Six months ago, my best friend Will Reynolds and I embarked on a life-changing experience on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. The Colorado portion of the GDMBR shocked our systems with elevation gain, outstanding generosity, and radical landscapes.

As we immerse ourselves in deep winter, there’s like no better time to reflect on 90-degree bikepacking days and the scalding sun of the Southwestern United States. Six months ago, my best friend Will Reynolds and I embarked on the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route. The New Mexico portion of the GDMBR was the spiciest in terms of cuisine, temperature, and company. This is the first of 4 blog posts outlining the characters we encountered and the adventures we experienced.