Steve Butters Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 (edited) Went for a ride out to The Devil's Highway a couple weekends back. Here's some pics from the trip, it was a blast. However, people praise this as one of the best motorcycle roads, but I tend to disagree. It was breath taking when it comes to scenic value...But pretty much 90 miles of constant curves with 1000+ ft drops and pretty much zero guardrails anywhere. Too much risk to really enjoy leaning it over too far. We had fun none the less!Headed out on a friday afternoon and setup camp when we got there. Campgrounds were pretty secluded, and happened to be in an area with free range cows. About 10 of them decided to barge through our campsite and wake us up in the morning.Next day we hit the road for a day of riding! Drove through a couple small mining towns which was pretty cool, and then hit the road. We drove the bike and the car into town, to get more firewood, then left the car at a grocery store while we rode. Edited December 3, 2013 by Steve Butters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted December 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 The road had some awesome areas, like this one.....Then we came into a grassy meadow which was neat. Perfect pavement, straight with some mild curves...Got to open it up a little bit which was nice after doing 35 for the first 20 miles of this roadThen back into the woods....Reminded me of Ohio all over again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted December 3, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 Then we found the snow.....WTF....I moved to AZ to escape this nonsense...Carnage from an old forest fireCrazy having so much open space..Headed back...it got cold by the time we headed back...we were pretty much ready to get back to camp and build a fireOverall a very fun trip! The road wasn't what I expected from a riding standpoint, but overall, it was way more incredible than any place ive ever been. It transitioned from different landscapes and sceneries all the time...It was amazing. I definitely recommend checking it out if youre ever in the area, even if its just in a car. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drc32-0 Posted December 3, 2013 Report Share Posted December 3, 2013 Nice pics! You gotta admit that free range cattle barging through you're campsite sure beats free range bears. I rode 191 back in April on my way to California....it was one of about 5 roads that I wanted to ride on that trip.I really enjoyed it,the different terrain(mountains,forest,meadows) and some excellent riding,especially the 30 miles or so north of the mine.Very fun!!! Thanks for bring back some memories. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Strictly Street Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Great pics! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Looks like you stayed near Morenci / Clifton area if you were near the big mine. Did you ride it upto Alpine? When we ride it we do a loop down through NM. I love that road even though the area between the mine and meadow is pretty scetchy but that makes it fun. Also I like how little traffic you see out there. Tail of the Dragon area and the areas I rode in Colorado were awesome but also loads of traffic. My buddies and I try to ride 191 at least twice a year. I'll hit you up next time we head up there. Gotta agree the free range cattle beat the hell outta the bears, mountain lions, elk and big horn sheep that live in the area. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted December 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 (edited) Looks like you stayed near Morenci / Clifton area if you were near the big mine. Did you ride it upto Alpine? When we ride it we do a loop down through NM. I love that road even though the area between the mine and meadow is pretty scetchy but that makes it fun. Also I like how little traffic you see out there. Tail of the Dragon area and the areas I rode in Colorado were awesome but also loads of traffic. My buddies and I try to ride 191 at least twice a year. I'll hit you up next time we head up there. Gotta agree the free range cattle beat the hell outta the bears, mountain lions, elk and big horn sheep that live in the area.Yea we stayed off of 78 at blackjack campgrounds...14mi from Clifton...We got a late start (didn't take into account how long it takes to do 90 miles that slow)... We got mostly to alpine but turned around about 20 miles before we got there because it was snowy and cold and we dressed for 80s in Clifton lol... Plus didn't wanna ride that road in the dark coming back, which ended up happening anyways lol... The portion between meadow and the mine is pretty sketchy... We took it easy there, not trying to fall hundreds of feet to a fiery death lol Edited December 4, 2013 by Steve Butters Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 The route from Alpine South into New Mexico is pretty nice and open with nice sweepers. The thing about that road especially near the mine is the curves will start to open up and be real easy building your confidence then all of the sudden you come up on one tgat is way tighter than you expected it to be. It can be a deceptive road and due to its remoteness if you need medical intention its going to be a while until you find cellphone reception and even longer until help can get there. The best time to go is early summer before its too hot and there's been enough traffic to clear the crap off the road. After the monsoon season the road gets a lot of debri on it. By the time it gets cleared the pine trees start dropping needles and it gets cold up there. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted December 4, 2013 Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 I just noticed you took a picture at the motorcycles use caution sign. We always take it extra slow through that area. A few years back before I got down here my friends went on a big group ride up there. One guy convinced his daughter's boyfriend to go even though he was very new to riding. When they hit the s curves north of Clifton the kid blew one by locking up the brakes and sliding into one of the driveways for the mine. My buddy told the guy who brought him and the kid they should turn back because it was dangerous and he didn't have enough experience. The kid agreed and was going to go back but his girlfriends dad pressured him into staying. After riding the area with the drop offs the kid started gaining confidence and trying to play catch up. When he got to the curves that now have the "motorcycles use caution" or "motorcycles slow down" signs and the flashing light he went in too quick. He locked up the rear again and went straight off the road and hit one of those big boulders head on. He hit hard enough to knock his helmet off. My buddy was a combat medic and current EMT and was giving him CPR for as long as he could. He passed it off to two other guys when he became exhausted and they all tried to revive him but they never could. It took over 4hrs to get a squad there but there was nothing anyone could have done to save him. One of my friends that was on that ride still won't go back up there. I guess several motorcyclists have died on that curve and thats why they put the signs up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted December 4, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 4, 2013 Wow that's a crazy story... But honestly I'm no surprised... That road seems like a very easy road to kill yourself on Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted December 5, 2013 Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 We are probably going to do a ride there in the spring then again in the fall. If your interested ill let you know when we get it locked in. We normally leave from Benson and ride as a group to Clifton. We gas up at the circle k in clifton then everyone kinda spreads out to their own pace. We normally stop once or twice before alpine. We get lunch in Alpine then head down through New Mexico. Then over to Safford and then south to 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted December 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 How many miles is that? I'll probably go. Sounds quite painful on the ass though lol... Although, I probably wouldn't have a passenger so I could be a little more comfortable this time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted December 5, 2013 Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 I think it works out to 400 miles or so. But all the moving around on the bike helps a lot. The worst stretchs are on 10. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steve Butters Posted December 5, 2013 Author Report Share Posted December 5, 2013 Sounds fun, I'm in! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantahertzdonut Posted January 12, 2014 Report Share Posted January 12, 2014 When do you think you'll do the spring ride? At the moment I think we'll be back in AZ around mid March and I'd love to ride 191 with a group. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted January 21, 2014 Report Share Posted January 21, 2014 Right now it is tentatively for the end of May. If you go to early the roads will be covered with debri from the melting snow. But if its cleared up enough when you get out here we can set something up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantahertzdonut Posted January 29, 2014 Report Share Posted January 29, 2014 Will let you know. I had an interview in FL the other day that went really well so I might be moving there. Maybe I'll have some vacation time and could make it out? Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantahertzdonut Posted February 19, 2014 Report Share Posted February 19, 2014 The FL job fell through. It turns out they like to make unreasonable requests of new employees, then not want to hear about negotiations. I passed and couldn't feel better about it. We're still in Austin and will start moving westward by mid March. I think we'll spend some time in NM before returning to AZ. Barring any life-changing events, making the ride in late May should be a breeze. Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
drc32-0 Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 NM...if you haven't been to Carlsbad Caverns,you might want to check them out...pretty impressive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantahertzdonut Posted February 20, 2014 Report Share Posted February 20, 2014 That is our plan. We hoped to go there along with Guadalupe Mountains NP when we came to TX, but the weather was way too cold. Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantahertzdonut Posted March 13, 2014 Report Share Posted March 13, 2014 Is late May still a go? We're making travel plans and I want to make sure this is still happening. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted March 19, 2014 Report Share Posted March 19, 2014 Yes it I have vacation days scheduled for it may 23 and 24th. So it'll be one of those days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantahertzdonut Posted April 12, 2014 Report Share Posted April 12, 2014 Bugger all. My plans have been forced to change. Dad is getting cancer treatment in May so I need to go to Cleveland for most of the month. I'm going to have to pass on riding with you guys. For what it's worth, we're going to Silver City, NM next week for one week. It's close enough to 191 I will attempt a ride myself next week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
cOoTeR Posted April 29, 2014 Report Share Posted April 29, 2014 Just saw this post. Are you still in NM? Sorry to hear about your dad. Best of luck man. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wantahertzdonut Posted June 6, 2014 Report Share Posted June 6, 2014 I haven't been on here in forever hence the late reply.We left NM on May 1 and were in Phoenix for 5 days before we flew to Cleveland. Just got back this past Monday but flew to Seattle for a wedding this weekend. Will return to Phoenix Monday night. Did you guys do the ride? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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