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April 27, 2017 - The Start (Lordsburg, NM)
Uber to SFO; flight to Phoenix -> El Paso; car ride to Silver City with Shana ($80); night at Motel 6 ($60). Cold developing, cough. Plus sore hip (from lifting ~35 lb pack for first time?) Basically a bad start, worried about pack weight, not to mention the adequacy of my tent (small one), and sleeping bag (light one).
Apr 28, 2017
First day of CDT Trail Days. About 60 hikers. Asked who the youngest (Sunshine: met her with dad in 2011) and oldest (used to be 72, last year 78: damn!)
To get: peanut butter & tortillas.
Talk by Gave Vasquez, “Diversity in the Outdoors”. Works with minorities (esp. Latinos). Lisa: check out “Latinos Outdoors”, “Green Latinos”, “Hispanic Access Foundation”, HECHO, American Latino Heritage Fund: Latinos who embrace the outdoors, public lands, and environmental justice.
New Mexico: poorest state. gave@nmwildlife.org, www.Nuestra-Tierra.org, www.Latinooutdoors.org, www.OrganMountainsDesertPeaks.org.
NM motto: “Thank God for Mississippi”.
Turn on WASP (?) on GPS.
Apr 29, 2017
Bus leaves Silver City for Lordsburg:
10:30 - Silver City Terminal
3:05: Walgreen’s
Bought titanium cup with lid, alcohol stove with wind guard, folding spoon, long spoon, tent pegs: $80.
Q: Cook with alcohol, use freeze-dried meal bag as pot? Or ziplock bag?
Send home jetboil, camera, etc. from Lordsburg? And fill & send a bounce box as well?
Apr 30, 2017
Silver City. Head cold still with me. But two full days before I begin the hike, so hopefully will get over it.
Sleeping poorly, worrying about so many things: will my tent be ok? My sleeping bag too light? Canister versus alcohol for cooking? Do I bring paper maps, or rely on GPS & iPhone? So maybe it’s best to just start at the border in two days, hike to Silver City, and then decide what feels right. Most importantly: Don’t be in a hurry. There is no schedule.
At breakfast met More Cowbells (?), will be on shuttle with me. Also worried & nervous. I am not alone.
Spent rest of day in bed, trying to ditch my head cold. Back and forth on alcohol versus canisters. Right now, alcohol is in the lead.
Rachael phoned. She’s definitely leaving Silicon Valley Bank and moving back west. I wished her well (but secretly worried that less than a year at her first job will look bad on her resume).
Finally ditched my paper maps: going digital! (More Cowbells said 60% of hikers this year are doing the same).
May 1, 2017
Bus from Silver City to Lordsburg. Hoping there is a 3 PM bus. Will phone soon. Otherwise, will have to take the 10:30, and have no time to mail anything. Decided to not bother purchasing fuel for the alcohol stove. Still not sure if I should bring it along. When I hike back to Silver city, will decide.
Called Pancho last night. And Irv the night before. And tried to reach Ted & Lisa, but failed (left msg).
Met Himal and Sherpa, Axyl on bus. Two locals on bus told us how to prepare and eat rattlesnake. Checked into Econolodge in Lordsburg; several other hikers in town. Mailed some stuff to me at the USPS, mainly the titanium pot & stove I bought in Silver City just two days ago; I’ve decided to go canister.
The area is famous for Geronimo, and Billy the Kid was raised in Silver City. Also, “Stagecoach” was filmed here.
Radar stopped me in the street and asked if I wanted to leave on an earlier shuttle tomorrow (4:30 AM). I said Yes!
Spent awhile trying to get my weight down, but with 5 days’ food and ~5 liters water, and lots of extras (solar panel, Panasonic Lumix camera, a million items in my little travel kit), I suspect I’m well over 30 pound. Wish me luck. The good news is the weather report: highs around high 80’s, dropping to low 80’s in a week. Got my umbrella, I think I can handle it.
Talked to Caren (she’s back from St. Martin & Florida), Rachael (just arrived in California and has a job interview lined up), Pancho and Lisa.
Cold much better, but still some coughing and nose stuff.
May 2, 2017
Trailhead to 14 miles. Photo: More Cowbells. Photo: Himal (Israeli). 7% humidity!
What a horrible hiking day. Worst ever. No sleep the night before (too nervous), up at 4:10 AM, no breakfast, rode with 4 other hikers with driver Radar. First stop: coffee. 3 hours on worst every bumpy road to trailhead. Took me about 11 hours to do 12 miles to first water cache. So tired & achy. Pack felt incredibly heavy. Also not on squarely (as pointed out by Himal). Stopped several times to rest, but rest didn’t seem to help. Too much Crystal Light in water bladder made it taste awful. Tried eating snacks, ok at beginning, but now not hungry at all. Reminds me of first day back on the trail on PCT, where I ate nothing for 3 days. Hope I get over this soon - may take a zero day right here at the water cache (mile 14) if necessary.
Sending first SPOT msg to family, Susan, and Irv. Used Guthook app on iPhone, turning off everything (including GPS) between uses. End of day: 83%. Will charge it tonight, then charge battery with solar cell during the day.
May 3, 2017
Up early feeling MUCH better - but still not hungry. Team met me - wife Infinity still sleeping. Showed me how to get back on road from water sources.
May 5, 2017
Emergencies: 800-444-1011, ask for Peter.
May 7, 2017. Silver City, NM
Rough days in the desert. Very slow going, weak, couldn’t eat a mouthful for 4 days. Even trouble drinking water (vomited it up a few times). Saw image of a hiking couple that turned out to be a cactus. And a big red and yellow object that disappeared as I looked at it. I was definitely hallucinating. Charger stopped working, so threw it away. Decide to hitch out, get to a road, but no one would stop for me. Finally the U.S. Customs & Border Patrol took pity, and gave me a ride to Hachita (they pointed out that the road I was on had “Don’t pick up hitchhikers” signs, because it was so close to Mexico). Fred at Hachita had cold drinks (I drank 4) and a place nearby where I could get cell reception. Called Shana who came & drove me back to Silver City ($75). Bless her!
Been at Motel 6 for 3 days, thinking of getting back on the trail in a day or two.
Met J-Peg in lobby - will quiz him after he has a chance to check in.
Mile 116.3
Burro Peak Trailhead
“P” for Parking
Trail Angel
Mile 122.3: head down Dead Man’s Canyon (water at top of canyon in pools). Follow creek to Tyrone Road (no sign): head east on road to Hiway 90.
Above information provided by Diane Gansauer.
May 8, 2017. Silver City
cash (ATM)
food for 4 (?) days (Lordsville -> Silver City)
mail drop from/to Silver City
Buy charger in Silver City
Maildrop to Doc Campbell’s: 7 days
water bottle
Lordsburg -> Silver City: ~ 80 miles (?) -> 4 days
- Water: Engineers Windmill, mile 100.1 (15 miles from Lordsburg), 103.4, 113
- Lordsburg: El Charro Restaurant: chicken enchilada
Silver City -> Doc Campbell’s: ~ 50 miles -> 3-4 days
Doc Campbell’s -> Pie Town: 125 miles, 7 days!
Met Mike at Little Toad Creek Brewery (Silver City). Driller from near Butte, MT.
Met James: with photo of glow-in-the-dark scorpion
Met Nikki: also will drive me to Walmart after she gets off work tonight (~ 11 PM)
Heard from Nobody that a storm was due tomorrow, and I’m still not 100%, so one more night at Motel 6. Will shop tonight (& tomorrow?), then take bus to Lordsburg.
Lordsburg: Mile 84
Silver City: mile 161.
Doc Campbell’s: 374.8
ETA May 17 (on two packages mailed to Doc Campbell’s 5-9-17).
Water cache at Juniper Spring Tank (mile 108.3)
Met James from W. Virginia: fast hiker. White gas stove, old Sierra Designs tent.
123.5: junction to Burro Mt. Homestead
108.3: water cache (Juniper Spring)
85: Lordsburg
May 10, 2017
7:15 AM - 5:45 PM: 9 1/2 hours
Lordsburg on hiways 70 & 90: 16 m. Picked up a baby carriage for a few miles
Caren: keep boat expenses
Caren; any news on rental?
rag in pocket
stitch glove
Lending Tree
booking flights with Merrill Lynch
write on Tyvek: :Hiker to Town”
To do in Silver City:
buy another smart phone, install Guthook & maps.me
ask Nikki about her backpack
phone about tent
fix crack in iPhone case
woolen gloves
shirt button
fix Dirty Girl gaiters
upload photos
vitamin pills
bleach: check Sawyer
wet wipes
First full day. Still stuffed up a bit, but made it ok. Early to bed.
I found this on the roadside; used it to carry my backpack
The ultimate adventure vehicle
May 11, 2017
7:45 - 6:30
Hiway 90 to mile 120.3 (elev 7973)
Uphill slog for hours: but nice trail magic at start. Wrong Way (photo) stopped to say hello. Doesn’t cook, soaks ramen in cold water, instant coffee and Swiss Miss chocolate, pop tarts. Really small pack. Will also cut off trail and head for hiway 90 (my plan tomorrow). Loves his Altra Lone Peak shoes: look like my Hokas, but better. Learned later that when he completes this thru hike, he will have completed a triple-triple (one hike each year for 9 years).
May 12, 2017. Silver City, NM
Jane, Isabel, Garth (gave me ride in U-Haul): raven7@live.ca.
Left at 7:15 AM. Hike to Burro Mt. Homestead. Put in the lock combination (which was in the CDC handbook), met Cynthia, who gave me drinks, ice cream, salad. Then hoofed it until ride from U-Haul (see above), across the street to the Adobe Springs Cafe, where I met Henry & Loretta Kolodzieski. Living in R.V. Hope to see me in Montana. Paid for my meal (photo).
Walked from lunch to Wranglers for a beer (which a local paid for). Hotel another mile, but really hot outside. May just sit here awhile. Luis at the bar told of his cousin crossing the border through the desert, then returning and getting a valid visa. He paid for my drink after I paid for his.
Night at Gila Mountain Inn.
May 13, 2017. Silver City, NM
162.7 -> 173.1: to Gila Route
Doc Campbell’s: 37.9, Gila River Alternate.
28.4 miles from Silver City.
Pie Town:
First water: Bear Creek, mile 5.1 Gila Alt, 9 miles from Silver City
Next water: 4 miles.
Doc Campbell’s: 28 miles
next water: Sapillo Creek, 21.4 miles
Pie Town to Grants:
4 from Pie Town
50 to Cebolla (to mile 530.9)
23 more to Grants (553)
Total: 77 miles = 5 days
Silver City to Doc Campbell’s:
Walnut Creek: 7.5 miles to 173.1
Gila Alternate to Doc Campbell’s: 37.9
Total: 45 = 3 days
To buy:
30 Swiss Miss
wet wipes
fuel
16 oats
6 ramen
30 candy bars / pop tarts
Sent 5+ days’ food via UPS to Pie Town (The Toaster House, Why 60 South at Mile Marker 50, Pie Town, NM 87827
Ley map for Silver City: CDT New Mexico 37 (Section 08 - Gila River)
Michael the driller guy showed up at Wrangler’s. Nice guy, knows everybody. Texted Nikki, but she’s working. Asked her what backpack she recommends. Michael gave a kidney to his younger brother, so can’t drink anymore.
Look at all the junk food!
May 14, 2017
Silver City to mile 10, Gila River Alternate.
Tough day; only had a couple of snacks, and Swiss Miss & ramen. Thirsty!
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