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Welcome to the NMJG Scouting Thread! This is where NMJG Runs are born!
The purpose of this thread is to:
* Schedule and Coordinate Scouting runs
* Recruit volunteers for the Scouting Team
* Report Results of Scouting RunsWe also welcome any and all suggestions for potential trails or NM areas that can become part of a NMJG run. You name it, we’ll scout it, and it could become the next place we take the whole group!
Thanks
RCI have another scouting run south of gallup. I would like to volunteer as a scout for future runs.
It’s great you all are getting out (and scouting is always exciting). As you can imagine, however, there are precious few trails in New Mexico that are not pretty well known to at least some in the Jeeping community. It’s not clear where you were scouting (or have been scouting) – kind of looks like the area around Cerro Pelado in the Jemez – but it it true that anywhere legal in the National Forest is shown on the MVUM and most of the more interesting (read difficult) trails have been closed. BLM, on the other hand, is not near as locked up and has potential that needs to be explored and developed. If you want to save yourself time and effort in defining trips, you might consider posting your area of interest on the forum. Not all Jeep clubs have members in the NMJG (though many do) and not all Jeepers are members of a Jeep club (though many of us know them as well). If you can’t get the low down on a trail of interest, it is probably worth scouting.
Why does New Mexico Jeep Group Scout trails?
We developed the Scouting team and program so that we may have the latest and most up-to-date information about trails, road conditions, hazards and obstacles Prior to taking a large group out.
There are many factors that continue to change on the trail and with “designated” MVU maps and systems. There are temporary gate closures that don’t get posted, there are gates that fail to be reopened after closure, there is local activity or construction that does not get posted for people to be aware of. Rain, erosion, Fires, normal trail use all continually effect the quality/rating of the trail which directly impact the route and type of vehicles we can safely use on the trail.
Unlike others, New Mexico Jeep Group does not “Google Scout” trails that we intend to take are members on. We do not want to get there with a large group of folks and have this be the first time we have seen the trail, not know the property ownership rights, obstacles or the safe paths. Many trails and obstacles have gone from easy to hard or hard to almost impassable in less then a months time which can cause undue and un necessary damage to underprepared vehicles.
At New Mexico Jeep Group we go the extra distance to take care of our members. We will put the time into scouting trails prior to running them as a large group to ensure that you as a participant are not over your head vehicle, skills or comfort wise. We want everyone to have a good time and come home safe.
I can only presume that this rather snarky posting was in response to my earlier posting. I wasn’t suggesting that you shouldn’t scout trails but, unless you are wandering the hills looking for a trail, you’d certainly have to do at least some “Google Scouting” to identify tracks with potential. What you call scouting, I’d probably classify as pre-running. “Others” – and those of us in the NMJG but not part of your Scout Team also “pre-run” trails that we intend to use (or are so familiar with the trails that we find it unnecessary for each trip). My main point for the earlier posting was that there may be resources that can make your efforts more effective. My second point about the BLM was aimed primarily at the Cimarron Mesa area south of the Laguna Pueblo (included in some 48000 acres that BLM is setting aside as Unrestricted OHV, you can travel anywhere – trail/no-trail, in the Rio Puerco BLM district – which goes all the way to the Arizona Border). I’m not sure if your scouting efforts include route finding and trail building but this is what is needed at Cimmy Mesa now and other locations as they are defined in the future by the BLM Rio Puerco Resource Management Plans. Earlier scouting trips and “Google Scouting” indicate tremendous potential at Cimmy Mesa (probably equivalent to Gordy’s) but tracks need to be laid down and obstacles made at least passable with the right equipment. At some point in the future, BLM will classify routes and restrict travel to approved tracks.
Hey Joe, That was not intended to be “Snarky”. others have asked the similar question and we wanted everyone to know wHY we are doing this. The Cimarron Mesa is on our project planner but as you and I have been working with the BLM on this we both know the size of the project. We are going to start that process soon and I know you have had some health issues lately and been absent but would like to have you part of this project when you are up to it.
Fred
Hey Fred – Sorry about the comment. Your posting seemed to imply something that clearly wasn’t intended. I know you Google Scout (or otherwise obtain information about possible routes – like in this forum), just like me. How else would you know where to explore for new routes. Any logic would suggest scouting before a large party is led through a new route for the reasons you stated. That said, we all love Gordy’s but it is a ways down there and most of the trails are getting to be “old hat” for some of us (not that they are not still fun and challenging). We’re always looking for new meat. Cimmy Mesa has always been a pain to get to what with the Indian Route not being paved and sometimes badly rutted. Interestingly, it is now mostly paved from the Laguna south border going down which gives some relief to the ruts and washboard we all love so much. Fairly recent exploratories there have let us find what appears to be one of the few legal access points and routes into the interior (also where private and indian land make access a problem). There have been stories about some of the ranchers in the area being pretty open to access on a case by case basis (we need to get to know some of these folks). In addition to the 6000 or so acres at Cimmy, the Rio Puerco district has another 42000 acres that they are going to designate (haven’t yet) as Open OHV areas. Some may not be suitable or interesting to Rock Crawlers – e.g., Sand Dunes or Mud Flats but just the thought of so much Open OHV is pretty mind boggling. Gordy’s is Limited OHV meaning no new tracks though we do need to run as many as we can from the old “secret map” – some of which are not used much these days.
I guess the only thing about the “Scout Team” that is a bit off-putting is that there is precious little information coming out of it to the membership. It appears as though there have been at least two scouting trips but, other than a few photos of Jeeps parked on a road, there is nothing about where the scouting was done and what conditions were found. Also, there doesn’t seem to be any mention of planned trips based on these scout trips.
Hey Joe, currently the teams only purpose/task is to create NMJG runs in areas that are already mapped and legal. We are using 2017 MVUM and BLM maps to create runs. We report our findings and tracks to the NMJG board, they then will use this information to schedule and post NMJG runs.
We’re still just getting started and are enthusiastic about expanding our scope. When we have enough new runs established to keep the members having fun for a while then hopefully we can start being part of making brand mew trailsRoy,
When are you heading out next? I feel a bout of the “Jeep Flu” coming on and would like to join you.
/randy
No reason we can’t walk and chew gum at the same time.
Also, I understand the need to get the condition of a track if you intend to take a large group (if you get up to 75 you need a permit from either BLM or NF – plus insurance). On the other hand, it would seem that there are many of us that get a good part of our enjoyment of a trip in overcoming unexpected problems.
I’m a member of 6 different Jeep/4WD organizations and don’t believe I’ve ever seen a process where a trip was presented to a Board (didn’t know we had a Board in the NMJG) before it’d be presented to the membership.
I’ve been on relatively complex trips where there were extreme, hard, and stock-able vehicles and trails involved. Most of the time, there’d be a trail lead who would plan his/her section of the trip (over a couple of beers – and, perhaps, a pre-run if necessary) and coordinate with the other sections to meet for lunch, common trails, and (maybe) a BBQ later on.
I, for one, would be interested in where you all have been and what the results have been.
Randy! We’re going out this Friday. PM me for details
Joe so far we’ve been starting in the SFNF cuba district, results are pending, we’ll see what people think of our upcoming NMJG run.
I don’t have much experience with this kind of gig, I just love the outdoors and was willing to step up and volunteer my time when asked to help out the group.
It sounds like you with all your experience and knowledge you could really help our planning and pre-running team.
Are you available on Friday’s, particularly this Friday?I may go (I’ve been under the weather the last couple of months). Do you have a trip planned or are you still researching? If you know where you are going, do you know where and when to have the group get together?
PM sent Joe
Is there a Jeeping scouting party coming up.
I would like to go if there is.
Tim S. 263-0597Text sent Tim
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