Day 3 Storm wipe out

Riding the trails

After breaking camp at around 7:30 we had a lovely start to the ride for about 2 miles along the valley floor, before we turned sharp right up a monster climb – it was a gift that kept on giving. I was able to grind up it in my granny gear, but the two lads hike-a-biked to the summit. It was a cool but dry morning, which was great after the rains last night. For hours we toiled up mountain and down valley. It was getting discernibly colder as we crossed the 10,500ft mark and altitude sickness was becoming more evident in the group. Jake particularly was having a tortuous time of it, plus being super exhausted from previous days tribulations. We met a large New Mexico family out camping with this amazing base camp set up, but it was getting colder and the rain had started. We decided to push on to get a bit lower but a quick map check revealed there was no ‘lower’ …..only higher! The hard compact gravel gave way to near unrideable trail. Jake was in a world of pain, so I stayed with him to distract him a little. By now the rain and sleet was persistent, but it was only 18 miles in to today’s expected 37 miles. But Mother Nature and the Divide laugh in the face of such plans. We had no option but to find a camp ground and pitch up. This was duly achieved in a designated camp site – no water but a drop toilet block.

Jake was almost hypothermic and not making much sense, so the decision was made to get a fire going and stay. Also at the campground were a grandfather and son camping, and on quickly realising our condition, provided coffee and coke. We got the fire going and then individually we crashed in our tents to relax. We all ate in the toilet block as it was the only place which blocked the howling wind and sleet! By 6 the fire was out and we were all crashed in our tents, shivering! I was so cold I broke out the emergency reflective sheet to cover my sleep bag. Only problem was that whilst it did its job the condensation created made the sleeping bag wet! But it was a warm wet! That was a long night!