Pat & Dan's Continental Divide Adventure

The mountains of northern New Mexico and southern Colorado have so much snow the CDT is possible only with snowshoes and winter equipment. Most hikers are making alternative plans. We've decided to 'flip flop.' Judy picked us up at Ghost Ranch in northern New Mexico, and after two days in Golden, we will drive to Lander, Wyo. and hike the CDT southbound.   The trail crosses The Great Basin. It's rather flat and not much snow. Pat and Eli It was sure nice to see family in Golden. Erin was in town to run the Bolder Boulder with Emily. Grandson Eli has grown and seeing the Edwards at Woody's and Erika at Cozy Cottage for breakfast was a treat. And of course, spending time with Judy was so nice. 

Mile 666!  Add in additional miles of longer alternate trails,  I've hiked over 700 miles! A couple of challenging days hiking and camping in two-three feet of snow.  Chama River running high. Thankfully, the CDT crosses the Chama at a bridge. Hiking through another Wilderness Area

Here are two trail pictures. First picture: The CDT leads to the top of a mountain that has a dramatic view looking north. Second picture:  Dan pointing to the point where I took the first picture the previous day. 

A resupply box Judy sends me a resupply box to various trail destinations. Even though I preplanned the contents, when I receive and open my box it's like Christmas! SmartWater bottles are very popular on the CDT.   Not only do these bottles attach to the ubiquitous Sawyer water filter, but the Smartwater bottles are also very transparent so it's easy to see how many floaties I have after refilling!

I'm now at a motel in Cuba, N.M. waiting out rainy weather. Cuba is mile 643 on the CDT. After a round of antibiotics, my foot is healing and I'm feeling better. Thanks for everyone's get-well wishes.  We're staying at the Cuban Lodge. New Mexico is the second poorest state, based on median household income, poverty rate and unemployment rate, and Cuba appears to be a run-down, poor town. Nevertheless, very nice people. Across the street is the Cuban Restaurant. In the picture background are the mountains next for us on the CDT. Not sure if you can see it,  but it's raining and snowing. 

I've gotten used to refilling my water bottles from stock troughs like these. These were desirable refills because a hiker can directly fill from the water running into the trough. Less desirable troughs are those with stagnant water. I carry a water filter for such stagnant water. 

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. 

Goodbye sandals We'll return to the CDT tomorrow morning, and I'm anxiously waiting to start. My foot is much better. I think it's in good enough shape that it can continue to heal while hiking. The antibiotics have kicked in and are helping. Hello Shoes I'm switching from sandals to shoes, so today I need to figure out the best locations for moleskin that avoid new problems. I think I wore out my sandals and they were not giving me the foot support I needed. The lesson of this ordeal is to pay closer attention to my feet. I should have paid closer attention to my blisters and worked harder at treating them. I also think the infection was zapping my hiking-energy. I'll miss my sandals. They are very comfortable. I have a new pair of sandals waiting for me when we hike across the Great Divide Basin in Wyoming.

In Grants, they make a big deal about being on Route 66. I don't think that'd mean anything to me, except I remember a TV show from my childhood called Route 66. The TV show was about two guys traveling Route 66 in a Corvette (I don't know the color of the Corvette - b&w TV days) getting into all kinds of situations. The show had its own popular theme song - "Get Your Kicks on Route 66." Could the TV show have that much influence? Unless you are my age,  you've probably never heard of the TV show. The Mining Museum in Grants has a large headframe in the city park adjoining the museum. My mom and her sister took a vacation driving some of Route 66. After doing a little research on Route 66, it's well known for something other than the TV show. It was one of the original highways in the U.S. Highway System. It also appeared in John Steinbeck's "The Grapes of Wrath," as it was one of the main routes people took when migr...

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...

If we find somewhat-clear water, as in this photo, we refill our water bottles Hot springs pool in the Gila Canyon The tent, a.k.a. shelter, I'm carrying CDT highway sign outside Reserve, N.M. The other hiker in the picture is Don, a solo hiker that's been with us for the last four days.

A couple of times we've encountered people who identify themselves as trail angels. This horsewoman said she is a trail angel and gave us water and helpful advice. It was a hot day and much appreciated. I hope we see more trail angles along the way.

We hiked a few miles out of the way to see the Gila Cliff Dwellings.

A mapping app indicates where we might find water. Toward the end of the day, we left our packs near the trail and hiked down a ravine to get water. We finally found this cow pond. The water was muddy,  smelly, with plenty of algae and moss. I went thirsty that night. I know eventually, I'll have to give in and drink such water.

I have a very expensive set of hiking poles at home. I usually don't hike with poles. I planned on having them included in my Silver City resupply box but canceled them after seeing videos of hikers fording the Gila River without poles. While in Silver City, Race, who through-hiked the CDT a few years ago, encouraged me to use poles and to shop for a $5 set of ski poles at one of the many thrift stores in Silver City. Bingo! I found a tall set of lightweight XC poles for $4! Wow - was I glad I had them. They saved me from being swept away more than once. After exiting the Gila Canyon I gave the poles to an RV camper. He was happy to receive them. I hope the poles bring as much reward to the new owner as they did to me. 

Somehow a bunch of CDT hikers ended up at Doc Campbell's Post at the same time. We're all waiting for the store to open.  There's WIFI and everyone is hanging out fiddling with their cellphones.  The hikers are very self-sufficient but  very hooked on social media!