Photographer Information:
The contact number for Joseph, the photographer for Caballo Sin Nombre & Mt Carmel is 773 592 8517
The contact number for John Dodson at Mt Carmel is jdodson1956@gmail.com 231 292 6649
Weather related ride changes:
This year has been the worst ever for weather impacting our events. The California rides were impacted by the adverse weather and Cuyama was forced to relocate back to Laurel Mtn. Dana and Richard went back to the Jones Ranch after the Cuyama at Laurel Mtn ride and picked up all the ribbons that were on the trails. They stayed for almost a month and the trails were still unusable due to downed trees and washed out trails. Annie and I moved back to Colorado and our next ride was in New Mexico where the winds just would not stop. We moved on to Mt Carmel and found the Top of the World Trail covered in deep and impassable snow drifts. The Virgin River was running with fast moving roily water that forced us to modify all trail to avoid the Virgin River crossings. This was a first in over 30 years of Mt Carmel rides.
NEW CONTENT MAY 26
My opinion is that Strawberry is definitely out, but Howard and others are holding out hope. Strawberry has been cancelled twice in previous year when there was much less snow pack. The snow depths in the Uinta’s are over 200% of normal this year but Howard knows more about the area than I do.
The AERC Executive Committee has approved the date change for Chicken Creek.
We are definitely doing the Chicken Creek XP on the new date in July. Annie and I hope our friends will be able to deal with the date change for this beautiful ride in our back yard.
Our Next Ride
STRAWBERRY FIELDS ???
It’s still scheduled for the last weekend in June, 6/23-24-25. But that is entirely up to the weather.
THE CHICKEN CREEK XP
Pictures from the NATRC ride at Chicken Creek
The Summer XP at Chicken Creek
June 2-3-4, 2023
PROPOSED DATE CHANGE TO JULY 7-8-9
This will be the second summer XP ride at Chicken Creek. Pictures of the camp and the surround area speak for themselves. There is nowhere on earth that is more beautiful than the San Juan Mountains of Colorado. There is no season that is not breathtaking. In 2023 the summer ride has expanded to three days. Just camping in this meadow makes it the best ever. The ride last summer was in July and it was warmer than what we preferred so we moved it to early June. There were record snows in the San Juan Mountains this year. The snow pack over the upper ride trails is well above normal but the locals believe we will still be OK by ride time. The camp is about 12 miles north of Mancos Colorado, which is between Durango and Cortez in the Four Corners area. This is a place you will want to return to for years to come. We are a short drive from the famous cliff dwellings at Mesa Verde as well as the Durango Silverton Narrow Gauge Railway.
Directions: Base camp is located north of Mancos, CO. Mancos is on Hwy 160 located between Durango and Cortez. From Hwy 160 in Mancos, turn north at the only stoplight in town onto Hwy 184. Follow 184 north for approximately one-half mile, then turn right onto the paved road toward Jackson Lake. Continue 7.6 miles to the campground in the meadow on your left. The turn off to the camp is just past the second cattle guard, which is the one with the loading chute for the cattle corrals on the left.
Phone 907 209 8881 or 970 880 0150 for Dave
email duck@xprides.com
Phone 907 821 1819 for Annie e-mail annie@xprides.com
If you find something confusing or in error in this message please contact me personally and I will clear it up.
Ride Fees
These fees do not apply to California Rides due to the exorbitant drug fees, ride site rental, price of fuel and ride supplies.
AERC One Day $135.00 check or $140 PayPal
XP One Day $110.00 check or $115 PayPal
AERC Two Day $260 check or $265 PayPal
XP Two Day $220 check or $255 PayPal
AERC Three Day $375.00 or $ 380 PayPal
XP Three Day $330.00 or $335 PayPal
AERC Four Day $480.00 or $485 PayPal
XP Four Day $440.00 or $445 PayPal
If you are not a paid up AERC member we will assume you are riding the XP Club ride and the results will not be turned into AERC.
You can pay at the ride after determining how many days you end up riding. Juniors are half price. AERC charges an additional $15.00 day member fee for non members.
2023 XP Calendar
April 21-22-23, 2023 Caballo Sin Nombre XP
Between Navajo Dam and Aztec, New Mexico
May 4-5-6-7, 2023 Mt Carmel XP
Mt Carmel Junction, Utah
June 2-3-4, 2023 Chicken Creek XP
Mancos, Colorado
June 23-24-25, 2023 Strawberry Fields XP
Co-op Creek, east of Heber, Utah
August 31-September 1-2-3, 2023 Grand Canyon XP
North Rim Grand Canyon, Arizona
September 29-30-October 1, 2023 Colorado Fall Colors XP
Mancos, Colorado
November 10-11-12, 2023 Sesenta Años
Santa Barbara, California