Day 13: a bend along the Middle Fork of the Gila River to Ponderosa flats near 8400 feet, still hard to know where we are but it's somewhere over 200 miles Last morning in the Gila. I want to stay in this canyon along the river and admire the rocks, trees and light for days. … Continue reading Fair thee well Gila
Tag: CDT
Continental Divide Trail
Soaking up the Gila
Day 12: from a few bends before Jordan Hot Springs to further up the Gila River, hard to know how many miles We started walking as the sun lit up the cliffs more than 500 feet above us. A few birds call but the river is slow moving here and mostly quiet. This morning we … Continue reading Soaking up the Gila
Tourist day in the Gila
Day 11: Just south of the Gila River Bridge to a few river bends before Jordan Hot Springs, ~miles hard to count, more than 190 miles total Frozen shoes this morning. Thankfully, frozen running shoes are much easier to wiggle into than frozen mountaineering boots. We soon warmed up by fording the Gila, the water … Continue reading Tourist day in the Gila
Into the Gila
Day 10: Sheep Corral Canyon to near the Gila River Bridge, ~22 miles, ~187 miles total A crisp morning. The first that warranted wearing puffy coats as we continued to head down Sheep Corral Canyon. We walk through forest of Ponderosa and Douglas-fir. Some stands have burned in recent years and are patchy with mixed … Continue reading Into the Gila
Wonders of the Gila
Day 9: Silver City to Sheep Corral Canyon, ~22.5 miles, ~167 miles total This morning it was time to get back on trail. And since the CDT goes right through Silver City, I couldn't resist stopping at Three Dog Espresso for an americano and breakfast burrito. Great coffee! And such nice women running the shop. … Continue reading Wonders of the Gila
Happy feet in Silver City
Day 8: Silver City, NM, 0 miles, ~144.5 total To get our three day average back down to 20 miles/day we took a zero day today. Thankfully, our bodies feel pretty good the morning after 32 miles of walking in (with a third of those miles on asphalt). Silver City is a charming place to … Continue reading Happy feet in Silver City
Surprise! A 32-mile day
Day 7: Goat Camp windmill to Silver City, ~32 miles, ~144.5 miles total A chilly morning. One that warranted an extra layer. Confirmation that somewhere along the gradual ups and downs of the last day we'd gained 2000 feet of elevation. Gabriel observed a coyote run through the wash, less than 100 feet from our … Continue reading Surprise! A 32-mile day
First 100 miles and first pines
Day 6: Lordsburg to Goat Camp windmill, ~28 miles, ~122.3 total Some days on trail feel like 2-3 days in one. This morning we hiked out of Lordsburg and crossed the last few miles of the Chihuahuan Desert. By evening, we were traveling through pinyon pine, live oak, and juniper country. An amazing day. One … Continue reading First 100 miles and first pines
Lounging around Lordsburg
Day 5: Lordsburg, 0 miles, about 85 miles total Since we got into Lordsburg ahead of schedule, it is time to rest. Let our bodies ease back into walking 12-plus hours a day. Town day. Time to lounge. Do as little physical activity as possible. This is a rather difficult task for me to do; … Continue reading Lounging around Lordsburg
Appreciating the desert
Day 3: Windmill around mile 38.9 to the wash about 2 miles south of Williams Tank, ~25 miles One of the many things I love about long distance hiking and the state of flow obtained from hours upon days on trail is appreciating the details. A measured pace, ears alert, and eyes wide open offer … Continue reading Appreciating the desert
marmot's adventures 