The Bear Mesa Ride/Walk/Crawl

(also known as John's Folly)

4/20/02

This is a variation of the La Mesa del Oso Loop (http://www.cherba.com/atmb/la_mesa_loop.htm), also known as the "Extended Upper Loop" above Chiva Falls (not to be confused with the normal Upper Loop). The standard La Mesa del Oso Loop would be rated "gonzo abusive", but this variation is much easier, so it is just "difficult". We leave a shuttle vehicle at Tanque Verde Falls, and then drive in to the Chiva Falls parking lot. We ride in towards Chiva Falls, but turn off to the east and climb the trail to the Upper Loop. This is the most strenuous part of the ride. Then instead of descending to Chiva Falls, we continue west to Bear Mesa (La Mesa del Oso). Here we encounter the "crawl", a 1/2 mile stretch of seriously steep jeep road that everyone will push. From there we descend to Tanque Verde Creek (rocky and gnarly). The normal loop turns east up the creek, which is largely a hike-a-bike with a some very strenuous riding. We will instead turn west (almost pure hike-a-bike for less than a mile), coming out at Tanque Verde Falls. The hike-a-bike is not very difficult -- just unrideable -- and through very beautiful country, which should make up for the inability to ride. The ride is approximately 12 miles and 2500 feet of climbing, with 3400 feet of descending. The loose rock makes it pretty technical and the climbs are strenuous.

1-9 | 10-18 | 19-27 | 28-36 | 37-37

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