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Day 32: Greener Pastures
May 24th Ghost Ranch(560.6)-Cano Canyon/SR-110(583.2) Camp Elevation: 9,277ft 22.6mi The plan was to leave Ghost Ranch around 7am and I was leaving with the regular crew of Team Mirage (including Sweetfish and Stryder). Others are just behind us and planned to leave...
Day 31: A Zero At Ghost Ranch
May 23rd Today was a full zero day (no hiking) at Ghost Ranch. I mentioned that this ranch and a home near it is where the artist Georgia O'Keeffe spent 40yrs. The information on the ranch's brochure says that they have 21,000 acres. As you can see in the picture...
Day 30: Beautiful Sights to Ghost Ranch
May 22nd Ojitos Canyon(545.2)-Ghost Ranch(560.6) Camp Elevation: 6,462ft 15.4mi Today was technically a town day, so I was excited to get up and get going. We were deep in Ojitos Canyon so there was no sun to warm us up this morning. Thankfully when I hiked out at...
Day 29: In My Happy Place
May 21st San Pedro Peaks Wilderness(521)-Ojitos Canyon(545.2) Camp Elevation: 7,113ft 24.2mi Oh man, I'm loving this new area we've entered! Goodbye desert! No more drinking warm yucky water that won't quench my thirst. No more stocking up and carrying of my maximum...
Day 28: Let The Mountain Fun Begin!
May 20thCuba(508.3)-San Pedro Peaks Wilderness(521)Camp Elevation: 10,396ft12.7miSince there are reports of plenty of snow piled up ahead, we got a very leisurely start out of town and are in no rush to push big days. We spent the morning doing errands, eating, and...
Day 27: A Nero In Cuba
May 19th Mesa San Luis(468.5)-Cuba(508.3) 13.7mi Today was a pretty awesome day! We had a 14mi hike into the town of Cuba and got an early start at 6am. The trail and morning light was beautiful and we were treated to many more expansive views. It was a nice cool...
Day 26: Mesa Mazes
May 18thMesa San Luis(468.5)-N of Jones Canyon(494.6)26.1miToday was one of the best days of hiking so far! I took a bunch of pictures and videos, but feel like nothing can capture it fully. We hiked across what I showed yesterday and wove all around and over...
Day 25: An End To The Monotony
May 17thNear Laguna del Cerro (445.1)-Mesa San Luis(468.5)23.4miToday I was feeling much more energized than yesterday, but still below normal. The first task of the day was to walk to our next water source and then walk half a mile down a steep hill to get to the...
Day 24: Walking With Zombie Wired
May 16thMt. Taylor (419.2)-Near Laguna del Cerro (445.1)25.9miToday was a rough day for me. We got to hiking about 6:45am this morning. Thankfully, it wasn't freezing outside. We had about 1,500ft to climb over 2mi to summit Mt Taylor at 11,301ft, our highest point...
Day 23: Back On Trail With The Group
May 15thGrants, NM(400.6)-Mt. Taylor (419.2)19.2miToday was a slow start getting out of Grants. I decided to head out with the group knowing that the final destination for the day was preset and only about 19mi away. We knew we wanted to camp just before the summit of...
Silver City, NM-Grants, NM (144.5-400.6)
Here is the summary from my second section of trail, Silver City-Grants, miles 144.5-400.6. If the slideshow and videos are not visible and you are using a smartphone or mobile device, you may need to be on a computer to view them. Slideshow Silver City-Grants...
Day 21 & 22: My First Zero In Grants
May 13th & 14th Bonita Canyon(382.7)-Grants, NM(400.6) 17.9mi I got going by 6:40am this morning. It felt great to have Dot there and to have had a relaxing evening. The "hike" into town today was really simple. Just a dirt and gravel road that wound through...
Day 20: Ankle Landmine Test
May 12thHwy 117/El Malpais(363.4)-Bonita Canyon(382.7)19.3miI let myself sleep in this morning knowing I had fewer miles to do today to get my location. My friend and fellow 2011 PCTer, Wandering Dot was set up doing trail magic 19mi away and I planned to camp with...
Day 19: Ease and Frustration
May 11thThe Thomas's(333.9)-Hwy 117/El Malpais(363.4)29.5miI slept in a bit after being up late last night and started from the Thomas's at 8am. My goal was to do about 25mi. My friend and fellow PCT 2011er, Wandering Dot is 50mi away doing trail magic for two more...
Day 18: More Pie Town Hospitality
May 10thPie Town(318.9)-The Thomas's(333.9)15miI have to say that Pie Town is an inspirational place for me. It's a place where I could see myself ending up someday. Everyone here knows everyone and they have all been so welcoming (other than all the private ranchers...