For the past 3 days I have been riding up on Zuni Mountain east of Gallup, NM out of internet coverage.
Friday I drove up to Hilso TH, formerly known as Quaking Aspen. My previous visit 2 years ago the TH was unimproved. Today a defined parking lot and pit toilet make a completed look. No camping. I drove a short distance back the FS road and found a spot for the night. No cell coverage.
Sat AM I drove back to the TH where I saw several guys getting ready for a ride. I passed to drive up to this cabin that Jack told me about. I had the guy’s phone number. I called the number b4 leaving coverage. I wrote down what I thought was his name. He answered, I called him by that name, he said I’m not that guy. Right number, wrong name, but the right guy. I found the cabin. I wrote a note on my card and stuck it in the door jamb.
I drove back to the TH where the guys were still getting ready for their ride. I didn’t know any of them. I asked if I could join their ride. One guy said he had read about me and sure, a famous person could join them. 2 hard tail 29ers. Their intent was to ride a 50 mile loop. I wasn’t good for that much. Trail elevation is 8,000′ and I am not conditioned to the thin air. We took off riding Quasimodo which I remembered from previous visit. Guys were kind as we stopped for breaks and they waited for me @ the intersections. Trails are much better ridden in. Great trails in open P-pine forest. I lasted 26 miles and 2793′ of climbing in 3 1/2 hrs of riding, Edge 305 reported 3008 cals burned. I spent 52 minutes anaerobic. What a hump.
Back @ the TH I found a note on my driver’s window. I was invited back to the cabin where I introduced myself to Bill, the correct name for the phone number. He slowly recalled that conversation. he and 2 other guys, Jack and another are co-owners of a restored cabin in little community of McGaffey, formerly a sawmill town from the 30s. Turns out that Bill was the main driver for the trails @ Hilso. He shared his efforts that added to my knowledge base on getting approval and sustainability from various public agencies. Main trick for getting a trail approved is building an alliance w/ orgs that are charged w/ generating revenue. He invited me on Sunday’s group ride. We chatted for a while then I left for my camp spot.
Sunday I drove back to the cabin. More riders showed. The cabin is like a mtn bikers’ club house. Jack arrived. I thanked him for introducing me to Bill. Jack told me where the hide a key is @ his house in Gallup so i could let myself in for a shower.
Bill rides a rigid single speed 29er. Of the bunch my bike is built the sturdiest, consequently the heaviest. Our group fractured almost at the start as Jack wanted to do hard riding where the others wanted a more comfortable ride. I followed speedy Jack, again he waited for me @ intersections. We rode up Quaking Aspen over the newly constructed and placed cattle guard that Bill built. We rejoined the group where Jack split off for his training ride. The rest of us motored on another route @ a slower pace. Bill kept up his dialog on trail features etc. There is a wonderful system of trails out here.
Our ride was more social than yesterday’s hammer. Still, we rode 19 miles in 2 1/2 hrs climbing 1622′. Burned 2380 cals. Ride finished riding a fence line in a pasture. picture indicates what this flat mtn terrain looked like:
Upon returning to the cabin there were more riders hanging around socializing & drinking beers. They all know each other. Bill is a retired builder who was mostly responsible for restoring the cabin to inhabitable conditions. He said the cabin is on the national historic registration.
Jack again extended his shower offer down in Gallup. I needed to get groceries in town also. He had a dinner date and couldn’t visit w/ me. I drove the bumpy 8 miles of pavement to I-40 then to his house where i let myself in using the hidden key. I remembered jack’s house from 2 years ago and have thought about it frequently for my ideas. Bill did the remodeling. Drove back up to camp spot near cabin for a Monday ride.
Monday I joined Bill & wife Marcy along w/ John who remembered me loaning him a shock pump just before he started his ride 2 years ago, and Albert & Becky. Albert mentioned he owned a bike store in Gallup and I immediately remembered talking w/ him 2 years ago on a newly constructed trail. This ride was a long gravel road drive further out the spine of Zuni mtn. Our ride was Surfing the Ribicon and a long stretch of slick rock. Trails were mostly cattle trails. Easy ride. What mountain scenery.
Slick rock patch:
Today’s ride was even more social. back @ the TH we jabbered while drinking beer. late afternoon. Made it back to cabin around 7:00. I bid adieu and drove back to camp spot.
Today i am driving to Aztec, NM just below Durango, CO.
This traveling is a hard thing to do as I meet people and establish a rapport, learn of upcoming events that sound neat, then I leave to move on. Potentially there are more people out there to meet then leave.
I am getting a home blood testing machine and service for my coumadin dosage. last week’s test was 1.5 which was too low. The home testing will better assure correct levels. Will cost me $54 / month for weekly testing.
Dirt Rag has contacted me to contribute info on lesser know trails in America that I have ridden.
Computer battery exhausted, need to move on to Aztec. More maybe later.
I wrote the above around Thoreau, NM, locals pronounce it “throw”. I crossed to the eastern side of the continental divide. North, outside of Thoreau, I crossed back to the western side where I said I would spend this year. Windy, now it is a cross wind. Some rough road. As I approached Farmington I understood its name source as I saw stolen water irrigating green fields. Farmington is a large community complete w/ mall sprawl. Plan is to find bike shop in Aztec to learn about Alien Run trail. Found Cottonwood cycles who recently hosted a Turner demo. The shop owner dropped Pivot and took on Turner. He bought a Sultan and threw back the Pivot. He said he noticed an improved performance. He’s grooving on the Turner.
I bought a map of Alien Run and Phil’s world just north of here in Cortez, CO where I rode last year.
Bulk filtered h2o is more expensive where h2o is more plentiful. In Sedona it was .25 per gallon, Gallup was .30, Farmington inside the Safeway was . 41 per gallon. I drink filtered h2o and fill my h2o tank w/ it. I do not like Chlorine taste.
Drove out of town to Alien Run TH. Route left hard road to gravel road treated w/ a palliative then on to dirt roads that show rain ruts. Forecast is for possible rain. I hope to get in my ride tomorrow and dash if it rains. Camp is in cattle grazing and among the oil extraction machinery. I hear the pumps pumping and smell the vapors. One day here is enough. Sunset was affected by a bldg complex w/ maybe 10 high intensity lights lighting up the sky.
Looks like my blood clotting testing machine will be delivered while I am in Durango should I stay long enough.
Seem to have a chest cold that affects my breathing. Headache is gone. I can only take Tylenol type pain relief to lessen the blood thinning properties of aspirin and nsais.
Camped in sage desert.
Continuing my effort to download a 63 page instruction manual from my phone to my laptop where I will load into a thumb drive and take to a printing place to print the darn thing. It is for the Quickoffice.
Drove No