tips_places

Tips that can make your trip more fun ...

... Everybody had to find out by him or herself, but we stumbled upon some things, places, ideas that can be something for you as well! Like Pie town, coming from the south you hit pie town after 4 days in the bush, you die for a shower and a PIE! See Nita in the house with the toasters, were you can stay and enjoy a good meal after a hot shower.

It is heaven. The next day, before leaving a an other go at the different pies at one of the cafe's before you go all the way down to Grants. Enjoy it, because Grants has nothing real special to offer accept the big road restaurant for truckers, Pedros,where you can eat your tummy round for little money. They have a different menu every day.

Chaco Culture National Historical Park preserves one of America's most significant and fascinating cultural and historic areas.

Chaco Canyon was a major center of ancestral Puebloan culture between AD 850 and 1250. It was a hub of ceremony, trade, and administration for the prehistoric Four Corners area - unlike anything before or since.

The D-tour to Chaco is over a wash boarded road, through a treeless area without water. Well, don't panic, it is of a dazzling beauty so you forget your thirst.

The park is big enough that you're not bothered by the many tourists. The campground is nice but without showers. They do have a COKE machine though!

Yellowstone National Park, what can I possible say about it, the park is so well known by everybody and so popular that instead of follow the trail around the park you can decide to go through the park and see for yourself if all the stories are true...

Let me tell you this, after all the back roads you've traveled by now, entering Yellowstone will give you a shock. It is like the ring road around New York. That together with all the burnt trees, (complete dead areas, if you like, because of the 1988 fires) it is two days of pushing yourself through the park with nothing beautiful to look at, No fun!

But, (there is always a but) if you have spare days and you love hiking, go there. As soon as you go off the road and in to the wilderness it is beautiful and worthwhile. It makes it easily up for the bike part through the park

Rafting! It is so much fun, get of your bike for a day and get clean for once!!

On the CDT are a few places where rafting is possible. Like: Steamboat Springs and Breckenridge in Colorado or Rawlins in Wyoming.

Rafting in Steamboat Springs |

Rafting in Colorado |

Gila Cliff dwellings, the place to find rattlers...

Coming from the south you biked through so many dry areas, that after you ride from Silver city entering Gila National Forrest you're in heaven. Trees!! Hallelujah! Go north over a paved road to Lake Roberts. Have a ice cream here and look at the hummingbirds.

It is climbing from there throug shady forest. The day ends after a sizzling 5 mile downhill. There are several campsites (no fee) aside of the road. We stopped 4 miles before Gila to put up camp and did a quick tour the next day without having to take all our stuff. You need to take the same road back to Lake roberts.

The border story, read and learn, the two borders couldn't be more opposite of each other. (The thumbnail shows one of the custom officers in Antelope Wells)

In Antelope Wells we where met by friendly costumer officers, who insisted to take our pictures. We had some hamburgers from the BBQ, and enjoyed their company, these guys are amazing! We could have a stroll to the other side of the border without a problem. The long straight road to the border from Hachita is a true experience. The hatchet mountains always in sight. If you can, camp out there, you have a change to see mountain lions!

From Eureka you travel over a boring road to the border with Canada. There is a dirty filthy casino on the American border filled with drunks. (we where there early in the morning) We crossed the border, and on the way in they gave us a cross examination. I would say; do not go there! But you unfortunately have to...

Front suspension, that feels good downhill

With front suspension, your arms doesn't have to catch all the bumps by themselves, the wheel stays longer in contact with the ground and required maintenance is still limited.

Make sure you don't need any special tools in the case that you want to adjust the compression.

Watercontainers

The normal waterbottles we use are just 1.5l softdrink bottles - gives you more water at hand.

Minimum drink water per person is 4l a day, plus any water for cooking and cleaning. To cover this in New Mexico, two MSR waterbags are employed - 4l respectively 6l. The MSR water-filter fits, and can also be used as a field shower.

Wheel & Tyres

The standard MTB wheels are often built more for light-weight than for the heavy loads of camping gear and water bottles.

Use tyres with knobs on the side only when going on asphalt. With trajects of more than a day on tracks with soft sand, mud or rock, choose a full profile.

Foldable tyres with strong sidewall-long life & easy packing

The South Pass area became one of the critical points in the Oregon Trail, providing a route for wagons to travel across the mighty mountain ranges. It was not a narrow "pass" as we sometimes picture. It was a gap in the mountains many miles wide, but sitting quite high in the mountains.

Located in the Wind River Mountain Range, South Pass City and Atlantic City represent a step back in time to the 1800's. This was a time of dreams of riches for thousands who risked everything in their travels out west. Find gold and become rich!

Gold panning is still a recreational activity for many local residents. There are still many significant gold reserves in the South Pass region. Watch the Southpass movie