible. At Sheet Rock Tank, I went further south on Plush Trail. It was fairly hard to follow in spots and a more challenging than I had expected, mostly due to rocks. The only real negative was going over the bars once due to a bit of a log jam on the trail. Thought I could make it over but apparently not. My body found a nice cushy place to land but my Drift camera took a little whack in the side – appears to be fine. I ended up losing the trail but was able to find my way back ok.
In the end, I toured the Quaking Aspen Classic, Plush Trail, and Y2K trail. All very, very nice single track trails with fantastic views. I was in the saddle for about 4.5 hours. I felt very good but my arms and hands were a more tired than I expected. I suppose that should have been expected, trail riding is so much different that the road riding that I have been doing lately.
I had one little episode that caught my attention. Longish story. When I switch from my road tires to knobby trail tires, the bike always feel “funny” for a little bit. I went thru that this morning. Several hours later, I got a bit of air (measured in millimeters) and the landing made a horrible noise – steel on steel sound. I stopped and looked but all appeared ok. A very short while later, the bike felt squirrely, like with the different tires. I stopped again and just happen to notice that my rear axle quick release lever had flipped open and the rear wheel was just hanging around! Shock! I was SOOO pleased that this did not result in an accident, or worse, bike damage.
Lunch was some fruit and tea.
Rain fell for most of the evening. Not heavy but still wet. Sitting under the awning reading a book, listening to the rain fall, and feeling the cool breeze – fantastic!
Dinner?? Carbohydrates!! Chicken Fettuccini!
Number of people spotted on the trails today: Two (hikers).
[…] Note: This is the second part of the adventure. See part one here. […]