2024 NMTA 2-day 'Velcro Rocks' Event at Oachado in the Mora Hogbacks - May 4 & 5
TAKEAWAY: I am looking to secure all four TMs by the January club banquet. Please volunteer and spread the word, like linking this page to the NMTA thread in the 'other place', thanks!
The April 2023 Les Falaises (lay-fah-lez) 1-day event and school run the day before by Chuck and Bill was a success. I was wondering if the club would ping me about an event in 2024, and about a month back dent, Jess called to see if I've be interested in hosting a 2024 event and asking if I'd want a 2-day. I said, "Heck yeah!" My plan has long been to host a second event, but instead of repeating at Les Falaises I wanted showcase Oachado (oh-ah-sha-dew), near Mora, 2-1/2 hour drive from Albuquerque (Les Falaises was 1-3/4h). We discussed dates and settled so far on May 4 & 5 (to be finalized at the January banquet). May in that location and altitude should be clear of winter, and not yet hot. Read: perfect!
Jess was surprised that I didn't also want to TM one of the four events. Normally I would, but the Les Falaises event was under the usual labor shortage. Setting an event on a virgin property ended up as a mostly one-man army effort, and I'm not getting any younger. The few guys who came days before and helped and also those who helped the day before saved my ass!
I am more prepared in advance instead of less. I decided when showcasing Oachado, another event virgin, to concentrate on every thing else, and return, make life MUCH easier for those who sign up as TMs. I'll have fully marked loop trails by mid March, before TM first visits.
As for working section areas, I have done huge work on this second property spanning 3 years, with much section-area work already done. There is a lot to choose from that is like the above photo: very interesting and already accessible.
WHAT TMs SHOULD KNOW
While I won't be a TM, I'll certainly be around to help. And I'll be doing a bunch of what TMs are normally saddled with, like loop trail and having to clear a bunch of section areas. Oachado may be an event-virgin property, it's NOT an trials-virgin property. It's been worked on and ridden A LOT, and I plan to have fully marked loop trail by mid March. Given most section areas are more open like the above photo, the TMs won't have some crazy amount of clearing work. I've done a lot of that already, and there's SO much to choose from. If a TM is really enamored by some area that has not been worked, and really wants develop that section area, fine. But on the whole there won't be a ton of clearing. Also, after a first visit by two or more TMs, how to get there and how to get in will be known and I won't have to be there. TMs will be able to leave camper there too. My only rule is no one day trips, camps, or rides alone!
I think it given my setup work that it will be possible for any TM to mark a quality event in as little as two working days. I will show every TM around and provide guidance on section areas suitable to their event. I have a flag-based methods for TMs to claim section areas so other TMs won't 'steal' them. Once minor clearing and riding in and and thinking is done, it will be possible to return later and mark an event in one working day.
NMTA club communication isn't easy. It doesn't help that I'm still too pissed to return to the 'other place.' Someone please link this page to the 'other place' so the word can go out that I need TMs.