CDT – Day 18 – Cebolla Wilderness to John Sneer BLM Camping

5/12/15, Day 18

M27 Cebolla Wilderness to John Sneer BLM Camping

27.3, 374.8 Trip Miles

Sunny, 50-60’s Windy

6:19 am to 7 pm

Gila Crossings Final Total: 221

Critter Count

1 Lizards

1 Jack Rabbit

1 Cotton Tail

1 Snake

Totals

106 Lizards

41 Elk

10 Deer

9 Horny Roads

7 Squirrels

7 Chipmunks

7 Jack Rabbit

6 Cotton Tail Rabbits

5 Snakes

3 Coyotes

2 Toads

1 Mouse

1 Skunk

Today was another day of road walking. I maybe did 3 miles of trail. I probably walked close to 15 pavement miles.

Amazing cliff side hike on South Rim Trail alternate to walking the road below.

I hiked the first 12 miles on 3/4 of a liter of water. I was given bad info and went to a windmill that was torn down. Luckily the temperature hasn’t been that bad.

I’m surprised by the weather in New Mexico. It’s not nearly as hot as I expected, much windier and wetter, and colder at night. Last night was the warmest in a while. Still cold as hell at 5 am though.

On the right side of this rock it’s a woman’s face. She is a Native God who watches over the land, so the story goes.

To get off the road today a group of us hiked the South Rim Trail which led us to a nasty downhill to a natural arch. It wasn’t as impressive as those in Arches National Park. From the rim we could see a cross the huge lava fields of El Malpais. I was supposed to cross it but decided to road walk into town. It’s supposed to rain the next two days. The idea of getting to town tomorrow trumped the pain of road walking.

Nature Arch

All the road walking has swollen my feet and I will have to get larger shoes now. No easy tasks as I already bought 7 pairs.

I started this day in sand on old double track. Not far into my hike I came across a camp of 7 or so CDT hikers. I would hike with them off and on all day. At one point there was 6 of us and we were all from New England.

I definitely changed my mind before of the “group” dynamic. Even though we weren’t a “group” yet I was the only one planning on hiking the lava field. I gave in and joined the others. I kind wish I had done the lava field to experience it.

Back to Day 17, Forward to Day 19

Scatman

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Get out there!