Date(s): Oct. 6, 1999
Day: Wednesday
Rest day in Gila Hot Springs
Weather: Warm, scattered clouds
Temp: mid 80's
Everyone needed a rest day today, although some rested more than
others. Most of us rode our unloaded bikes to the Gila Cliff
Dwellings, a national monument. It was 10 miles round trip, but was an
easy ride. Cyndi was the only one to walk. The dwellings are set into
the cliff of a narrow valley containing a perennial stream that feeds
the Gila River. The dwellings are actually natural caves that have
been supplemented with walls made of stone and mortar. I rode over
with Bob and Todd, and we hiked the 1-mile trail that gave us a view
of the dwellings from below before we climbed up stone steps. 
Visitors are allowed to walk into the
dwellings, which are much cooler than the outside air. A group of
rangers were having their own tour, discussing new findings about the
age of the dwellings (1280's vs, 1270's). About 70 people lived there
for only 20 or so years, moving on for some unknown reason, probably
related to a long drought during that time.
Since it was my turn to cook, and my partner, Tod, had decided not to take the dwellings side trip, I needed to do the shopping and haul groceries back to camp. Janet, Lynne, Spike, and Todd were all at the store and offered to help with the load. Back at camp we worked on our bikes, Janet working her wonders on Suzanne's generator lights by improvising a critical part. Dinner consisted of me boiling water for spaghetti, and opening cans of fruit for fruit salad. I think we are all rested and ready for the climb out of here, a very steep 7 miles. The following day we climb Emory Pass and cross the Continental Divide for the last time, and finish the major climbs of the trip. Tomorrow we plan to stop in Mimbres.
Other highlights of the rest day:
An avalanche on the cliff opposite our camp, caused by 2 hikers out
for a day hike. Bruno watched it all from the river, large boulders
falling 20 feet away; Jimmy yelling down to us from the top of the
cliff, having climbed nearly the same path, but without the excitement
of before; and the herd of horses grazing through camp, people running
to defend their tents and to get their cameras for a picture. [Thanks
to Lynne for the above photo of the cliff opposite our camp.]