Originally Posted by
david58
Helps a lot. More encouraged the more responses I see.
We hope, HOPE, to live west of LA in the Jemez Springs zip code - 45 min or so from LA, closer if we find the right place. We have dogs that need space, and there just ain't places with acreage in LA. Not interested in anything to the east or south.
If we can get in the Jemez mtns, we have access to lots of mtn roads for riding, and I am seeing that there is some riding close enough to keep my road bike unlimbered. No commute like I used to do, that just simply isn't happening.
Thanks!!!
Curious at the thought process as to why the Jemez ?. West of LA the only paved road is Rt 4 and a little bit of Rt 128 thru the Jemez. Just heads up that for road rides you are 18 miles one-way down to Rt 550 and 30 over the hills to Rt 501 at the LA "back gate" as the junction there is called. So you would be needing to get used to riding a lot of Rt 4. Rt 128 is only paved for a bit, then it's dirt down to Cuba. There is however, literally a ton of Nat'l Forest fire roads that are in good shape for cross/gravel grinding, as well as a ton of single track for mt. biking. You could live here the rest of your life and never get bored exploring the area.
But also be aware that Rt 4 just east of the Valley Caldera is up at 8800 ft and gets snow in the winter (they close the road sometimes in bad weather). The road down off the high point to the Rt 501 junction is a crappy and narrow and twisty road that I would not want to do in a snow storm, which is common in this area (this is your commuting route to LA). Lot of accidents on that stretch of road.
If it were me ?, I'm not sure I'd be moving directly to as remote an area as Jemez Springs or this area of the Jemez. It's a beautiful area, don't get me wrong, just a long distance from everything, there are zero services or towns excepting Jemez Springs and the hamlet at the junction of Rt 4 and Rt 128. Can't even think of a food store outside of the local general stores, or pharmacy, etc...
The entire area as well is very, very prone to forest fires currently given the extended drought that has been in place for the past 15 years or so. There have been 2 major fires on the eastern Jemez, one that burned thru parts of Los Alamos a few years back. I would make this a factor in living in an area where the (very dry) woods are 30 ft out the front door and where there are campgrounds and a lot of cabins and folks in the woods.
I can recommend the area south of Espanola or in the Pojoaque/Nambe area, there's plenty of places to rent until you get a feel for the area before you might want to buy and it's not too far up to Los Alamos.
Just some thoughts.
SB