Saturday, April 12, 2025
Miles: 31.1 miles
Gain/Loss: 2854’/1171′
I was up at 6am and out by 6:35am. Early on, I met two hikers and their anxious, barking and lunging German Shepherd. They didn’t leash the dog or do anything to help other than to insist their dog was friendly and I should just approach the dog. I saw many weekend hikers out and about, particularly during the first half of the day.
I saw a lot of beaver activity, including walking across a beaver dam. There were an astounding number of different bird varieties. Unfortunately, the top of my right foot was hurting a lot, with crepitus if I tried to flex my toes. I did my best to not use my foot in ways that hurt; it was obviously a consequence of the 120+ crossings of the Gila River. The trail was very hard to follow, and was more similar to a herdpath than an actual trail for most of the day.
I made it to Snow Lake, and started some dirt road walking towards the end of my day. I stopped at a quiet (2 campsites taken) campground to dump my trash. I saw dozens of carrion eaters working on a dead animal nearby.
I pushed on until 8:45pm, looking for water and a campsite as I hiked further up the dry riverbed where the Gila River begins. I pushed on a lot farther than I wanted and ended up cowboy camping on dusty cattle tracks nearby a muddy dirt tank. I was in bed by 9:45pm, and regretted my choice to cowboy when the full moon meant I didn’t really need a headlamp. So I put on my sleep mask and did my best to get some shut-eye.
Transcending Mountains 