Terminology, Cattle & Juniper Trees

Riding the mostly unexplored trails at the northern end of the West Mesa is an interesting experience.

Unless you ride only in the mountains chances you'll run into sand at some time in New Mexico. I have divided sand into three kinds.

• Fine: If this is deep enough it is nearly impossible to ride through.
• Medium: Sometimes rideable and sometimes not.
• Coarse: Loaded with pebbles and usually rideable.

In all above the cases unload the front wheel by shifting your weight back and keep that front wheel as straight as possible because once the sand turns your wheel you are done and you will be hiking the bike until you can get to firmer tread. I try to stay in the same gear when I'm in sand, no matter what gear I'm in, and grind my way through. 

Washes and arroyos are dry 95% of the time. As I use the terms washes are flat or very shallow drainage areas that usually feed into arroyos and arroyos have very steep sides and flat bottoms. 

Almost all of the trips I will describe include cattle paths. In New Mexico there is a policy of free range which means the cattle can roam where they want. What the cattle create as they roam from grazing areas to water sources and vice versa are ready made single tracks. In places the cattle, going in the same general direction, criss cross paths creating braids.

While I am on the subject of cattle I would like to mention a few cautionary notes. Since the cattle roam freely they are for all and intents purposes wild animals and wild animals tend to do unexpected things. Most of the time cattle just stare as I ride by but I have had a calf make a sudden turn left crossing just a couple of feet in front of me. So when you see cattle watch them and give them room.

Dirt bikers have also used cattle paths as well creating their own trails. So a DB Trail is just that and a DB | Cattle Trail is a section of trail that both use.