Great Divide MTB Route - Day 3 - Silver City, NM
Date: June 17, 2019
I woke up at the crack of dawn to make sure temperatures were cool as I made my way to Silver City. The morning was beautiful and I could feel that I had gained a couple thousand feet of elevation from the start of the ride. Hilly desert landscape fell out behind me as I crossed the Continental Divide several times keeping to a gentle ridgeline. I dropped into washes and passed by loads of open range cattle before hitting the pavement of a highway leading into Silver City.
The road climbed up and down steady hills, each successive downhill less low than the previous. I passed a massive mine and then found myself rolling into Silver City at nearly 6,000 feet by 11 am. The heat was on so I passed up the local campground/RV park and headed to get a hiker/biker discounted room at a cheap hotel. I stripped off everything, took the coldest shower I could muster, and drank some Gatorade Zeros I bought on the way in. Dried and cleaned, I climbed aboard the unloaded bike and rode downtown for some solid recommended New Mexican food. I also stopped by the Gila Hike and Bike to pickup a cycling cap and have a quick look over my drivetrain.
I headed back to the hotel, drank more Gatorades, and passed out for a few hours. After, I walked to the local grocery and got a day’s worth of food for tomorrow. I spent the evening watching “The Purge: Anarchy” on TV and talking to Janna on the phone before sleeping in the AC of the room.
