Pueblo Pintado

On my way home from the Chuska Challenge I stayed quite north of I-40, and for awhile I was on the alternate route of the GDMBR between Cuba and Grants, New Mexico. The Pueblo Pintado ruins are 1.7 miles off route, but well worth the detour if you have the time and ambition.

On GDMBR Map 5B on the Chaco Alternative somewhere near mile 53 (on the map) there is a marked sign to Chaco Canyon. If you are southbound then about a 1/4 mile past that are some large, tall water towers and another unmarked turn to the north. That is the turn to the Pueblo Pintado ruins. At first the dirt road seems like it is just headed for some house trailers to the west, but then it turns more northerly and curves around past the dirt track to the ruins on a little knoll.



This shot is looking back to the water towers where you turn from the main road (center of picture). Click to enlarge.



Watch out for rattlesnakes in the warm months.



A house on the hill.

Definitely click to enlarge and be able to read the description of the site.

Chuska Challenege 2008

The 2008 (14th) Chuska Challenge was progressing well until the rains came in. In the early afternoon the roads and trails were getting slippery, and then slick. Finally they became barely passable.



After slogging through mud for a couple of hours, around 5 pm, the main mission became to keep from getting hypothermia. Even in my Canadian military style jacket and high tech clothes I was starting to get cold whenever I stopped moving for more than a few minutes. Many of the participants just wore cotton jeans and sweat shirts with sneakers. Only a few had any kind of rain gear. Some of the kids were starting to get really cold.

The Navajo Rangers and others were starting to make their way to us through the mud in four-wheel drive pickups and one ATV. After loading my bike onto the back of an already full pickup I hitched a ride on the back of a four-wheeler (ATV). Along the way we picked up a shivering young man and stuck him between the driver and me to warm him up. Then we came upon a bonfire. We got off to warm up. More and more vehicles starting arriving to aide in the rescue operation. No one got hurt and we all got out safely.










These are some tough people, with excellent back country survival skills. There was never any anger; just lots of wonderful smiles and a willingness to help each other. What a great experience!

My camera stopped working due to mud and moisture about 2/3 of the way through the course. The above pictures are from Tom Riggenbach and below is a copy of an email from him. If you are charitably inclined, then please consider making a donation to this very worthy cause.

Good evening all, Though it's doubtful that the memories of Chuska weekend are likely to fade anytime soon, I thought I would send you all a few pictures of the adventure. [The photos will come in two batches of eight.] We're thankful for everyone coming out and supporting the cause, and really appreciate everyone keeping a great attitude through the challenge. The team spirit that you all exhibited - folks lending a hand any way that they could to make sure their fellow riders make it back safely . . . . that was an awesome thing to see! Ahehe to you all for that. If anyone would still like to make a donation to the cause or get your friends to do so, the Chuska fund-raising page is still open. It's at www.firstgiving.com/chuska2008. The race for the rug will end after the weekend. Right now, Dave Dunton is the top pledge collector, with just over $300 in pledges. Also, the final rug from the auction is still available at the Y.E.S. Trading Post, which can be found on the Y.E.S. website at http://www.navajoyes.org/. The Trading Post has lots of Navajo art, Grand Canyon prints and tons of outdoor gear! Check it out. Makes for some good holiday shopping, too. Thanks again for your participation and support. And a hearty thank you to our sponsors - Single Track Bikes of Flagstaff, BHP Billiton (Navajo Mine) and Ted's Shed of Kickapoo. Major thanks also to all the Chuska volunteers, the entire and amazing Y.E.S. board, the Navajo Rangers and Dine' College! Our year-round outings and programs for youth just got a major boost because of your support. The 15th Chuska is set for Saturday, October 10. Hope to see you all then! Take care. - Tom

Adobe Bike

I just got back from the Chuska Challenge and it took me four hours to clean up my bike and gear. We were out in the Chuska Mountains in the Navajo Nation just northeast of Canyon de Chelly in northeastern Arizona. My camera lens cover stopped working after my second wipe out in the mud so I was not able to document the whole experience. Despite having to be rescued out of the mud I had a great time and will write it up as soon as I can. In the meantime consider these photos.

This shot was the next day about half way home after I cleaned enough mud off to barely be able to lift the bike on to the rack. The camera dried out and started working again so I was able to document the mud. Keep in mind that there was actually 3-4 times as much mud on the bike. Every spoke was full so that it looked like a solid wheel. The tire looked several times larger. The brakes did not work. At one point another Chuska Challenger joked that it looked like I had a Harley. It really did look and feel that way too! I could barely lift the front wheel out of the bottom of the ruts. At times I would have to dig the mud off the wheels about every ten feet just to be able to push ten more feet.



I was having a little trouble shifting. Others noted that their chains were skipping too.









I hate to sound like a whiner, but my brakes were not working too hot either!



Oh, one last thing. I had some difficulty clipping in. In fact, I could not even find the pedals!!



Fortunately, the directions where clear ... well at least before I started carrying a stout stick on my handlebar bag to help clear of the mud every few feet so that the wheels could turn.



Every epic journey requires an Epic Designs frame bag.



Meanwhile, my wife was tracking my progress (or lack thereof) on my SPOT account. She was particularly interested to see whether I would be able to get back home today. I run the Spot on the dashboard so that she can see where I am and what route I am taking. It performed like a champ despite the conditions. I did not signal for a rescue, but the Navajo Rangers were amazing. They got us all out in about three hours; just before dark.





Riders were abandoning their bikes, because they could not push them or lift them out of the mud. A couple of boys were getting hypothermic. I pulled some warm clothes out of my Mary Poppins bag to share, and a Navajo fellow got a bonfire going while we awaited rescue. The fire was so hot that it melted one kid's helmet like a marshmallow from about three feet away. Fortunately he was not wearing it at the time.

I wish the camera was working, because it was an amazing event as well as a tremendous full body workout. I also really enjoyed being out there with the Navajo men and women, and seeing how they react to stress. It was very impressive. Everyone just calmly supported each other and took care of the kids. More later...