August camping trip

[RISK]

We decided to beat the Texas heat by heading to Colorado for an 11 day trip. Overnighted in Lubbock at the KOA there which was actually quite nice. Fortunately it was unseasonably cool there as my new AC (about 8 months old) decided give up its condenser capacitor the day before we left. We had a pretty good electrical storm a couple days prior and I’m wondering if that did it.

From there we landed in Durango at my cousin’s property and boondocked in his driveway for the night. The next day we packed up the tents and headed up to Bolam Pass in the mountains for some high country camping accessible by 4x4 road.
A childhood friend is doing the van life thing and met us up there.
Easily one of the most beautiful camp sites I’ve stayed at.

From there we parted ways with the van and headed over the pass on some truly technical roads. The dog barfed and the wife and son were about to but the daughter and I loved it.

We met back up with the van in Durango to camp next to the river on my cousin’s property and this will qualify as the best site the Avion has camped in.

Before we left I received a solar panel kit (2x100 watt panels) and I wired up one to keep the batteries charged, it’s been great but a bit of a struggle to keep everyone on track with power management, though we’re getting there.

Next up is Ruidoso for 2 nights and then San Angelo for another KOA pit stop... New Mexico is pretty tough with its C19 mandate but we are, by definition, self isolating with the Avion...

More to come...

Ian

[DJ18]

AUGGGG! gorgeous gasping beautiful. We are trying to get up to camp in CO, or even some Northern NM spots. my sis and her DH go to South Fork which isn't bad from Albuquerque. We've gone camping a lot, but go to the same area each time. I'm so ready to venture further in our Avion adventure. So far, we haven't broken the 300 mile circle. our elevation in Las Cruces is 4000' and it's in the 100's on a daily basis. Our go-to place, is along the continental divide at 6000+- and still only about 10 degrees less. I want to need long sleeves at night and go kayaking during the day.

restrictions are tough here, but there is a lot of disbursed camping in the National Forest. just not as much water as CO.

[RISK]

DJ,

Do you have any tips for somewhere between Durango and Ruidodo for disbursed camping? Preferably at altitude?

We have a gap day Sunday night and are thinking of a short hop to break up the drive.

Thanks,
Ian

[DJ18]

were you generally taking I25 back down? If you give me the general area you want to be about half way, I can sure give you some ideas. also, what part of the week. proximity to Albuquerque on the weekend will guarantee a lot of campers. I'm not as familiar with disbursed outside of southwestern NM, but my son is and I can also ask him.

[RISK]

were you generally taking I25 back down? If you give me the general area you want to be about half way, I can sure give you some ideas. also, what part of the week. proximity to Albuquerque on the weekend will guarantee a lot of campers. I'm not as familiar with disbursed outside of southwestern NM, but my son is and I can also ask him.

It would be Sunday night so hopefully not to busy.
I think the shortest route is I25 but I’m game to go a different way. No love of towing in cities so avoiding Albuquerque is fine.
I was reading about the Upper Bonito Disbursed Camping Area.
That’s almost to Ruidoso but that’s fine.

Thanks for your help,
Ian

[DJ18]

I suppose it depends on whether you want to go West or East of Albuquerque. It's hard to avoid Albuquerque, unfortunately. If you want to stay way East, there are lots of really nice places around Santa Fe and Las Vegas, but that could be pretty far out of your way, or not far enough South. West of Albuquerque, you have the reservations and they are having a tough time with Covid 19.

Travel East of Albuquerque you are headed for the Manzano Mtns. There are a lot of land grant ranches and lots of NO TRESPASSING signs around Chillili, they aren't that hospitable, so best not stop to look around. It's a pretty drive that way though. Once you are in the Manzano Mts, There are several NF camp grounds open there now. I think you would find disbursed camping around there, but the FS campgrounds are pretty primitive and could be considered disbursed anyway. Manzanita state park is very nice, but closed, as are all our state parks. We have not stayed at the Manzano NF campgrounds. The Salt Missions Trail is around there and is well worth spending some time exploring. the mission ruins are spectacular.

further South, Three Rivers campground is closed. It is beautiful, but the road is horrible. I've never gone to Bonita disbursed any way but through Ruidoso, so can't answer about that. Bonita Lake is closed to restore from a terrible fire. I

There is the Valley of Fires around Carrizozo but that is hardly high elevation or cool.

We don't go to Cloudcroft or Ruidoso as often as West into the Gila Wilderness. I'm more familiar with disbursed camping in that area. Love the Mimbres Valley, again pretty far west.

[RISK]

Hoowee,

Just got to San Angelo for an overnight stop back home from New Mexico. I ended up find an amazing spot in the Lincoln National Forrest near Ruidoso up past Bonito Lake.

To recap, we’ve been out for 11 nights, 3 in RV parks, one tent camping and 7 off grid/boondocking. 2,350 miles in all.
Before we left I purchased a 200w solar stater kit by Renogy from Amazon for about $350. While it’s meant to be mounted, we used it as a suitcase unit.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00BCRG2 ... asin_title

While in Colorado, I only used 1 of the 100w panels with the included cables, it worked great to get to a float charge every day. We only really have lights (LED naturally), the water pump and the original vent fans to operate. While in New Mexico I doubled up the panels for 200w and need a bit more length to get them into the sun. After some deep woods thinking I remembered I had an extra long set of heavy duty jumper cables. Problem solved...
Fridge was on propane the entire time and for the most part the temperatures were Goldilocks. Kept the fresh water tank at 1/4 for travel (used the bathroom in the Avion while filling up) and filled to to 3/4 for the Colorado and New Mexico legs. We also had a 5 gallon AquaTainer and a metal washbasin set up for dishes and hand washing which really help water usage and keeping the funk out of the grey tank.
I also put on a new set of shoes for the Avion and while doing so had them install a Dill TPMS. I’ve had a really crappy set of Amazon screw on cap style that pooped out, this is a whole new level of knowledge and satisfaction. Being able to view my pressure and temperature was very gratifying.

https://www.dillvalves.com/product_cpt/ ... iler-tpms/

All in all a great trip and we definitely prefer off grid style camping though there is next to zero available in Texas.

Enjoy the pictures...

Ian

[Razorback]

Beautiful! Looks really fun!

[Rostam]

Beautiful pictures! We have been talking about a West coast trip for a while. Hopefully, I can accumulate enough time-off days to make it happen

[DJ18]

Such a great trip!! did you see the Bonito Lake work? We were actually camping at Bonito Lake when that fire happened. got evacuated in fact. We need to go back.

We are leaving tomorrow, to go up north to around Questa, Red River and Eagle Nest. Cabresto lake, Wild rivers on the list too.

I realized we bought our truck two weeks before our friends told us their avion was for sale. So every trip is a first in this truck and camper.

I'm so very excited.