Spring Equinox Ride to Chaco Culture National Historic Park

Spring Equinox Ride to Chaco Culture National Historic Park

LOE Website Forum Home Club Organized Rides, Activities and Events Spring Equinox Ride to Chaco Culture National Historic Park

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  • #96239
    Avatar photoForum Admin
    LOEBMWR Forum Admin
    14 Topics3 Replies17 Total Posts

    New for this year, we ride to visit Chaco Culture National Historical Park to experience the spring equinox like nowhere else. On August 19, 2013 Chaco Culture was officially designated an International Dark Sky Park.

    Isolated in northwestern New Mexico, Chaco is pueblo ruins that are known for their meticulous construction and astronomical orientation. Today the massive buildings of the Ancestral Puebloan people still testify to the organizational and engineering abilities not seen anywhere else in the American Southwest.

    We have reserved and paid for the Gallo Campground group site #1 for Saturday, March 23rd. If you want to camp Friday night, please book and pay for an individual site.  We also have some nice members who are driving trucks and are available for bringing additional supplies like firewood. There is a limit of 30 people for this event so please CLICK HERE TO RSVP using our Calendar event. Campground amenities include a picnic table, grills/fire ring and a fire pit. The campground has drinking water available.

    Camping is free to LOEBMWR club members and there is a $5 charge per tent for non-LOEBMWR club members. The $5 is payable at the campsite to Gary Talda, the event leader. All visitors must have an Entrance Pass which is $20 for motorcycles and is good for 7 days. Get your pass here –  Fees & Passes – Chaco Culture National Historical Park (U.S. National Park Service) (nps.gov)

    Click here for more general info about the park –  https://www.nps.gov/chcu/index.htm

    Also, there is a chance that we will get to witness the Northern Lights!  Click here for some explanation: New Mexico Sky Will Be Illuminated by the Northern Lights (klaq.com)

    Northern LIghts

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    • #96433
      Avatar photogarytalda
      Participant
      5 Topics27 Replies32 Total Posts

      Due to Sunday’s weather, I am NOT going to camp.  I did call and anyone who is camping can use the reservation.  I am planning on riding with the group at least as far as lunch in Cuba.

      Meeting at Home Depot Bernalillo : Ken, Mary, Peter, Daniel
      Meeting at Bruno’s in Cuba : Jonathon, Miles

      My riding skills are not developed enough to face freezing temps, snow, and 40+mph gusts at the same time!

      I do look forward to meeting those people on Saturday morning.  I hope to organize another camping trip this summer WITHOUT the snow!

    • #96430
      Avatar photogarytalda
      Participant
      5 Topics27 Replies32 Total Posts

      Hey I have been busy but watching.  I was planning on calling Thursday.  I am NOT riding in mud.  I only have trailmax missions but wouldn’t ride in mud with any tires!  not that skilled.

      I will send another email blast with a list of who is planning on meeting up Saturday.  we have a healthy contingent riding together.

       

    • #96427
      Avatar photoMiles Conway
      Participant
      0 Topics2 Replies2 Total Posts

      Road listed as impassable due to mud on 3/15- I’m figuring it has dried, but road condition site hasn’t updated to reflect that yet.

      https://www.nps.gov/chcu/planyourvisit/conditions.htm

       

       

      • #96429
        Avatar photoJonathan Cox
        Participant
        0 Topics3 Replies3 Total Posts

        There are two roads into Chaco. The NPS site is referring to the southern access road as impassable. The northern road, which is the one Gary and I are taking says it is muddy but passable.

        I plan to call them on Thursday to get an update since there was rain last weekend. Because of that, I doubt the southern road has dried out yet. North is still the way to go.

        Tire choice can matter too, unless you are skilled riding in the mud. I have Anakee Wild tires for my GSA and Tusk Adventure knobbies for my KTM 690 ADV setup.

        I think we should go as a group, leaving from El Bruno’s in Cuba. That way, if conditions get difficult, there is somebody to help you along.

    • #96424
      Avatar photoMiles Conway
      Participant
      0 Topics2 Replies2 Total Posts

      Hey Jonathon Cox, Miles here from Pojoaque Valley.

      and hello all, looking forward to getting OUT of cell range and under the stars.

      Jonathan, let me know if you’d like to ride across the Jemez together. I wasn’t decided on which route to take to Bruno’s, but was thinking 84/96 through Coyote.

      hey 4 still snowpacked I’d imagine.

      505-455-2853

       

    • #96380
      Avatar photoJonathan Cox
      Participant
      0 Topics3 Replies3 Total Posts

      Update: I’ll travel from Los Alamos to El Bruno’s in Cuba to meet you guys and gals for lunch. The north route is actually the recommended route anyway, plus its faster from Los Alamos.

      • #96425
        Avatar photoJonathan Cox
        Participant
        0 Topics3 Replies3 Total Posts

        Hi Miles, glad to hear there is somebody else planning to attend from Northern NM. We received so much snow this weekend up in the Jemez that I think any dirt route through the Jemez will be impassable. As a result, I’m planning to go through Espanola and Abiquiu, over the northern side of the Jemez, then down to Cuba to meet them for lunch, then back up to the intersection to 550 to reach Chaco.

        Route from Los Alamos to Chaco

      • #96382
        Avatar photogarytalda
        Participant
        5 Topics27 Replies32 Total Posts

        I am planning on eating lunch at El Bruno’s – I don’t think I was very clear about that.  We have another rider (Miles) meeting us there.  That is always an option as well.  That is the only dirt I know of.  Some of the braver people may be attempting the south entrance but I am not daring that!  I have a GS (NOT GSA) with 70/30s and don’t anticipate any problems.

        Got you down for group dinner!

    • #96379
      Avatar photogarytalda
      Participant
      5 Topics27 Replies32 Total Posts

      Welcome everyone to the Chaco Canyon ride!  I know many of you and can’t wait to meet the rest of you!

      I already have my pass for Chaco – don’t forget to get yours on-line.

      First question: Is anyone interested in a group dinner on Saturday night?  Or is everyone more comfortable with an every man for himself?  If you would like to be part of a group dinner, please RSVP.

      Second:  Jake is camping in site #8 in his truck and has kindly offered to bring firewood.  I am hoping to get with him before the trip to help him load up.  If you would like to participate in the heat and light of a fire, consider contributing something to Jake.

      Third, I have not had time to call and find out where the potable water is.  I am guessing it is by the bathrooms.  Does anyone have a collapsible container to bring water to the campsite?  I am new to all this camping stuff so have very limited gear. And what gear I have I don’t know how to use!

      I have to get to the office to fill out the paperwork, so I have to be there relatively early.  I would appreciate someone riding with me just in case the road gets treacherous!

      My tentative plan:
      1. Sandia Casino about 9am KSU 9:15.
      2. Bernalillo Home Depot 9:45am KSU 10am
      3. El Bruno’s Cafe in Cuba 11am.
      4. Cuba Speedway (gas up hey I have a puny GS with only a 5 gallon tank!)
      5. Sinclair Gas Station Nageezi (last chance to get stuff) – but no 91 octane 2pm?
      6. Chaco Canyon Visitor Center
      7. Gallo Campground

      Sandia Resort & Casino to Gallo Campground

    • #96262
      Avatar photoRJ Mirabal
      Participant
      1 Topics14 Replies15 Total Posts

      What a wonderful event, great job Gary and Terry setting this up. I hope I can go myself especially in “light” of the Northern Lights possibly making an appearance. 😉

    • #96255
      Avatar photogarytalda
      Participant
      5 Topics27 Replies32 Total Posts

      Thanks for posting!  Note that this ride is NOT advised for pure street bikes! The road into the park is dirt and can be rough sometimes.

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LOE Website Forum Home Club Organized Rides, Activities and Events Spring Equinox Ride to Chaco Culture National Historic Park