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10th Annual Smokey Bear Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride 7/30-8/3/18 Cloudcroft, New Mexico

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A friend in Weed just sent me this. I have another trip with the family planned for June 1 and it may be a bust. The monsoon season normally doesn't start until the first of July. He said they had a good chance of rain 2 days this next week. Hopefully it will green up before any fires break out.
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texas drz said:
I saw that they issued stage one restrictions already. Since 2010 they have only closed the fire roads once that I'm aware of. Hopefully it won't happen this year.

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Your right we have been doing the ride since 2009. In 2011 the forest was closed early in the summer but opened back up the week before the ride started. That's the only closure I know of.

Before

After
 
Nice pictures, I'm ready to go now. What is the new Mexico 400?

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texas drz said:
I'm ready to go now. What is the new Mexico 400?

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Me too!

The original name of the ride, we changed it for year 5.

1st Annual New Mexico 400
July 20-24, 2009

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2nd Annual New Mexico 400
July 26-30, 2010

3rd Annual New Mexico 400
July 25-29, 2011

4th Annual New Mexico 400
July 23-27, 2012

5th Annual Smokey Bear Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride
July 22-26, 2013

6th Annual Smokey Bear Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride
July 28-August 1, 2014

7th Annual Smokey Bear Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride
July 27-31, 2015

8th Annual Smokey Bear Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride
August 1-5, 2016

9th Annual Smokey Bear Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride
July 31-August 4, 2017

10th Annual Smokey Bear Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride
July 30-August 3, 2018

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11th Annual Smokey Bear Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride
July 29-August 2, 2019

I'm ready for some of this.​

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HuHGanQjtV4"]Rim Trail T105 SingleTrack Cloudcroft, New Mexico Dual Sport Motorcycle Ride Honda XR250R - YouTube[/ame]

And this​

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ohqheoS9bE"]Dual sport ride to the Old Cloudcroft Highway Trail (T5002) via US82 through Cloudcroft, New Mexico - YouTube[/ame]

And​

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9J7RoXhM5Io"]Benson Canyon Trail (T5005) - Lincoln National Forest - Cloudcroft, New Mexico - YouTube[/ame]

But there is also lots of this​

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fQz5eV60bqU"]Karr Canyon Road in the Lincoln National Forest - 1996 Honda XR400R - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ARVuXdRnLSk"]Forest Service Road 568 Lincoln National Forest Honda XR400R & XR250R - YouTube[/ame]
 
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I missed my planned May trip to Cloudcroft, so I'm now going to try to make the July 29th - 31st portion of this event. I'll be either truck or trailering up from Midland depending on which bike(s) I want to bring. Planning to stay at Spruce Cabins.



I met sanderjavant (the organizer) while riding in Cloudcroft in October. He gave me some really good trail recommendations and I'm looking forward to a break from the July heat. I don't usually visit the area during peak tourist season, so this will be different. I usually ride all day and see maybe one or two other bikes.



Alamogordo overlook:

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Rim Trail (my 450 wanted to take a break off the trail a bit):

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I'm leaving tomorrow morning for a 3 day atv trip with the family. I did make room on the rig for the Drz. I will have time for maybe one dual sport ride, any suggestions on a cool ride that's safe to do alone. I've riden nearly every road and trail from Weed, Sacramento, and towards Timberon. I want to ride something new. I've heard West side road is good and I could take Scott Able out to the timberon road to connect. Staying in weed
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Coming North from Timberon if you drop West on 90 (West Side Road) you could take it North all the way to High Rolls.

Then head East on 82 for less than a mile and turn North on 162 looping North and East until you turn Right on 206/206C and arrive in Cloudcroft from the North (via T5688 and T568 if you chose).

Then you could slab it back on 130/6563 or double back on the dirt. That would be a descent and safe for solo riding on a DRZ jaunt from Timberon to Cloudcroft. I'm wishing I could join you instead of baking in the 110F forcast for Midland over the next three days...
 
ccasey75 said:
I don't usually visit the area during peak tourist season, so this will be different. I usually ride all day and see maybe one or two other bikes.
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Surprisingly we have been lucky, the week of the Smokey Bear ride we rarely see anyone on the trails. There have been full weeks where we haven't seen anyone, hikers, bikers, motorcycles, etc. That's one reason I started the ride, I was afraid since I never saw riders on the trails they would be easy targets for closure. Of course be careful what you wish for...too many other places have been over run.

Maybe the monsoon season keeps the number down, it certainly does that for the dust.

I hope to ride Dry Canyon Trail (T5574) with you in July, it could be extra technical this year.

We did some scouting last weekend, I saw a total of 8 eight dual sports, on a holiday weekend.

The tennis courts had more riders at times.
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DSC05507 by AvantMotorcycles, on Flickr
 
texas drz said:
I'm leaving tomorrow morning for a 3 day atv trip with the family. I did make room on the rig for the Drz. I will have time for maybe one dual sport ride, any suggestions on a cool ride that's safe to do alone. I've riden nearly every road and trail from Weed, Sacramento, and towards Timberon. I want to ride something new. I've heard West side road is good and I could take Scott Able out to the timberon road to connect. Staying in weed
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You probably have the Sacramento Ranger District (Cloudcroft area) Motor Vehicle Use Maps, if not you can pick up one the ranger station or view it HERE

Casey had some great suggestions, once you get to Cloudcroft you could check out some the FSRs northest of Cloudcroft, north of US82, then work you way down to Mayhill, then back to Weed. Carr Gap FSR607 is wide, twisty but fast flattracker dreamer road.

162​
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-l_UR2UXHI"]Calico Peak Rd - Lincoln National Forest - High Rolls, New Mexico - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJU56EMJQiI"]West Side Road FSR90 - YouTube[/ame]

Some examples of riding north of US82.
​
[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NzTfdtpW7Gc"]Lincoln National Forest FSR5583 Kawasaki KLR650 & Yamaha TTR125L - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CKFZZ-Kof-Q"]Lincoln National Forest FSR 5583 Kawasaki KLR650 & Yamaha TTR125L .2 - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C60G9eVkypY"]Lincoln National Forest road 5583 up - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dc_cr_8Nusc&t=671s"]Down 16 Springs to US82 to NM244 to Lincoln National Forest Road 206C - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f2JIVVONJ7Q"]Yamaha WR450F & Honda XR400R on Carr Gap Road near Mayhill, New Mexico - YouTube[/ame]

If you are still in the area on Friday the play at the park is fun.
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31947210_10157288830694186_6405508242364956672_n by AvantMotorcycles, on Flickr

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DSC05480 by AvantMotorcycles, on Flickr
 
sanderjavant said:
I hope to ride Dry Canyon Trail (T5574) with you in July, it could be extra technical this year.

We did some scouting last weekend, I saw a total of 8 eight dual sports, on a holiday weekend.
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When I did Dry Canyon (downhill) last October, it was probably a bit more than I should have been doing alone. I did have a bike drop and actually broke a bone in my thumb. Luckily, I was able to continue riding (just had to hit the starter button with my index finger...) The upper section is moderately steep rocky sections, and the lower section is a series of rocky creek crossing/following. Did I mention that it is rocky? Maybe the mudslides have smoothed out the creek bottom... I think I will bring my 230 for the more technical riding. My 450 just isn't happy chugging through rock piles (I'll probably bring it too for the general forest/fire road riding).

The other thing about Dry Canyon was the temperature. By that point you have lost a lot of altitude relative to Cloudcroft. It was pretty toasty.

I also noticed that TrailBoss marked it as green on his marked-up trail map. I would probably call it yellow if I made a map of the area (it's all relative...).
 
Irishcoffee said:
Forest service maps available in town?
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Paper maps and other trail information is available at the Sacramento Ranger District office, 4 Lost Lodge Rd, Cloudcroft, NM 88317 Office Hours: 8:00am - 4:00pm M-F. Free Motor Vehicle maps are available in the kiosk in front on the ranger office 24 hours a day.

High Altitude on Burro street also sells the forest service map, and a topo map. Click on High Altitude more more info and an interactive topo map.
 
ccasey75 said:
The upper section is moderately steep rocky sections, and the lower section is a series of rocky creek crossing/following. Did I mention that it is rocky? Maybe the mudslides have smoothed out the creek bottom...
Click to expand...

I love the variety, very different, above and below.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-m6UjQGRAYk"]Dry Canyon - Lincoln National Forest - Alamogordo, New Mexico - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nr_CX8znjls"]Dry Canyon Trail (T5574) begins at Forest Road 5574 in Dry Canyon and ends at the "A" trail (T119) - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UbsQvDMsiw8"]Dry Canyon Trail (T5574) begins at Forest Road 5574 in Dry Canyon and ends at the "A" trail (T119) - YouTube[/ame]
 
We had fun in the Cloudcroft area this week. The Drz didn't get as many miles as I would have liked, but the whole family had fun. I got some bad news while up there. My riding buddy/carpool buddy for the end of July had some heart problems. He got checked out and had emergency quadruple bypass surgery the next morning. He is doing great but won't be making the trip now. I'm not sure what my plans are yet but I may be in the market for a carpooling partner. I'm in east Texas and drive through DFW going to Cloudcroft. Anyone possibly interested let me know.
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I'm considering joining that one.
However, I ride a heavy Tiger 800XC and it seems (from the pictures) that there won't be many of those (Correct?)
I know there are tons trails I could ride there, but I want to make sure I won't have to ride them by myself.
Where there similar bikes last year?
 
You could ride nearly everything I normally ride but I'm not familiar with the trails they normally ride on the annual ride. If you haven't already watch the video links above in the thread, benson ridge and Karr canyon. I think you would be fine on everything that's 2 track. Most everything is.

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texas drz said:
You could ride nearly everything I normally ride but I'm not familiar with the trails they normally ride on the annual ride. If you haven't already watch the video links above in the thread, benson ridge and Karr canyon. I think you would be fine on everything that's 2 track. Most everything is.

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You're right that I could ride most of the trails. The problem is that I cannot ride them on the same speed or even close
 
shailurie said:
I'm considering joining that one.
However, I ride a heavy Tiger 800XC and it seems (from the pictures) that there won't be many of those (Correct?)
I know there are tons trails I could ride there, but I want to make sure I won't have to ride them by myself.
Where there similar bikes last year?
Click to expand...

Shailurie, There were a couple of midsize adventure bikes last year.

Generally the days my wife rides her street legal Yamaha TTR125L we ride forest service roads, and when I can talk her in to it easier ATV trails like Lucas Canyon. She rides slowly, but surely of any of the technical stuff. She is having some back issues so I don't know how many days she will ride this year, but you are welcome to ride with us on the forest service roads or more.

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=732l91MhihE"]Trail #251: The Lucas Canyon trail, TTR125L - YouTube[/ame]

[ame="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AhgZ6u8vZK4"]Lucas Canyon Trail (T251) following the Yamaha TTR125L - YouTube[/ame]
 
sanderjavant said:
Shailurie, There were a couple of midsize adventure bikes last year.



Generally the days my wife rides her street legal Yamaha TTR125L we ride forest service roads, and when I can talk her in to it easier ATV trails like Lucas Canyon. She rides slowly, but surely of any of the technical stuff. She is having some back issues so I don't know how many days she will ride this year, but you are welcome to ride with us on the forest service roads or more.



Trail #251: The Lucas Canyon trail, TTR125L - YouTube



Lucas Canyon Trail (T251) following the Yamaha TTR125L - YouTube
Click to expand...



Wow! That's exactly the kind of trail my teenage son and I are looking for. Hope there are more like that. Just waiting for the drought restrictions to be lifted to book my cabin.


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