Eszter is rolling out of Silver City.  All-nighter to the border?

Anyone else notice that Jo Ann Burtard's spot dot hasn't moved on the Ashton-Flagg Ranch Road today?  Not a place I'd like to be broke down for too long.   Hope all is well up there.   

So does anyone know yet if the C&O Express will be forced to reroute because of the fire?

I don't think the fire in the Gila will force a reroute.  Most of the closure is within the wilderness.
http://www.fs.usda.gov/Internet/FSE_DOCUMENTS/stelprdb5374609.pdf

New Mexico is a furnace right now.  Most of the northern half in the lower 90s and the southern half pushing 100 degrees (101 right now in hachita).  A new fire just started near ABQ and although it won't affect the TD route, expect some nervous forest managers.  The Santa Fe forest and the portions of the Cibola forest on the route are in stage II fire restrictions (no fires, cigarettes, etc.).  Stage III is forest closure.  Let's hope it doesn't go that far.  

Looks like Fixie Dave rolled into Atlantic City-- must be a huge mental boost to get through the basin after all the wind and heat.  Go Dave go!

High winds are forecasted for the great basin in WY today.  Could be a southbounders dream with sustained winds up to 30mph out of the west.  Hope fixie Dave can battle through heading north. 

Check out fixie Dave's short vids:

http://www.tout.com/u/davidfixedgear


Hope he can get it done this year!

Folks may find this interesting/helpful-- current %-of-average snowfall for major river basins in the West:

http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/ftpref/support/drought/dmrpt-20110120.pdf

See page three for graphic that shows snowpack levels are average to way above average along the Divide from Colorado north.