Author |
Message |
big bus mike Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2004 Posts: 2230 Location: ABQ
|
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:04 pm Post subject: New Mexico Overland Snow Adventure (Now with PICTURES!) |
|
|
Thank you for your interest in the 2nd Annual New Mexico Overland Snow Adventure. You may die while on this adventure. With that in mind:
You're all invited to the 2nd annual New Mexico Overland Snow adventure.
It's 300+ miles through rugged snow-covered terrain in South-Central New Mexico.
Challenge yourself and your driving ability while simlutaniously driving through some of the best scenery our state has to offer.
Multiple water crossings, mud holes, snow covered "roads" and more await the fearless traveler.
We will be snow camping on the trip, so come prepared.
The trip is open to all Stock height (or taller) VW Buses / Vans / Campers. Some decent ground clearance and good driving skill are required.
The sense of adventure required to complete this journey is quite high. If you’re a complainer, a whiner, or are generally afraid to live life, this trip is not for you. The remoteness of this adventure means that if you encounter trouble, help is a long way off. You participate at your own risk. No one is liable for you driving off a cliff and killing everyone in your bus. Use your brain and good sense at all times.
Do you have what it takes to battle mother nature and the loose network of “roads” in the spirit of Man and Machine vs Nature. If your answer was “yes”, keep reading.
The adventure:
The route we’re taking includes some rather intense terrain. A stock bus with street tires will make it just fine, but I would recommend a set of all-terrains based off of personal experience. The roads are county roads, indian reservation roads, and forest roads, all maintained infrequently and mostly forgotten about by the state. There are several water crossings in addition to a stretch of road where the road IS the river. Seal up the bottom of your bus as well as you desire, but keep in mind that a dry you is a happy you.
It’s almost guaranteed that we will encounter snow for a decent portion of the trip (if not the majority). Snow chains are a must-have item. I find it useful to have two spare tires pre-chained on the roof rack, ready to install at a moments notice. Also, painting lug nuts bright orange helps find them when your gloved hands drop them in the snow.
Pre-tying a tow rope around the front beam helps to extract your bus without scuba diving when you get stuck in one of the river / mud crossings. It’s not IF you will get stuck, it’s WHEN
The trip covers 300 miles of bumps, washboards, ruts, and snow and ice packed roads. Secure your cargo accordingly. Everything that can rattle WILL rattle.
A general route map is posted, but is subject to change as time and driving conditions allow. If you get separated from the group, use your common sense.
Don't be a jackass. Jackasses will be sabotaged and left for chupacabra food.
You will need:
A functional stock height bus
The ability to drive your bus in inclement weather
Functional windshield wipers
A Delorme Atlas & Gazetteer of New Mexico
A set of tire chains and knowledge of how to use said chains
A shovel
A tow strap / cable
A spare tire (or two)
Tools
Spare parts (fan belt, clutch & throttle cables at minimum)
Flashlights
Batteries
Food
Spare food
& Water
Clothing / Blankets
Camping gear
Dry Firewood
Minimum of 5 extra gallons of fuel. THIS IS NOT AN OPTION.
Not needed but highly recommended:
A co-pilot to read maps, directions, take pictures, change the tunes, etc.
Auxiliary heating system
A functional CB Radio
Guns & Ammo
Your preferred beverages
Come-along or hand-winch
AAA membership card
Cell phone & charger
Non-essential items
Snow sports gear
Tunes
Instruments
Games
Preparedness is key
The likeliness of something breaking is amplified by the distance back to civilization.
It’s way better to bring it and not need it than need it and not have it.
If you come unprepared, we will make all reasonable attempts to get you fixed, but ultimately, it’s your responsibility.
Steering and braking performance are vital. If your bus doesn’t stop or steer well, you’re taking unnecessary risks to yourself and everyone else on the trip. Make sure your bus shifts well, and all basic mechanical functions are in tip-top shape.
A bus that doesn’t run well is very likely to break down in the middle of nowhere, in the dark, stuck in mud, surrounded by ravenous coyotes. You’ve been warned.
At no time are you forced to do anything you’re not comfortable with. You can bug-out at any time and head back to civilization. You will be subject to mass ridicule, but we’d rather you live than get hurt or worse doing something you’re not comfortable with.
Last edited by big bus mike on Tue Mar 12, 2013 3:49 pm; edited 4 times in total |
|
Back to top |
|
|
big bus mike Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2004 Posts: 2230 Location: ABQ
|
Posted: Sun Jan 06, 2013 11:36 pm Post subject: |
|
|
From the 2012 edition:
Link
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
big bus mike Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2004 Posts: 2230 Location: ABQ
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Stuartzickefoose Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 10350 Location: SoCal for now...
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 3:28 am Post subject: |
|
|
i wanna try n make it....im in seattle, but the trip may be worth my time driving down anyways....we shall see. _________________ Stuart Zickefoose
2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual
206-841-7324
[email protected] |
|
Back to top |
|
|
pigryder Samba Member
Joined: January 17, 2012 Posts: 162 Location: south central PA
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 4:32 am Post subject: |
|
|
Shit I would love to do this! _________________ 1982 Westfalia L Diesel "Stink"
1982 Vanagon GL Diesel "Charlie"
1983 Rabbit GTI a 20 year love affair
1988 Cabriolet diesel |
|
Back to top |
|
|
gmog Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2004 Posts: 44 Location: 'Burque
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:50 am Post subject: |
|
|
I hope to see a real chupacabra this year.
It'll be interesting see what the weather is like, how much snow is on the ground. I have a fantasy of getting a ton of Buses up to the Shack site.
G _________________ GMOG |
|
Back to top |
|
|
big bus mike Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2004 Posts: 2230 Location: ABQ
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 7:48 am Post subject: |
|
|
gmog wrote: |
I hope to see a real chupacabra this year.
It'll be interesting see what the weather is like, how much snow is on the ground. I have a fantasy of getting a ton of Buses up to the Shack site.
G |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
gmog Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2004 Posts: 44 Location: 'Burque
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:26 am Post subject: |
|
|
Nice sunsets up there, and the view looking off toward Elephant Mountain is always nice.
_________________ GMOG |
|
Back to top |
|
|
gmog Samba Member
Joined: May 24, 2004 Posts: 44 Location: 'Burque
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 9:33 am Post subject: |
|
|
Here's Blake working on the roof last year.
_________________ GMOG |
|
Back to top |
|
|
TopBud Samba Member
Joined: February 28, 2004 Posts: 1107 Location: Flagstaff AZ
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:06 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm in. wouldn't miss this at all. _________________ 86 bostig SYNCRO
66 convertible Karmann Ghia |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rustybus Shasta Snow Trip Newt
Joined: November 24, 2002 Posts: 919 Location: Arizona
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
This sounds kind of funish. I'm from Arizona so don't know what that white stuff on the ground is. I should go find the details on this. _________________ Richard
www.rustybus.com www.shastasnowtrip.com |
|
Back to top |
|
|
big bus mike Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2004 Posts: 2230 Location: ABQ
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:15 pm Post subject: |
|
|
rustybus wrote: |
I'm from Arizona so don't know what that white stuff on the ground is. |
Hahahahahaha... You're funny. |
|
Back to top |
|
|
rustybus Shasta Snow Trip Newt
Joined: November 24, 2002 Posts: 919 Location: Arizona
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:20 pm Post subject: |
|
|
That is my birthday weekend so I might be able to leverage that, but since it is only two or three weeks after another two week sunday drive I have planned, it might be a little tough to scrounge up the gas money. How far is it from Albuquerque? I'm guessing it is probably north of there. I'll go look at the info when I have a chance. Gotta run at the moment. _________________ Richard
www.rustybus.com www.shastasnowtrip.com |
|
Back to top |
|
|
crofty Judas of the North
Joined: August 09, 2000 Posts: 19670 Location: Land of Whine and Phonies
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Stuartzickefoose wrote: |
i wanna try n make it....im in seattle, but the trip may be worth my time driving down anyways....we shall see. |
Aren't you the same guy that wanted toi go on the SST but didn't have vacation time? _________________ Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.
HamburgerBrad wrote: |
I slept on crofty's tent once. I passed out drunk from two bottles of Everett's brother's wine. |
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
big bus mike Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2004 Posts: 2230 Location: ABQ
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 1:54 pm Post subject: |
|
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
cdollar Samba Member
Joined: March 07, 2002 Posts: 293 Location: Pagosa Springs, CO
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 6:56 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Hell yeah! This trip was such a blast last year! Looks like we're hitting the Malpais this year too... I've been wanting to check out that area |
|
Back to top |
|
|
Stuartzickefoose Samba Post Whore
Joined: February 07, 2008 Posts: 10350 Location: SoCal for now...
|
Posted: Mon Jan 07, 2013 11:12 pm Post subject: |
|
|
crofty wrote: |
Stuartzickefoose wrote: |
i wanna try n make it....im in seattle, but the trip may be worth my time driving down anyways....we shall see. |
Aren't you the same guy that wanted toi go on the SST but didn't have vacation time? |
yes.
but good news! I lost my job today, so i should be able to go.
...if i can find the money to make it down... _________________ Stuart Zickefoose
2011 Jetta Sportwagen TDi 6 speed manual
206-841-7324
[email protected] |
|
Back to top |
|
|
big bus mike Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2004 Posts: 2230 Location: ABQ
|
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 10:01 am Post subject: Re: New Mexico Overland Snow Adventure, March 7th-10th |
|
|
I feel compelled to re-emphasize this.
big bus mike wrote: |
If you’re a complainer, a whiner, or are generally afraid to live life, this trip is not for you.
...
Don't be a jackass. Jackasses will be sabotaged and left for chupacabra food.
|
|
|
Back to top |
|
|
Ian Samba Moderator
Joined: August 28, 2002 Posts: 4930 Location: 713
|
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 1:34 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I'm pretty much down.
It's all a money thing so, I'll know more definite answers sometime in February. _________________ All your Buses are belong to us.
Love and good roads!
IN LOVING MEMORY OF ROB CRESS 1968-2012 |
|
Back to top |
|
|
big bus mike Samba Member
Joined: June 16, 2004 Posts: 2230 Location: ABQ
|
Posted: Tue Jan 08, 2013 8:57 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Ian wrote: |
I'm pretty much down.
It's all a money thing so, I'll know more definite answers sometime in February. |
Mr Rustybus once told me something to the effect of "You don't need gas money. You need a rubber hose and a busy walmart parking lot". |
|
Back to top |
|
|
|