CDT – Day 17 – Pie Town to Cebolla Wilderness 

5/11/15, Day 17  

Pie Town to M27 Cebolla Wilderness

30.2, 347.5 Trip Miles

Sunny, 50-60’s Windy

8 am to 7 pm

Gila Crossings Final Total:  221

Critter Count

3 Lizards

1 Jack Rabbit

1 Cotton Tail

Totals

105 Lizards

41 Elk

10 Deer

9 Horny Roads

7 Squirrels

7 Chipmunks

6 Jack Rabbit

5 Cotton Tail Rabbits

4 Snakes

3 Coyotes

2 Toads

1 Mouse

1 Skunk

Today was absolutely boring. Of the 30 miles only the last 2 were trail. The rest was dirt roads. The 2 at the end were dirt roads at one time but now that it’s wilderness they don’t get used. Their more trail now than roads.

The only saving grace was the unbelievably nice old couple who allow hikers and bikers to get water at their well and sit in the shade.

The long road to nowhere?

He was in the Korean War and she just went through treatment for throat cancer. They live in a metal building, one you might use as a barn or to store cars. The walls have no insulation and besides the room their kids built a few years ago that is now their bedroom (with insulated walls) it’s one giant open room.

It looks like a thrift store. There’s things everywhere but it doesn’t look dirty or unorganized. There’s even two dinning room tables, hutches and couches. The building and land contain their lives worth. They moved out from ABQ and couldn’t be more happy.

Chillin in the only shade of the day.

The road miles took their toll on me. I’m super tired after today. My feet are swelling too as the second toe on my right foot has started to rub the front of my shoe. I hope after some Vitamin I and a good night it doesn’t rub tomorrow. I have 6 more pairs of these shoes in the same size. Switching them out could be hell.

Camp for the night.

Today was one of those days you question why you’re doing it. The CDT have something like 800 miles of road walking. F’ me!

What a long day!  I walked for hours in a straight line with nothing to see by desert.  The only real reference was some hills in the distance.  Thomas Ranch was the only thing that broke up my day.  There was one failed attempt at getting water at the first well/trough and a successful one on the second attempt further up the road.

I definitely pushed on to get to camp.  The reality is I didn’t have a choice as it was push on or camp in the middle of open desert without any cover from the wind.  After hours of flat land find a spot to camp away from the flat road proved tough.