Posted by 0 miles
Today was my first day off or ‘Zero Day’. It’s impossible to hike a long trail without taking some days off. For me I try to take a full day off every 8 to 12 days and at least a two day break every month. While it is not the case at the moment, a few more weeks in to this hike and hiking will essentially be like a job. And just like any job you cannot attend continuously without a weekend of sorts. The body needs time to recovery.
So it was a very cruisy day, sleeping in, lazying about flicking TV channels. Some light walking without the weight of a pack was great for leg recovery. I’ve only walked around 3 miles from the motel to Walmart and back for a small resupply to see me through this next leg. Was able to leave my pack at my new digs before checking in while I wandered up the road for resupplies.
I don’t plan to do much of anything today other than eat healthy food, gorging on fruit and veggies while I can.
The next section should only take about two and a half days through to Doc Campbells Post. It is more an outpost than a town with limited and expensive resupply options so I have mailed food ahead which I’ll collect in a couple of days.
I’ll be headed into the Gila River (G pronounced like H) essentially following the river for a good while in steep canyon country. It’s a choose your own adventure path really with not of a marked trail and requires more than 100 river crossings. It will be remote but water won’t be a problem. Cell service will be limited for the next 12 days or don’t expect regular daily updates. I’m looking forward this to this next stretch. It’s an alternate of the CDT but it seems like 75% of hikers take this route. They might as well make it the official route.
The official route, or the Red Line, leads along a series of high ridge lines. With the very dry conditions in this part of New Mexico this year sourcing water along the Red Line has been a very challenging for those who have ventured along it. Most marked water sources have been dry. The very odd permanent sources have been not much more than trickles and massive water carries have been the nature of the game for the high route. No thanks, its not for me.
Mick Beckers 