Summer El Coyote Expedition [ECE]: Friday, August 4th through Sunday, August 6th, 2023 (Epic Weekender) – New Mexico Black Range’s “Master of the Wild” ultra-traverse and circumnavigation of the Gila – Guided by NMBR’s Jake Quiñones

Overview

New Mexico’s Gila Region // Approximate Route Distance: 325 to 350-Miles // Approximate Elevation Range: 4,375 to 9,000-Feet // Areas of exploration will include Gila East, Gila North, Black Range, and Great Divide Trail // New Mexico Black Range’s newest and boldest Gila traversal is geared towards overlanders with moderate to advanced experience levels. The El Coyote Expedition will include a faster pace, longer drive days, minimal instruction and education sessions, and prove more rigorous than NMBR’s other overland-based adventures. Visit the NMBR’s New Mexico Gila Adventure photo gallery for a preview of the El Coyote Expedition experience. LINK - goo.gl/UsrcF6

The Experience

This August, New Mexico Black Range will be leading an epic expedition route and experience through the heart of the Southwest’s wildest and most remote region—the 3.3-million-acre Gila National Forest. NMBR created the El Coyote Expedition specifically to captivate the purpose, pace, and rigors associated with NMBR’s regular non-guided fieldwork and scouting missions. The El Coyote Expedition combines two of NMBR’s remote fieldwork and scouting routes into a three-day monumental circumnavigation of the Gila’s farthest reaches. Seasoned and skilled overlanders “Masters of the Wild”, that desire long drive days, a brisk pace, and a full gamut of rugged terrain, will thrive during this adventure. Due to widely varying weather patterns, summertime overland travels through the Gila region often entails challenging backroad and camp conditions due to the Southwestern Monsoon Season. Those that enjoy a more leisurely pace, less demanding driving conditions, more frequent scenic stops/breaks, and expanded educational and training opportunities should consider NMBR’s other overland-based trip offerings.

NMBR has guided portions of the El Coyote Expedition route for American Expedition Vehicles and General Motors as they tested their vehicles against a variety of harsh terrain and rigorous driving conditions. The ECE route includes a diverse range of scenery, history, terrain, and backroads found nowhere else in North America. Landscapes and terrain will include desert, savannah, grassland, chaparral, canyon bottoms, ponderosa parks, and dense forest with elevations ranging from 4,375 to 9,000-feet. Areas of exploration will include Gila East, Black Range, Gila West, Gila North, and Continental Divide. The ECE route will pass through the northern end of the Sierra Madre Mountain Range as well as the Southern tail of the Rockies, all while skirting the world’s first established wilderness areas—the Gila Wilderness & Aldo Leopold Wilderness. Road types and conditions will include washboards, two tracks, primitive non-maintained, graded, mountain shelf, dirt byway and (least of all) pavement. The ECE will provide outstanding landscapes, wildlife viewing opportunities (including Mexican grey wolf territory), and aggressive elevation contours.

Where, When & Pricing

The Summer El Coyote Expedition will take place Friday, August 4th through Sunday, August 6th, 2023. Participants will meet the morning of Friday, August 4th in southern New Mexico; the exact departure location and details will be provided during the registration process. Pricing for single driver (single participant) is $796.00 (plus tax). Pricing for each additional participant in vehicle (passengers, second drivers, minors) is $683.00 (plus tax). Please note: Due to the remote setting of NMBR's overland and expedition traversal routes, services of any kind, including cell, fuel, food, water, resupply, and/or medical services may be unavailable for stretches of 225-miles or more (if re-routes occur).

Planning & Preparations

The El Coyote Expedition will require participants to be self-supportive with regards to vehicle, equipment, meals, and supplies. Services or re-supply of any kind, including cell signals, fuel, food, water, or anything remotely civilized, will be unavailable for stretches of up to 225 miles or more (if re-routes occur). Southwestern Monsoon Season: This NMBR trip/tour will take place during the Southwest’s Monsoon Season where summer rain storms can occur. In this, weather, road, and camp conditions could provide rainy and muddy at various points along the route. Participants will need to prepare accordingly and bring the appropriate all-weather clothing, gear, and shelter. If these possible conditions don’t appeal to you, or outside of your comfort zone for overland travels, please consider NMBR’s other trip/tour offerings.

Go Boldly with NMBR - Over the past decade, NMBR has written a series of informative overland travel-based articles (NMBR’s Field Preparedness Manual) with topics ranging from field kit assembly, to vehicle maintenance and upkeep, to equipment and gear advice. These articles, paired with extensive checklists and instructions, are provided to registered participants as a solid foundation for what to expect, how to prepare, and what to bring for the adventure. During the El Coyote Expedition pre-trip planning and preparation period, NMBR will be available to provide expert opinion and feedback to registered participants for any questions or concerns related to getting ready and gearing up for the adventure. The self-sufficient aspect of NMBR guided expeditions, overland adventures, and training courses challenges and prepares participants for their future 4WD based endeavors—to go boldly, prepared, and with confidence.

Register

Ready for your next great adventure? If you are interested in joining the El Coyote  Expedition, or would like to receive extended details for the tour, please  email jake@newmexicoblackrange.com and additional driver/equipment requirements and registration information will be provided. Or send a message through the contact page.