September 24, 2007 -

In the middle of the southern New Mexico desert rises the Sierra Blanca mountain range. This is the shortest distance between Texas and skiing. The Billy the Kid Trail is a lopsided trianglular route described by US 70 in the southern leg, US 380 in the eastern leg, and NM 48 in the west. Featured places are Ruidoso and Capitan where Texans haul their monster trailers for a break from the endless flatlands. In September, there is a huge rally of the unofficial New Mexico State Vehicle, the Harley Davidson, called the Golden Aspen Motorcycle Rally. When the leaves change the scenery is particularly striking. The map does not show the trip well, but you can start and finish anywhere on the loop, Capitan, Hondo, Ruidoso. Watch out for traffic on holiday weekends, but the scenerys worth the ride.