07:42 Pagosa Springs, CO 2 days 16:21 (includes 3hr rest break)
11:06 Chama, NM 2 days 19:45
15:15 Antonito, CO 2 days 23:54 983.2 miles covered
9:00PM EDT Tuesday Race Time
Mexican Hat to Montezuma Creek, UT
There are lots of very challenging climbs and descents along this portion of the route, but with beautiful scenery.Elevation about 4,500ft.
Montezuma Creek, UT to Cortez, CO
This is a wonderful road that meanders around Ute Mountain using ranch roads.Mark and Sanz Garcia were very close together here, and after Mark's quick stop in the RV at about 4:00pm Race Time, the two with their Follow Vehicles were within a half mile of each other.Mark is riding very strongly and was good humoured.He is wearing long sleeves to protect against the sun and the mid-80's heat.The roads in this section are narrow, windy, up-and-down, very picturesque, perhaps a little bumpy in spots.Elevation moving up to 6,000ft by Cortez.Mark arrived in Cortez at 6:48pm Race Time.
Ismay Trading Post Road just after Montezuma Creek
Jon Jahont - the man with the healing hands
Cortez to Durango
The best part of this section is the long descent into Durango from the Hesperus Hill summit of 8,414ft down to Gateway Park at 6,479ft.Mark is expected shortly.On leaving Durango he will have completed 814 miles.
We saw the fixed wheel team coming down the big descent as well as the Canadian woman from Huntsville, Ont.
Durango, CO to Pagosa Springs, CO
Detail about Mark's trip ended as he came into Durango on a beautiful evening and quaffed down some soup and started off to Pagosa Springs.
The RV resupplies Mark and Follow vehicle in Durango
Dan Medina - crewing the Follow Vehicle
Mark and the RV crew rode this section of the route on a PacTour Transcontinental and so were aware (vaguely) of the terrain.It is very scenic, with ups and downs and a gradual 24 mile up to Pagosa Springs, from about 6,400 ft to 7,600ft.Night settled in about 14 miles from Durango.At that time Mark and Sanz Garcia were very close together, so it was easy to offer encouragement to them both as we stopped here and there.The RV is not allowed to pass the rider more than four times in one hour and so were able to enjoy the night.At the 45 mile mark, we had a 30 minute wait near the Piedra River and listened to the sounds of bullfrogs, crickets and the RV cooling.The night was starlit and the moon half full.It was quiet, cool and a little breezy.Mark slowed down during the night, and a little before the time station, he stopped and Jon massaged his legs before he slept. (Jon, our massage crew, had been waiting for Mark to arrive and luckily was able to come down to us quickly.)Sanz Garcia was about 500 ft in front of Mark before Mark stopped. Both the Follow Vehicle and RV crews dozed along with Mark with several alarms set so we would get up.However, we had found a McDonald's parking lot off the highway that was very quiet, and about 5:00am the employees started coming wanting their parking space.Luckily this was about the time Mark wanted to get up so we quickly, but ceremoniously, exited Mark by 7:30am race time so the McDonald's employees could start work.About 2 miles down the road, Mark signed in to Time Station 15.742 miles were completed at this time station.
1:28PM EDT Wednesday Race Time
Mark arrived 1 mile prior to the Pagosa Springs Time Station - just behind Julian Sanz Garcia - where he decided, after several bouts of halucinations, to take a 3hr rest break. He was on the road again at first light clearing the Pagosa Springs TS at 7:42AM on his way to Chama, NM. The road ahead reaches the highest point on the RAAM route this year - over 10,000 ft.
Mark climbing out of Pagosa Springs this morning
Pagosa Springs, CO to Chama, NM
Mark also did this section previously so may have had a recollection of the climb to Chama.He was slower than usual in this section.There are several good climbs and descents, but the climbs took him from about 7,600ft elevation to 7,700ft elevation.About 40 miles along, Mark crossed the Continental Divide and soon began following the historic railway towards Antonito.Chama is a terminus on the railway.Mark completed 934 miles on signing out of Time Station 16 in Chama.
Part of the crew had a hotel in Chama to get some rest.The RV tried at the same motel to no avail and at another whose just-got-out-of-bed tousled manager looked at me in askance when I said I wanted a room now, but only for a couple of hours.So the RV rolled on towards Antonito.
Chama, NM to Antonito, CO.
The last section to Chama was full of short rather tough climbs, but this section had only two long ones, the first paralleling the narrow gauge Cumbres and Toltec Scenic Railroad, so it is reasonably graded.The second reaches the highest point in RAAM, 2008 at 10,230 feet.Those who are altitude challenged, beware!
Although pretty tired, the beauty of the roadway and very cool temperatures kept the RV crew wide awake and taking pictures.There was still snow among the trees in the shade at 10,000ft.June runoff kept the streams quick running and the spectacular mountain scenery and high plains were breathtaking.
When we arrived in Antonito, we phoned to say that Mark would like the cool, the tailwinds, and the scenery, although the climbs were pretty long.
In Antonito, one of the Cumbres and Toltec trains was sitting on the track getting ready for the day's scenic run, smoke billowing from the stack.We had trouble getting the RV door open to get out because of the wind.We fought the wind to take pictures.And in the grocery store where we stopped to get insoles for Mark's shoes to relieve the pressure on his feet somewhat, the lady at the checkout said the winds were not usual, were very unusual and we wish they would stop!By the turn after Time Station 17 in Antonito, Mark had completed 983 miles.
4:30PM EDTWednesday Race Time
Mark has just passed through Antonito, CO (TS17). Currently battling fierce crosswinds which has reduced his speed to between 5 and 10mph! The wind is so strong that 4x4 sign supports have been seen to split in half!
The current wind advisory for the area is:
Wind Advisory is in effect from through 8 PM MDT this evening... Sustained southwest to west winds will increase to 25 to 35 mph by midday with gusts between 45 and 55 mph developing this afternoon. The strongest gusts can be expected across the higher terrain and from the central and northeast Highlands to the northeast plains. Winds will begin to diminish toward sunset. Sudden gusts of wind may cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Extra attention should be given to cross winds...especially on north south oriented highways. The strong winds may result in areas of reduced visibilities in blowing dust.
Antonito, CO to Taos, NM
At the turn in Antonito, the RV was well buffeted by the winds, and it was right windy for the next 30 miles with wide open spaces and no shelter.Jon saw the Canadian woman cyclist pushing her bike at one point, the winds were so strong.Strong cross winds and gusts are very tiring for cyclist, physically and mentally.We had hoped to stop in a turn off near the Rio Grande Gorge, but Terminator IV was being shot so we had to wait near the Gorge bridge and listen to the wind.The bridge was littered in dusty cars and tumbleweed for the film.We finally slept in Taos and waited for Mark.Mark had unkind words for the wind and went through Time Station 18 with 1,044 miles completed.The elevation descended from nearly 8,000ft to 7,000ft.
