The crisp mountain air still had a chill in it when we woke up at the Black Mesa hut on day 3. We wanted to get an early start because we had to ride about 40 miles (although mostly down hill) and it would get hot as we descended from the mountains to the high desert. For most of the morning we were treated to more mountain scenery. Our route took us northwest along a ridgeline overlooking Groundhog Reservoir to the south and the northwestern peaks of the San Juan Mountains to the north. Eventually we descend a mixture of double track and fire roads down to the Greager Flats. Miramonte Reservoir was the high light of the day. It was a hot flat slog its semi-clear blue waters. Water in the desert is magic and we were all overjoyed at its sight. Huge crawdads (we saw one that was 8 inches) with pinky toe-chopping claws patrolled the shoreline, but they were no deterrent to cooling off and cleaning up 3 days worth of sweaty funk. The comfortably cold water was sooo nice, the best swim I've had in years. After lunch, drying off, and Pepsi that Jean-Paul bummed off a ranger and surprised me with, we pressed on into the dust and heat. This was a huge mistake because we wouldn't find water again for 2 solid days and the heat would only get worse. If we were wise we would have chilled at the lake until early evening then motored to the hut just before dusk. Dry Creek Hut was true to its name. We were in the desert now, there was no cooler filled with perishables, only spam to eat amongst the cactuses and lizards surrounding the hut. The spam was surprisingly delicious, but had the unfortunate side effect of exacerbating an already volatile farting epidemic that was affecting the group. After a lazy afternoon on the porch we hiked up to a butte to watch the sunset over Disappointment Valley. I slept with Jean-Paul on the porch that night, but caffeine and waking up to my sleeping bag liner dancing over my head gusty winds sent me inside. I made the mistake of rolling into the bunk above Andrew. All night long I was awoken by the foul stench of his gas wafting up through the bunk. It was some of the worse gas I’ve smelt in my life, I guess I had it coming! Here are my notes from the day:
- Egg Burritos for Breakfast.
- Riding by 10:00.
- Started with moderate climb to 11,000 feet.
- 8 miles of ridgeline and views.
- Missed a turn, but not by much.
- 5000' of descending, Andrew flatted.
Getting Starting
Andrew's Bike
Enjoying the Mountains
Doug and Joni in Front of Groundhog Reservoir
- Couldn't wait to get to Miramonte Reservoir.
- Heat became a factor as we got lower.
- So funky and stinky, need to bath.
- Clear water, salivated at its sight.
- Ran into water, couldn't wait.
- WTF just bit my toe? Huge crawdad, I mean lobster!
- Water felt sooo good, best swim of the year!
- Stayed for a while, should have stayed longer.
- Pepsi - sooo good.
Jo on the Greager Flats
The Group
Alex and Jean-Paul at Miramonte Reservoir
Jo Refreshed
A Pepsi Finally
- Jean-Paul broke a cleat.
- Hot dusty climb to Sandys Fort Pass, felt strong.
- Dry Creek Hut hot, dry, dusty.
- Relaxed in shade on porch.
- Rode down to Dry Creek, it was dry - huge mistake.
Dry Climb to Sandys Fort Pass
Andrew Topping Out
Chillin' at Dry Creek Hut
Spam - Delicious
Cactus in John's Leg
Horned Lizard
- Hiked up to butte, watched sunset.
- Bed early to wake up at 5:30 to beat the heat.
- Slept on porch with Jean-Paul, stars were amazing.
- Left after spooked by dancing sleeping bag liner.
- Horrible gas inside hut, Andrew.
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