Saturday, we arrived back in Alabama after two weeks Wandering the West. Southern Gent and I enjoyed BBQ in Birmingham, Alabama with our wives the night before heading out. Gent previously posted a picture of us outside one of the Cities’ best BBQ spots.
The plan was to go southwest, seeking warmer weather. We were expected at a family event in SLC, thus we anticipated cold weather too. When Southern Gent and I were eating BBQ the weather was cool for Birmingham. Off we went, seeking Interstate 10, looking for warm weather, and hoping to avoid being ambushed by Cartel Smugglers along the border. Gent said food anywhere near Breaux Bridge was good, and he was proved to be right. We ate well in Mulates. Crayfish were not yet in season, needing a couple more weeks maturity for proper “sucking of the heads”.
Posted are a few of our better pictures, uncaptioned. Plus, I learned something of value about navigating muddy roads;
DIRT ROADS AND MUD are much less a problem if they are frozen. Unfortunately, we found ourselves looking for a camp well after dark one evening in Northern New Mexico. Finally we came to earth in Fenton Lake State Park after negotiating the snow and muddy tracks inside the campground. That night and the next day, I learned how well a limit slip differential works with weight over the rear wheels, as with a slide in camper. We carried chains but never needed them. Ground clearance, low gear ratios, mud/snow tires, chains, self rescue equipment, and common sense all add up to successful off road experiences. FWD trucks need these, same as 2WD trucks.
In Fenton Lake State Park, the temperature went down to 22 degrees F overnight. Next morning we got up early before the muddy roads had a chance to thaw and continued north and west over the dirt mountain road out to Cuba and route 550. The sun had just begun to become messy by the time we were clear of it. Fortunately, the dirt road to Chaco Canyon was dry, so no problem there. The lesson I learned is to be aware of the temperature when needing to travel mud roads. Travel in early morning hours when the mud is well frozen.
We did a bit of ad hoc scouting for Dirty Dog. Mogollon, NM, and the region around the ghost town would be worth considering for a group expedition similar to the Death Valley venture earlier this year. The mining museum is closed until later in the spring. Maybe they would open for and an organized group earlier in the year. We did not attempt the road beyond Mogollon. A sign said it was closed. Off road campers could probably negotiate it as a group. One must be prepared for winter travel and camping if going to Mogollon in February.
The plan was to go southwest, seeking warmer weather. We were expected at a family event in SLC, thus we anticipated cold weather too. When Southern Gent and I were eating BBQ the weather was cool for Birmingham. Off we went, seeking Interstate 10, looking for warm weather, and hoping to avoid being ambushed by Cartel Smugglers along the border. Gent said food anywhere near Breaux Bridge was good, and he was proved to be right. We ate well in Mulates. Crayfish were not yet in season, needing a couple more weeks maturity for proper “sucking of the heads”.
Posted are a few of our better pictures, uncaptioned. Plus, I learned something of value about navigating muddy roads;
DIRT ROADS AND MUD are much less a problem if they are frozen. Unfortunately, we found ourselves looking for a camp well after dark one evening in Northern New Mexico. Finally we came to earth in Fenton Lake State Park after negotiating the snow and muddy tracks inside the campground. That night and the next day, I learned how well a limit slip differential works with weight over the rear wheels, as with a slide in camper. We carried chains but never needed them. Ground clearance, low gear ratios, mud/snow tires, chains, self rescue equipment, and common sense all add up to successful off road experiences. FWD trucks need these, same as 2WD trucks.
In Fenton Lake State Park, the temperature went down to 22 degrees F overnight. Next morning we got up early before the muddy roads had a chance to thaw and continued north and west over the dirt mountain road out to Cuba and route 550. The sun had just begun to become messy by the time we were clear of it. Fortunately, the dirt road to Chaco Canyon was dry, so no problem there. The lesson I learned is to be aware of the temperature when needing to travel mud roads. Travel in early morning hours when the mud is well frozen.
We did a bit of ad hoc scouting for Dirty Dog. Mogollon, NM, and the region around the ghost town would be worth considering for a group expedition similar to the Death Valley venture earlier this year. The mining museum is closed until later in the spring. Maybe they would open for and an organized group earlier in the year. We did not attempt the road beyond Mogollon. A sign said it was closed. Off road campers could probably negotiate it as a group. One must be prepared for winter travel and camping if going to Mogollon in February.
