Sunday, April 13, 2025 Miles: 34.6 miles Gain/Loss: 4281’/3789′ I was up at 5:45am, packed up my cowboy camp, and was hiking by 6:20am. I left the dry rocks of the Middle Fork of the Gila River very early on, walking past the pond that comprises the headwaters at this point in the season. I … Continue reading NM CDT 2025: Day 9
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 … Continue reading NM CDT 2025: Day 8
Friday, April 11, 2025 Miles: 29.3 miles Gain/Loss: 2451’/1677′ I was up at 545am and out by 6:20am. I quickly found myself at the Gila River. The first few miles were beyond terrible bushwhacking, full of prickers, scratches, and blood. There was no decernible trail to follow, not even deer herd paths. It was very … Continue reading NM CDT 2025: Day 7
Thursday, April 10, 2025 Miles: 30.1 miles Gain/Loss: 4324’/5026′ I was up at 7am, showered one more time, and headed out by 7:30am. I stopped on my way out of town for a fancy coffee drink at the Javalina Coffee House, and then kept walking to follow the Gila River alternate. I started out on … Continue reading NM CDT 2025: Day 6
Wednesday, April 9, 2025 Miles: 24.5 miles Gain/Loss: 1801’/2769′ I was up at 5:25am and out by 6am. There was maybe 5 gallons of water at the cache once I got there, but I’d already carried enough water to get to the next source. Though I did take half a liter and was glad of … Continue reading NM CDT 2025: Day 5
Tuesday, April 8, 2025 Miles: 30.6 miles Gain/Loss: 5151’/3652′ I was up at 5:45am and on trail by 6:20am. Very early on, I lost the trail, misjudged a step, and got my first cactus spine to the toe. It was quite unpleasant. I quickly began climbing up out of the desert towards some 8000′-9000′ mountains. … Continue reading NM CDT 2025: Day 4
Monday, April 7, 2025 Miles: 30.7 miles Gain/Loss: 1621’/1329′ I was up at 5:45am and out hiking by 6:20am. I saw a few birds in the morning, including a hawk and a black bird. I got off track by 0.2mi once on the way towards town. I also saw a praying mantis egg sack about … Continue reading NM CDT 2025: Day 3
Sunday, April 6, 2025 Miles: 34.7 Gain/Loss: 2142’/2339′ I was awake at 5:30am, and headed out by 6:10am. I heard coyotes before sunrise. I couldn’t find a great spot to pitch my tent last night, so I just made do with where I stopped but that meant my tent wasn’t taut. The ground was very sandy … Continue reading NM CDT 2025: Day 2
Saturday, April 5, 2025 Miles: 29.0 Gain/Loss: 1617’/1230′ After getting into town at 1:30am after a long day of traveling by plane, city bus, and Greyhound, I was up at 5:30am to walk to the shuttle for 6am. It was a long bumpy drive to the monument, with only one of the three hours on … Continue reading NM CDT 2025: Day 1
Saturday, March 8, 2025 Summits: Moriah Start/Finish: Bangor St TH Miles: 8.9 Elevation gain/loss: 4485′ Since I only had one peak for the day, I took my time getting started. I helped Eric spot a car for a Wildcats/Carter Dome traverse, and then got started up the trail by 8:30am. The trail was very firm … Continue reading Moriah – March
Transcending Mountains 