With the new day and knowing that I was splitting the ride with Sarah, Daren and I headed out towards Cuba. The steep descent we had into camp yesterday was a steep climb this morning, but no problem today. After a mile and a half, we started a spectacular descent through a rock lined canyon, that put smiles on our faces. I topped out at 43.5 miles per hour, and didn't even fear for my life! We leveled out through the town of Cuba and continued on the pavement alternate to the route at a good clip of 15-20mph. In this part of New Mexico, the route builders give alternatives to the dirt because during monsoon season, which this is, most of the dirt becomes unridable. We continued on toward the well known(just kidding) town of Pueblo Pintado. The mountains and trees immediately gave way to dry dessert and few rock formations as the temperature started to climb. At 40 miles, the unique rock formations were back and at 42 miles and the start of a long hot climb, my day was done. Sarah and Silas met us on the side of the road just past another popular town, Torreon. I felt a little guilty about Sarah starting out on a climb, but she's young(about to be older Aug 29th, 33??), and Daren is always strong.
Silas and I headed up the road in Rocky. We saw after the long climb, the old familiar hot, dry desert. After waiting at a designated meeting point for an hour, I decided to backtrack toward them, thinking that they might be incredibly miserable and wanting to call it. I was right. It was a miserable ride for them. Daren at this point had 63 miles and Sarah 21, good enough! We had planned all along to drive from Pueblo Pintado to Grants and the Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave anyway, so cutting it 5 miles or so short didn't seem like a big deal.
We headed to a region near Grants called El Malpais which is Spanish for "bad lands." The reason it is called this, is that the lava flows that came from the Bandera Volcano, extend 23 miles leaving very sharp, and jagged lava or "A" lava. Early sheep herders called this area the "devils playground." Here the Bandera Volcano and Ice Cave is located. The history of the volcano and ice cave is very interesting and long, and I will not try to explain it all here, but to say it is an incredible geological sight! The ice remains in one of the lava tubes near the volcano. The lava is an excellent insulator and as rain water and snow melt seep into this cave it freezes. The cave never goes above 31 degrees. There is a frozen pool at the base of the cave that is 21 feet deep, covered in an arctic algae that is green. Many years of natives, explorers, railroad workers etc have chipped away at the wall ice. Imagine being in the hot dry desert and coming upon this cave!
After hiking the volcano and the ice cave, we headed to Grants for the night. We met a couple of guys from Vancouver Island who were riding the Divide on dirt bikes. They're both 70 years old, pretty funny and incredibly tough. One guy is from New Zealand, the other from England, so needles to say, pretty fun to listen to.
More pics here
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