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the Degree Confluence Project
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United States : New Mexico

17.8 miles (28.6 km) E of Mesita (Cibola), Bernalillo, NM, USA
Approx. altitude: 1670 m (5478 ft)
([?] maps: Google MapQuest OpenStreetMap topo aerial ConfluenceNavigator)
Antipode: 35°S 73°E

Quality: good

Click on any of the images for the full-sized picture.

#2: Windmill at the abandoned farm #3: Confluence looking south #4: Confluence looking north

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  35°N 107°W (visit #2)  

#1: Laguna Pueblo, No Trespassing

(visited by Robert Graff)

21-Jul-2000 -- I left Albuquerque heading West on I-40 toward exit #140. After being stuck in traffic for twenty minutes, (I completely forgot about the massive reconstruction project going on till 2002) it was a quick 25-mile drive out to the town of Rio Puerco.

To reach the confluence, I took exit 140 and headed south. On the south end is a Stuckey's station. At the station is a one-lane dirt road that stretches to the west paralleling eastbound I-40. At the top of a hill, the road turns left and south and is fronted by a rather imposing "No Trespassing" sign (see photo below). The confluence is on the tribal land of the Laguna Pueblo, but this was no match for a confluence hunter.

The road then winds down south for about 3 - 5 miles, passing by two homes and stopping at what seemed to be an abandoned farm (see photo). At this point I almost gave up, because the road stretched out more but was blocked by a barbed wire fence. On one side of the fence was a corral with its gates open (luck or another confluence hunter perhaps?) which allowed me to bypass the fence and start hiking the 2 miles or so toward the confluence.

35N 106.995W is home to a very large shade tree with fallen branches that serve as a nice place to rest for a moment. This tree had a dead branch that snagged my shirt which tore up the back, causing the first casualty of 35N 107W.

Apparently I underestimated my maps and had not taken enough water; I finished off my last bottle just outside of the confluence. Beginning to dehydrate, I reached the confluence and took the pictures as shown below. 35N 107W is up on a hill overlooking my entire hike route in an open clearing of sagebrush and cactus.

Nearby was the blocked dirt road which I was able to follow all the way back to the fence and corral. I probably would have died of thirst and been eaten alive by the wandering cows if I hadn't found this shortcut back to my car.


 All pictures
#1: Laguna Pueblo, No Trespassing
#2: Windmill at the abandoned farm
#3: Confluence looking south
#4: Confluence looking north
ALL: All pictures on one page
  Notes
In the Laguna Indian Reservation.