NM52 to the Beaverhead Ranger station

After the TorC weekend I did some more route scouting for the future. The riders who did the Saturday road ride will recognize this sign. It’s at the juncture of NM 52 and NM 59 and points toward Beaverhead which is 30 miles out, at the end of the pavement. Beyond Beaverhead the roads are at best sometimes-graded dirt and at worst impassable. I confirmed that there **IS** running water at the end of the pavement at the ranger station. It appears to be on all weather faucets so they are not turned off for the winter. The pavement from the Burnt Cabin Flat toilets/turnaround is in excellent shape and would make a really good road ride for next year. 60 mile round trip from the Forest service entrance station to Beaverhead with almost no traffic. The only danger might be getting run over by the elk herds up there. They have no sense of decorum crossing the road.