COLORADO!!

Exciting moments from the week:

At one point we needed to cross the Rio Vallecitos. Someone had laid a log over the water and decided to call it a bridge. I’d had enough of wading across water in the Gila River Valley — all those slippery rocks causing me to fall in the water. “Be brave,” I told myself. Halfway across my legs started shaking. There was no going back, only forwards. I tried to look straight ahead (not at the rushing water) but still needed to place my feet. In hindsight, not a smart choice but I made it across. John was smarter, he sat and scooched his way across the log.

Yesterday we encountered the long-anticipated section of post holing and blowdown, beginning about six miles south of the New Mexico/Colorado border. Took us about six hours and was quite exhilarating at times. Twice my foot and shoe got stuck in deep holes and I had to dig out with my hands. At one point the trail got lost under thick blowdown and snow, forcing us to hike with our phones in our hands, using Guthook to lead us step by step. Memorable moments discussed with other hikers this morning at the Rio Chama Espresso shop. I believe the term is ‘bragging rights.’

​And we crossed into Colorado this morning after hiking 555 miles in New Mexico! We’ve hiked 34 days, averaging 16.3 miles per day. Taken 11 zero days, mostly due to shin splints (better but not gone). One state down, five to go, approximately 2400 more miles. Deadline: September/October Montana snow.