In total, the 1976 DEBE rode 1,926 miles over the course of 122 Days. They departed Santa Fe, NM on July 29 and returned there on November 27. This map shows each of their daily campsites as well as the location of events they participated in along the way. The precise location of each camp was passed down to me in the form of hundreds of marked USGS Quadrangle Topographic Maps.

The Route

Each of these “USGS Quads” covers 7.5 minutes of longitude and latitude (49 square miles). Each map is a treasure trove of information, presenting intricate details of the terrain, such as elevation changes, contour lines, rivers, roads, and landmarks. Before good trail maps and GPS these maps were, still are, the best way to navigate the outdoors. They were published as paper documents from 1884-2006.

Source: US Geological Survey