Posted by 30 miles.
In the middle of deep sleep I was woken at 4am by the sounds of a bugling bulk elk quite close to my camp site. It was pitch black and I couldn’t see a thing but he was damn close. After the first calls, I grabbed my gopro in anticipation of additional calls and they were delivered. I’ve heard elk bugles on other adventures but much further away. A great start to my day.
The day turned out much bigger than anticipated. I hadn’t really looked away on my maps to see what the day would bring other than looking for water sources. My first would be in 9 miles from a cattle trough, then I’d hit a cache around 11:30am and the next source was a further 18 miles away at a spring.
The trail to the water source followed forest roads all the way and there was not much exciting to see. Expecting to be draughting from the same water that cattle were drinking from I was pleased to see crystal clear pools of water coming straight from an underground spring. Still I would filter it just to be on the safe side. This would get me through to the next cache with water in reserve should the cache be empty.
A few more miles on the roads the CDT transitioned to single track, leading through light pine forest with a cushioned trail under foot. I was following X-Rays foot steps utilising my thru hiker tracking stills in being able to identify different shoe treads. He had massive sized 13 shoes and they were easy to pick out in the freshly disturbed dirt. He couldn’t have been too far in front.
The odd burn zone was crossed with zero shade cover and the trail quickly transitioned back towards open desert lands with sandy trails and low vegetation. This open country is the worst. Long stretches between shade cover.
Approaching the water cache sure enough X-Ray was there toping up. I did the same knowing the next water wasn’t for another 18 miles. What I didn’t realise was from this point the trail was essentially a full on 18 mile road bash along a rocky, shitty forest road. It was still early in the day at 11:30am but I wasn’t confident I would have another 18 miles in me. That would be a 30 mile day and my biggest yet. I was sure that from Grants the road walking was over – it wasn’t to be.
Another hour in and I found sufficient shade under a pine and stopped for lunch, mulling over my next step. To push on for the full length of the road or not. I would start and assess how I was feeling through the late afternoon.
There was nothing pleasant about the road walking at all. Open country, zero shade cover and rocky under foot. I pressed on, taking short breaks every hour or so. It was tough but I was getting there.
Around 4pm the Crazy Frenchman overtook me on the road as I was taking a break. I just started moving again with 9 miles to go. It was late in the day to push another 9 miles but I was feeling good. The one good thing about roads was fast walking and I was moving around 2.5 to 2.7 miles an hour. I would get there.
It was hot and my shirt was covered in evaporated salt crystals. Unexpectedly on this shitting road I heard a car coming up behind. Stepping out of the way the diver pulled over and asked what I needed – water, snacks, soft drink, beer. Beer? I said. Now you’re talking my language. Reaching into a cooler he pulled out an ice cold IPA. Probably not the best move in the heat of the day in open country under a blazing sun but I downed that thing in no time.
Moving on the late afternoon was a battle. The miles were coming and I could see that I would be able to complete the road and reach the next water source by sun down. My water was disappearing and I hadn’t drank so much since being on the hard yards on a fire line. Many electrolytes were drunk. I still had sufficient reserve water just in case.
Around 6:30pm I arrived at the spring grateful to see that pine cover and with it shade cover had returned. The spring was another 0.2 mil away down in a canyon following a series of switchbacks. A 20min return trip I just didn’t have in me. I had sufficient water for the night and would collect fresh water in the morning. Finding a nice sheltered camp site on top of the canyon rim I called it a night. I was stoked with a 30 mile day in trying conditions. I didn’t think I’d have this in me this early in the game and it was a real confidence boost.
Mick Beckers 