My Greatest Adventure.

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Edge

Trad climber

New Durham, NH

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 11, 2013 - 12:51am PT

New Mexico! Not new, and not Mexico.

My daughter will join us in Santa Fe late Wednesday, so I should have some climbing shots soon after that.

Edge

Trad climber

New Durham, NH

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 11, 2013 - 01:22am PT

Tad, pulling the trailer is like a PG13 runout; it keeps me on my toes. I blew a tire on the RV on Rte 40 in OK which necessitated a 40 mile detour to get a new rim and spare. The truck is still dangerously close to overheating on long up hills, and thanks to reading Happiegrrl's posts here on the Taco I was able to manage by putting the heat and fan on high to help cool things down; not ideal and certainly not pleasant, but it worked. We will try to limp her into an extended base camp in Santa Fe on Wednesday morning before it gets too hot. Once my daughter shows up with her car I will try to get the Tundra into the Toyota dealership to find out what's making her ache so.

And yes, my wife and I are both avid Red Sox fans, and through some minor miracle we have been able to watch the last three games on major networks including tonight's 14 inning thriller.

Edge

Trad climber

New Durham, NH

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 11, 2013 - 01:36am PT

Dingus, I have been energetically connected to the West for some time, and have also forsaken the East coast. This is where I belong.

We will probably stay around Santa Fe for 5-7 days, day tripping to Jemez, Taos, and other spots hopefully way out in the deserts. Hopefully Tres Piedres for some trad and Gilman Tunnels for some (gasp!) bolt clipping. Many thanks to Survival for exchanging beta and recommendations through email. After that we hope to take Rte 550 towards the Four Corners then Bryce, Zion, and the north rim of the Grand Canyon, but who knows?

The dogs have been great. As long as they are with us they are happy, but it's a little limiting finding trails that they are allowed on and not being able to leave them for more than a couple hours in the RV with the AC on. Today we took them into Old Town ABQ, and my wife and I took turns going into shops while the other sat in the old town square park with them in the shade. Luckily the restaurant where we had lunch was OK with having them sit with us on the patio, and even served them cool water in a big bowl. Much appreciated, that was!

Tomorrow I will hit the 3000 mile mark on our trip to Petroglyph National Monument. With the trailer we get about 200 miles for every $75 fill up. It is what it is.

Edge

Trad climber

New Durham, NH

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 11, 2013 - 09:59am PT

So how do you like pullin a trailer?

I'm working tirelessly at it.

survival

Big Wall climber

Terrapin Station

Jun 11, 2013 - 11:39am PT

WOOO HOOOO!!!!

The Sandia Tram is the longest in the world, depending whether you're talking single span or multi-spans. There's a foody bar on top!

Perea's in Corrales for lunch!

Rancho De Los Golondrinas is near Santa Fe.

Dude, I'm so Jeally.....

Karen

Trad climber

So Cal urban sprawl Hell

Jun 11, 2013 - 02:07pm PT

Living in this heaterless trailer (it had a tiny and I mean tiny wood burning stove, was vertually useless), pipes repeatedly froze but it was fun in a masochistic way.
Got to live my dream and skied 69 days that winter:-)

Edge

Trad climber

New Durham, NH

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 12, 2013 - 11:45pm PT

More pics.

Finally got the shots from the Lower New River, WV.

Petroglyph National Monument. We learned a lot about the desert that day, mainly that it's not a wise place to be during a 100 degree heat wave. Our female corgi, Penny, needed to be carried the last 1/2 mile out because the sand was burning her feet.

This morning we stopped at Coronado State Monument before cruising up to our new Santa Fe base camp.

Edge

Trad climber

New Durham, NH

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 15, 2013 - 11:15am PT

Finally got a nice walk in the high desert yesterday while my wife and daughter enjoyed the mud baths and hot springs at Ojo Caliente.

Tomorrow for Fathers Day Meaghan and I will be climbing at Pecos Canyon on nice pink granite. Psyched to get out on a new crag!

We finally got the overheating problems with the truck ironed out to the tune of $920. They replaced the thermostat and flushed the block sealer from the coolant system (which was unnecessary) to correct the misdiagnosis in Cincy. Replaced the fan clutch, then repaired a leak and recharged the AC. The Tundra is finally purring like a the powerful kitten that I knew she was.

Brandon-

climber

The Granite State.

Jun 15, 2013 - 11:23am PT

Awesome!

survival

Big Wall climber

Terrapin Station

Jun 17, 2013 - 02:16pm PT

BUMP FOR UPDATE!!

Rock on Edge!

up2top

climber

Phoenix, AZ

Jun 17, 2013 - 03:24pm PT

Loran! So glad I stumbled onto this thread. I haven't been on the Taco or RC.com much at all in the past few years -- crazy that I'd run across your "adventure" post at just the right time. Congrats on the changes you've made and the challenges you're conquering. Are you heading into AZ at all? If so, I'd love to meet up with you.

Epic Ed

Edge

Trad climber

New Durham, NH

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 18, 2013 - 01:21am PT

Cell phone reception sucks in large parts of New Mexico, and campground wifi is next to useless.

We spent the last 4 days in Santa Fe. I bought myself a proper sun hat.

My wife bought me a nice Zuni wolf carving for Fathers Day.

My daughter Meaghan joined us from Denver. We drove 35 minutes for some Fathers Day cragging at Pecos Canyon, only to find out three miles from the cliff that the entire National Forest was closed for extreme fire danger. No fires, just potential for fires. Bastards.

Plan B was to do touristy stuff in the Old Town. Like the "Miraculous Stairway" at Loretto Chapel.

Closer to camp, I found this beauty on a dead end road.

Went on some nice walks in the desert, then demanded (please, Honey...) some dessert.

This morning we drove US 550 towards Shiprock and had our first, and possibly last, Lotaburger. At least the side trip into Jemez was nice, and the desert beautiful. The truck repairs worked like a charm.

This afternoon we rolled into Durango; tomorrow is Mesa Verde.

Sorry for the lack of climbing pics; it's killing me too.

Edge

Trad climber

New Durham, NH

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 18, 2013 - 01:31am PT

Are you heading into AZ at all? If so, I'd love to meet up with you.

Ed, we will be at the Grand Canyon, then Sedona, and maybe Flag in about 2-3 weeks give or take. Stay tuned to this thread for updates as we approach.

Where you at?

Mungeclimber

Trad climber

Nothing creative to say

Jun 18, 2013 - 01:39am PT

wonderful thread, thx Edge.

Glad the truck got dialed in. It will make the rest of the trip about the other stuff, and not about making sure you can even get to the other stuff.

Les

Trad climber

Bahston

Jun 18, 2013 - 10:17am PT

man, nothing more American than a serious road trip! Loving the travelogue, Edge. Told my wife when I retire from current (Fed LEO) job, I'm taking a 2-3 month summer climbing roadtrip as my reward for crossing the finish line. She wasn't exactly supportive of the idea, but that's not gonna stop me!

Edge

Trad climber

New Durham, NH

Topic Author's Reply - Jun 18, 2013 - 10:25am PT

up2top

climber

Phoenix, AZ

Jun 18, 2013 - 12:05pm PT

I'm in Phoenix. This time of year we usually make it a point to get the hell out of town and into cooler climates on the weekends. Just spent the weekend in Sedona over Father's Day. Plenty of sight-seeing for you to do in all the destinations you mentioned. If you're looking for climbing in those spots you have plenty of options. Paradise Forks, Oakcreek Overlook, the Pit...even Jack's Canyon isn't too far south of Winslow. Keep us posted about your plans and I'll see if I can head north to meet up with you.