GALLUP NEW MEXICO
Gallup, known as the Indian capital of New Mexico now has another claim to fame: a great mountain biking trail. Thanks to a mountain biking mayor and the hard work of the local bike shop, High Mesa Bikes and Gear, plus bike community they now have a series of trails from easy as pie to steep cliff side, boulder challenged class 4 rides (whatever that is). One can go as far as one wants. Annette, Patrick and I did the whole thing in early November before the cold wind came through. The trail is built on the bluffs just north of the town, in fact you can see Gallup, hear the train and watch the cars whiz by on the south side trails. The starting point is less than 6 miles from downtown. The parking lot had only a few cars in it and on the trail we saw only 2 other bikers, a few walkers and a couple of dogs.
Better yet, we saw lots of great Gallup sand formations, hoodoos, distant washes, mountains, clear sky and great surprise art. One whips down the trail, around a corner and there, on top of a rock is the silhouette of a puma or bobcat staring down at you. Local artist made steel sculptures of native animals that were bolted to the rock in unexpected places, like on curves, resting spots and at the top of the cliff. Many others have arranged rocks, dead wood and other natural objects into little designs. What fun that was. We took half a day to play around on this great trail and I would love to go again. Maybe then I could conquer the hardest parts of the trail, right up the cliff side.
Sunday we changed the ambiance and rode in the ponderosa forest south of Fort Wingate. Sweet single track, quiet pines and a section of dry creek bed lined with bed rock over which we bounced. Saw very few other folks. We could have gone on for hours through this particular trail system but had to return home. It's a long way over there and probably best for a three day weekend, but we did it in 21/2 days.
Accommodations range from the great old 1920's El Rancho Hotel (with the biggest log staircase I've ever seen) to the bland Super 8. Be prepared for train noise no matter where you are in town. Food, well if you like New Mexican or Navajo style you'll be in hog heaven. There are two great cafés Jerry's and El Metate that serve up the real thing to locals. No Santa Fe kitsch in that town. Servings are BIG and we ate it all.
According to the guys at the bike shop there are several trails systems
in the area and our guide book, Gallup Way Points (www.gallupwaypoints.com)
mentioned several around Grants, in the Zuni Mountains and around Mt. Taylor.
This is an unexplored area of our state that is well worth returning too
and if anyone wants to lead a club trip there let me know. Chris