HIKE DIARY
Backpacking & thru-hiking
is not always blissful
CDT/NM: Creek to Cumbres Pass, 13 miles
I’m very close to the end of my goal of completing New Mexico, so take my time, camping in a soulful spot by a stream, then taking a historic train through peak colors back to Chama and home.
CDT/NM: Creek to Creek, 18 miles
It’s a brilliant day of sunshine and views walking along Brazos Ridge. I meet more hikers coming south including a friend I made in New Zealand.
CDT/NM: Hopewell Lake to Creek, 13 miles
It’s a magnificent day through shimmery gold aspens where bugling elk and and a wandering pronghorn welcome me to their home.
CDT/NM: Whirlpool Camping to Ghost Ranch, 8 miles
It’s a very short walk across the desert to Ghost Ranch, where I discover a dangerous weather system is coming. I need to get off trail, but my side quests are adventures in their own right.
CDT/NM Highway 96 to Whirlpool Camping, 16 miles
It’s a fantastic day climbing up into the sandstone mesas of Rio Chama Wilderness and bushwhacking through a flash flood area.
CDT/NM: San Gregorio Reservoir to Highway 96, 18 miles
It’s mostly forest walking next to rushing streams. At the high point at 10,500 feet, the view of red rock mesas appears — as well as a thunderstorm.
CDT/NM: Cuba to San Gregorio Reservoir, 8 miles
It’s a long rainy day, bussing from Albuquerque then walking steeply up into the San Pedro Peaks Wilderness.
Joy is a Practice
Joy is not about the absence of difficulties. It’s a practice to keep our eyes open to the many small miracles that happen all around us, all the time.
CDT/NM: Water Cache #5 to Lordsburg, 6 miles
It’s a short six miles to Lordsburg climbing down an escarpment towards food and a shower.
CDT/NM: Hwy 113 to past Water Cache #5, 22 miles
The day is mostly flat with cows following me. At the end, I climb up to a high saddle with views of the surrounding desert and set my camp.
CDT/NM: Big Hatchett Road to random camp near Water Cache #3, 27 miles
It’s a long day through fields of California Poppies and numerous water sources, up to a high desert overlook and finally a perfect campsite in a wash.
CDT/NM: Thompson Canyon to random camp near Little Hatchett Mountains Road, 15 miles
It’s an unseasonably and dangerously hot day, so I make it a shorter one, taking a siesta under a sign before cowgirl camping with a view of the Hatchett Mountains.