CDT – Day 122 – Trail Side Camp M2759.8 to Benchmark Wilderness Resort M2792.3

8/24/15 Day 122 – Trail Side Camp M2759.8 to Benchmark Wilderness Resort M2792.3, 5525′
Cabin – Nights Spent Alone: 15
30.5, 2509.3 Trip Miles

Day’s of Snow: 9 – Day’s of Rain: 42 – Days of Hail: 19
5:58 am to 5:30 pm
# of Zero days: 12
Gila Crossings Final Total: 221
Tick Count: 4 (4 more crawling on me)

Wanted List
Mountain Goat
Grizzly Bear
Sasquatch
Black Bear – SPOTTED
Bighorn Sheep
Velociraptor
Mountain Lion
Beaver – SPOTTED 
Unicorn  
Wolf
Buffalo

Critter Count

8 Chipmunks
4 Squirrels
2 Pika
1 Cotton Tail

Totals

1) 618 Pronghorn*
2) 448 Elk*7
3) 364 Chipmunks *5
4) 196 Deer*2
5) 154 Marmot*4
6) 145 Squirrels *9
7) 120 Lizards*6
8) 116 Wild Horses
9) 76 Ground Squirrels*10
10) 71 Pika
11) 57 Cotton Tail Rabbits *8
12) 30 Prairie Dogs
13) 22 Horny Toads
14) 18 Jack Rabbit*3
15) 14 Moose
16) 9 Snakes
17) 5 Coyotes
18) 5 Moles
19) 4 Black Bears
20) 4 Porcupine
21) 3 Toads
22) 2 Mouse
23) 2 Fox
24) 2 Rattle Snakes
25) 1 Beaver
26) 1 Badger
27) 1 Skunk
28) 1 Weasel -Long Tail
*259 from car, *2 – 49 from car – 3 in town, *3 – 1 from car, *4 – 2 from car, *5 – 2 off trail, *6 – 1 off trail, *7 – 9 from car, *8 – 3 off trail *9 – 1 from car, *10 – 6 off trail 
I didn’t sleep as well as I had hoped for. The campsite was great though. It was a perfect little spot in some pines maybe 100′ from a stream. 
The day started with a longish descent to the Deerborn River. Not long after we reached it we were back in to a burn area. We would stay in the burn until almost 4 pm. It made for a crappy experience. 

Poor Bailey is having a tough time with all the rocks. Their beating up her pads. Tonight Lott spoiled her with extra food and she also got three dog cookies from a forest ranger. 

When we got to the road that went to Benchmark we saw someone camped. Our plan was to walk over and strike up a conversation in hopes of getting a ride. Turns out she was a ranger and gave us all kinds of info on the fires and route ahead, while Bailey got cookies. We did get the ride and some fresh tomatoes from her garden. 

Once at Benchmark we met Derek who was a section hiker. He gave us a tour of the place and was super helpful and talkative. I got a shower, washed my shirt and sewed it (it had multiple holes in it. One caused me to get a big sun burn on my back), rinsed my socks, sat around a fire and I’m staying in one of the cabins. The bed is super soft. I hope it doesn’t hurt my already sore back. 

As we sat around the fire at least 10 fire and forest service trucks went by. They had their lights on. I hope there isn’t a new fire but they were just moving around to an existing one. Tomorrow will bring the answer I’m sure. 

Scatman

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Get out there!