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On the latest ACA GDMBR Map (BC-206-07) Section 6A at mile 39.2 it shows a store at NM 12 where you come off (nobo) or enter (sobo) the Plains of Agustin. It does not exist! It never has existed, and it probably will never exist in the future. I never believed that it did, and did not depend on it being there. I would have liked it if it had been there, but on the GDMBR you have to be prepared for whatever. If you are depending on this store being there, then you are going to be sorely disappointed.
Part of our group was really counting on a resupply there, and it was a real psychological downer when they discovered the error on the map. One of the consequences is that one member refused to eat and drink adequately and bonked badly on the 10 mile ride up to the Valle Tio Vences campground on Mangas Pass. When it became clear to me that an individual was headed to a possible medical emergency, I decided to press the "HELP" button on my SPOT.
Within an hour or so my wife made sure everyone in Catron County knew there was a bicyclist in need of assistance on Mangas Pass. Fortunately, at the top of Mangas Pass Dave's phone ("Can you hear me now?" - Verizon phone) had a strong signal. I called my wife and let her know I was fine. She had already contacted the Forest Service office in that district and was able to tell them where we were and that we were still moving - albeit slowly. A call went out on the Forest Service radio to rangers in the area to see if anyone could check on us. It seems everyone in Catron County monitors the Forest Service channel for information on fires and other juicy bits of news.
Within a couple of hours two members of our group were riding in the back seat of a big diesel pickup. They caught up to me about 20 miles south of Pie Town while I was making a repair. They offered me a ride, which I declined.
The main message here is: Be Prepared! The situation on the GDMBR is what it is. Be prepared to deal with it.
Sunday, June 1, 2008
It Is What It Is
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3 comments:
Interesting that food would be the big issue down there in NM and not water. (Although your pictures show that the water situation isn't ideal :-) This is actually one of the issues I have with the increasingly widespread use of SPOT. It can be tempting to use it in times when personal judgement may not be at its clearest. Bonking isn't a medical emergency (serious dehydration, however, is). But I'd be curious to hear more sometime on why you opted to push the help button. Did your friends really need outside help?
Anyway, sounds like the trip is rolling along. Have fun!
Hi Jill,
If you can go fast enough then neither food nor water are a big issue in NM.
With that said, there is food in Silver City, Mimbres, Pie Town, Grants, Cuba, Abiquiu, and El Rito. Then it gets scarce again until Del Norte, Colorado. That makes about 7 places in about 800 miles.
On a road bike that is no big deal, but on a mountain bike in the boonies over difficult terrain with the wind beating you up it is challenging.
I can usually find water. If you see cattle, then there is water within a couple of miles. You might not want to drink the water, but it can be filtered and/or treated.
However, when people are new to this kind of survival skill, then they are reluctant to trust the filtered/purified water. Every burp and fart is an indication to them that they drank some deadly brew.
At the first "spring" one of the guys told us that he tested his filter by pissing in a container and then filtering it. He said it tasted pretty good. I was kind of proud of him, but at the same time could not resist giving him a hard time about the weird smell I noticed on the car ride down to the border.
He explained that he figured we might be filtering water from some puddle that some animal had pissed or shit in, and actually that is true.
I will not admit how far I have gone to test my ability to survive without water. Needless to say, dead animals floating in the water and thick algae don't really bother me too much. I've tested my equipment and myself so it is no big deal.
Anyway, it was my judgment to press the Help button on the SPOT. I was neither dehydrated, nor bonking. My decision concurred with two other members of the group. My training and experience indicated to me that one of the older members of the group needed to be driven to Pie Town. I don't think the other one did, but that is just my opinion.
I intentionally started about 10 pounds overweight, but this older gentleman had no reserve fat. So eight consecutive days of hard riding eventually take a toll. I paced myself so that I have gotten stronger each day.
Logistically, NM is very tough for most people; especially older people like us. Multiply that by some number if they have never done much camping or have well-honed survival skills.
If pushing the Help button on the SPOT goes against someone else's judgment, then I will take the heat. I would rather ask for help than have an older person die because I misread the symptoms. To me the symptoms were leading to heatstroke, which are very difficult to reverse once the progression gets going. I pushed the button early enough and we took enough precautions so that pushing the 911 button was not necessary.
I just received a call from this gentleman and despite a complete reversal of his symptoms he has decided to terminate his ride with us through the rest of New Mexico.
I invited him to rejoin us in Colorado where the conditions are significantly better and where he could get support. I hope he takes me up on the offer. He is a strong rider regardless of his age, but this is no ride to be learning camping and survival skills. With sufficient support with meals and no load he could probably tear up the route.
He learned a lot about the route and about himself in a short period of time. At any age, learning about yourself is good stuff.
Ah, heat stroke. That can be very serious. I definitely understand.
I used to do a lot of backpacking around the Utah desert. I definitely know about filtering and drinking water out of questionable sources. Dead beaver? Sure! After a few days, you just don't care.
I ran out of water during the Iditarod race. Well, actually, it froze, but I went for most of a day without any hydration at all. The wind was blasting at 30 mph steady and gusting to 60. There was no wind protection and it would have been very difficult for me to fire up the stove to melt snow, and I decided that I was close enough (25 miles) to a town that it would be more prudent just to move on. Dehydration is definitely a different experience at 30 below than 90 above. But it's still very difficult, and very uncomfortable, especially when you are pushing so hard to (mostly walk) through sand-like powder snow in a tough headwind. (Honestly, it felt very much like trying to ride through impossible sand in the hot desert.) I have to admit that there are times that day when I was tired and addled and so thirsty, that had I seen a snowmachine, I would have been really tempted to ask for a ride. Or if I had a Spot, it would have been tempting to hit that help button. But I didn't actually need help. My judgement was a bit skewed, so, in hindsight, I'm glad I didn't have a chance to ask for help.
But it's good to see you're showing good judgement out there. After perusing your blog, I can't imagine there's many people more prepared for the GDMBR than you. Have fun!
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