Day 07 to Forest Road 225

"Chose your poison- gravel or washboard" -Tony's description of FR 150

41 miles, 3900 ft climbing

Today we began Forest Road (FR) 150, which would be our route the next 3 days. From the Mimbres valley, it climbed onto long forested ridges that separated the Gila Wilderness to the west and the Aldo Leopold Wilderness and Black Range to the east. This area was Leopold's first assignment with the Forest Service and became the first federally protected wilderness area in the 1920's. The CDT, of course, traversed the wilderness but since no mechanized transport is allowed in wilderness areas, we had to stick to the road.

We saw lots of wildlife, especially elk, but few people, only 4 vehicles all day. We siesta'd in Black Canyon, a little trickle of a stream, which was the first running water we'd come across since we started pedaling. We passed the afternoon playing cards and reading. John bested us in "Oh Hell". Cassi finished "Tale of Two Cities" and started "Catcher on the Rye". I scoured "Audobon's Field Guide to the SW", trying to identify the constantly changing flora, fauna and geology. A short walk along the stream brought me to a beaver dam with lots of signs of recent activity.

Before leaving that evening, to cool off, we soaked our salt encrusted shirts in the creek. Though cold and dripping wet when first put on they were dry before we'd finished the climb out of the canyon. Another pleasant evening ride took us to an old hunting camp at the junction of FR 150 and 225. Despite the day time heat, the night was near freezing, but we again slept sans tent to take in the full night sky.