And they're off!

The trail map on my desk, so I can see where they're headed.
Pat and Dan hit the trail Saturday. As of Monday evening, they were southwest of Hachita, N.M.

Dad reports that the water caches are near roads. They spent their first night near Highway 81, since other water sources are hard to come by.

(They took a shuttle to the Mexican border to their starting point. Part of the shuttle fee included water caches for the first stretch of the trail. It got into the 80s in Hachita today, so I'm guessing this part of the trail is hot, dry and deserty).

- Erin Madison Granger

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Back on the Trail

Image
Tonight we're camping on the side of Mt. Taylor on the CDT main trail. Mt. Taylor is a favorite in Grants.  Nearly 17 miles today along with a heavy pack (food for 8 days), and a lot of climbing. My feet are tired, but I think they are holding up. I'll know more in the morning. I'm in my tent and it just started sprinkling. I  hope it stops and everything will be dry in the morning. Also, it feels great to be back on the CDT. 
Read more

Down but Not Out

A few days ago my left foot started causing me discomfort and although I tried to walk through it, I had trouble thinking about anything else other than how painful it was. I  blamed it on a blister, but I've never had a blister this painful. I decided I needed to go to a clinic and have it looked at.  Here's where I got lucky! I was able to send a text to Gary my brother in law in Boise (the same relative that arranged a rescue for our broken down car in a remote NM desert a few weeks ago) asking him to find a clinic that could examine my foot. Gary did a geographical search of the area and texted me some options. Simultaneously, the trail passed a Forest Service campground with one camper. He took me to Grants, N.M. the next day.    Dan and Don, a hiker that joined us a few days ago,  continued hiking.  A clinic in Grants that Gary had lined up saw me the afternoon I arrived in Grants. Diagnosis - infected and swollen foot. Antibiotics we...
Read more

Leadore, Idaho

Image
Bannock Pass goes over the Continental Divide. This is where we got dropped off. Ben is putting tape on his blisters. My brother-in-law Gary dropped me off in Leadore, Idaho on his way back to Boise after a few days in Missoula.   I got a room in Leadore and met a fellow SOBO (southbound) hiker. We had dinner and breakfast together and we hiked a little ways together. He's a much stronger hiker than I am, so I didn't even try to keep up! The Continental Divide is some of the state borders between Idaho and Montana. The CDT follows the border closely. About every quarter mile there's an Idaho/Montana survey marker. Meeting him is just what I needed to rekindle my enthusiasm for through hiking. His enthusiasm was contagious.  
Read more