Today's 61° Drive

Above, on Cow Trail in Mesa Ridge Ranch. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

Since today's been a nice jacket-less day (we're not at 61° outside), I took the Jeep out for some driving. I figured it is best to take advantage of the nice weather as it is supposed to snow tomorrow. (Go figure.).

I drove around the community and up into Mesa Ridge Ranch. After a coffee break, I headed onto Six Mile Canyon Road.

Mind you, Six Mile Canyon of the Cibola National Forest is closed for the winter until the end of March. Last night, as I was heading home from dinner in Gallup, I spotted someone on Six Mile Canyon Road towing a 14' travel trailer (it looked pretty new) with a pick-up truck. Since Six Mile Canyon is closed (he was probably unaware of this), he wouldn't be able to camp in the national forest. Also, there's an additional problem that he's probably also unaware of.

Above, Six Mile Canyon Road washed out by the freeway drainage culvert. Photo by Armand Vaquer.

About 60 yards from the southward turn in the road, the road has been cut or washed out from a culvert under the freeway (Six Mile Road parallels Interstate 40). I approached it today and while the Jeep would probably make it through in four-wheel drive, it might also get stuck in the mud puddles at the bottom. The washout is about 2 feet deep (it is deeper than what the photo above seems to indicate). While the Jeep may be able to make it through, I let "discretion be the better part of valor" and turned around.

If the guy's truck has four-wheel drive, he might make it in (or get stuck), but with a travel trailer, there's no way he would be able to make it through (provided he had enough light to even see it upon his approach). He would have to unhitch his trailer, turn the truck around and, by hand, turn the trailer around. The road is too narrow to make a u-turn, especially if towing a trailer. I am curious to know what he ended up doing.

Hopefully, the national forest rangers will have the road passable again this coming spring.

Anyway, after finishing this and a fresh cup of coffee, I am heading out again.