Southern New Mexico + a bit of AZ... Road Conditions?

[connick]

I'm thinking of heading west this coming weekend for some riding and exploring in NM and AZ, and thought it would be a good idea to get an idea of the road conditions.  The route I'm thinking of will look something like this...

(click for full-size, readable version)


I think I need to be concerned with NM-24 and the Sacramento Canyon Road near Cloudcroft; NM-152, US-180, and NM-78 from I-25 to Clifton; and AZ-191 from Clifton to Alpine.  Can anyone comment as to whether these roads are good for riding right now, or if they're still snowy/icy/sandy/whatever?  Also, after 191, I was considering cutting north to the mountains around Los Alamos, but figured that those would probably make for poor riding right now... good assumption?  Or are the roads up there clear at this time of year?

Thanks for any info!

[connick]

Well, I did some poking around... I guess maybe I should head in another direction.  Darnit.

[Orson]

It's the altitude that gets ya  

I rode to Big Bend in January 1999 with sunny, 70° days  

[buls4evr]

  You are good on the lower NM part until you get to AZ and US191. The problem with that road this time of year is 9K ft near Rose PK. and Hannagan Meadows which will have snow and ice on the road. So Clifton up to Springerville is iffy. I can tell you for sure 152, 35, 15, 78 and 180 are all good as I just rode them yesterday. Instead you can just stay on 180 out of Silver Cty and get up to 60 that way. I know, I know but AZ is hot and the roads really great....just not right now. You can PM me if you want . I'm in Deming,NM and ride these NM roads all the time(and your route is missing some great ones).

[connick]

  You are good on the lower NM part until you get to AZ and US191. The problem with that road this time of year is 9K ft near Rose PK. and Hannagan Meadows which will have snow and ice on the road. So Clifton up to Springerville is iffy. I can tell you for sure 152, 35, 15, 78 and 180 are all good as I just rode them yesterday. Instead you can just stay on 180 out of Silver Cty and get up to 60 that way. I know, I know but AZ is hot and the roads really great....just not right now. You can PM me if you want . I'm in Deming,NM and ride these NM roads all the time(and your route is missing some great ones).

Thanks for the info!  I decided to play it safe and decided to just head to Big Bend to do some camping instead.  I'm still planning on doing the above ride, though... maybe the first weekend in April, when Trinity will be open to visitors, and hopefully 191 will be open.  It would definitely be appreciated if you wouldn't mind sharing some of the good roads that I'm missing, though! 

[Medic09]

I just rode part of that area about 10 days ago.  152 across to Silver City, 35/15 loop, then 180 to 191 to Springerville.  Across 60 to Quemado, then north through El Malpais to I 40 and back to Santa Fe.  Haven't had time for a run report.

Most of the roads were good with the expected amount of sand and silt.  The challenging parts were all the tight hairpin turns that are in deep shadow.  All those spots had packed snow/ice on the asphalt.  Oh, and in the Gila you don't need to worry 'bout deer; the wild turkeys are the big threat on the roads!  

As I say, the roads were pretty good, but so many places in the shade still have packed snow on the road surface.  Also, it was VERY cold camping out.  I slept out at Lake Roberts, and in the morning everything was covered in ice.  The edges of the lake were lightly frozen, and all my gear was frozen.  The up side was almost no one was out sightseeing on these roads.  Felt like I had the place largely to myself.

As for your last question, I would expect the roads in the Jemez above Los Alamos to have patches of snow and ice.  Up here we've had some more recent snow showers.

[buls4evr]

connick...it's just too early by about a month to be on the 78 to Clifton and up 191 in AZ due to altitude. Try Hwy 35 off from 152 at San Lorenzo and go by LK. Roberts up to 15 and Gila cliff dwellings. Then come back down 15 to Silver Cty and up 180 to the North. At 12 go over to Reserve and then up to Apache Creek. Take 32 at Apache Creek up to 60. This is a twisty fun ride. 60 will make you yawn after these good ones. Stop and see the VLA on 60 too. Just expect all the mountain roads to have light gravel on the corners as that is what they do for snow traction up here. Slow down just a little from normal but rough asphalt gives you better traction than you think you have. Also try to just keep off the shady part of the road, especially early in the AM. Enjoy NM!

[Justin]

It's ride-able this time of year, but as the poster's above said, the roads are still crappy with sand and packed ice/snow. These roads are better to wait till things get cleaned up in a month or two, then you can really enjoy. And the route you chose it great, some of the best I have been on.