Monticello Canyon 4 Wheel Drive Trail Run. 12 Oct 13

On Saturday, 12 Oct 13, Bill and I had a great and fun adventure taking a trail run with several members of the Desert Mountain 4 Wheel Drive Club from Alamogordo, NM.   There were also members of the Ruidoso Ridge Runners 4 Wheel Drive Club.  I also heard there was a vehicle from Deming.  We were also honored to have a World War II veteran with us.

*A reminder:  Any photo can be enlarged by clicking on it.

The Alamogordo people met up at the road block by White Sands National Monument at 8:00 a.m., Saturday morning, to convoy on to Truth or Consequences Wal-Mart parking lot where we met up with the others.  It was about 160 miles from Alamogordo.   There were originally 10 vehicles; however, one had mechanical problems so it was left behind with the driver riding with someone else.  Bill and I rode in the lead vehicle.

From there we proceeded on to the little historic village of Monticello where we again stopped.  This time many of the vehicles aired down their tires while some of us visited and looked around a bit.  Monticello was settled in 1856 and said to be named to commemorate the estate of Thomas Jefferson.  Another story says it was named by a freighter who came from Monticello, NY.  Which is true?  Take your pick.

San Ignacio Catholic Church in Monticello, NM.From Monticello — the village — we proceeded on to the beautiful and long Monticello Canyon.  I heard once it was 17 miles long, but also heard it was longer.  The beautiful Alamoso (cottonwood) River meandered back and forth all the way through it.  It was almost unbelievable how many times we crossed it and also drove in it.  I didn’t count, but heard once that it was more than 80 times, but also heard twice it was more than 100 times.   Believe it or not, I didn’t hear about any of these expert drivers getting stuck although it would have been very easy to have done so I’m sure.  

At the beginning, we had to share the road with a number of cattle with two or three different brands probably on BLM (Bureau of Land Management) land.  They were in no hurry to give up their resting spots for us pesky humans. 

Time for a lunch break.  What a beautiful spot and what a beautiful day!! Me and Bill standing beside the river.  I hadn’t any more than started over to retrieve my camera afterward when all of a sudden I got hit with a spray of river water from behind.  I’ll give you two guesses as to who did that.  LOL After many miles, we came to the beginning of the so called “Monticello Box” with its very deep canyon walls near the end of the run. After our vehicle had already passed it, someone noticed there was a neat rock they could climb up.  I heard it aptly called “Ramp Rock”.   Some of us splashed across the river to get pictures.  I was wet up to my knees, but it was worth it.  (Good thing it was a warm day with all my encounters with river water that day.  LOL) The vehicles all lined up for a photo shoot after we exited the canyon.   Some of the several picture takers seen below.  I’m still uncertain where the origin of this river is as it was dry a little further out.  I think it comes from warm/hot springs.  I know there is at least one near here known as Ojo (keyhole/eye)  Caliente (warm/hot).  It was about this time that I realized I had been near here before years ago.   When we once rented a cabin at Elephant Butte Lake, we drove from there on over to try to find the ruins of the Minbres or Warm Springs Apache Agency called Ojo Caliente Agency, but maybe also other names.  The famous chief, Victorio, was there as well as Geronimo.  I believe it was the site of Geronimo’s first capture or surrender.  I think there were five captures or surrenders altogether at different locations — the last being in Southwestern Arizona.  We did find the agency ruins back then as there were still some adobe walls standing.  However, this time, although I tried to spot the ruins as we came out to the road, I wasn’t able to.  Not sure what their current status is??? Looking back at the beginning of the canyon from the highway.  What an awesome  trip!!  Hoping to go with the 4 wheelers again for more adventures in the not-too- distant future!!   The following day before going back to Alamogordo, Bill and I went to Hillsboro.  Coming back toward the interstate, we took a little hike in the desert where I spotted this incredible beetle or bug I had never seen before.  It was huge.  Does anyone know what it is??   Enjoy!!  🙂