CDT – Day 27 – Ghost Ranch

0, 526.2 Trip Miles

Mostly Sunny, Rain in the evening

Day’s of Snow: 4 – Day’s of Rain: 8

# of Zero days: 1

Gila Crossings Final Total:  221

Totals

119 Lizards

45 Elk

15 Cotton Tail Rabbits

12 Chipmunks

12 Deer

10 Squirrels

9 Horny Roads

9 Jack Rabbit

5 Snakes

3 Ground Squirrel

3 Coyotes

2 Toads

1 Mouse

1 Skunk

1 Rattle Snake

My first Zero. It wasn’t planned but I surely need a day off. I’ve not rested in 26 days.

Today was relaxing and enjoyable. Usually sitting still is very hard for me on the trail. Every fiber of my being screams “KEEP MOVING FORWARD!” almost every minute of the day. It’s the only way I know to get to Canada. Movement becomes what you are.

Honesty the only times during the day I’m not moving is the following:  shitting, pissing, eating, sleeping and occasionally when taking a picture or deep map reading. (The footing is bad most of the time when you appear to be misplaced, so I’ve learned to stop so I don’t trip).

If the sun is up you walk. This is how I appear to hike so far to you all in a day. You think “I could never do that!” You could and would if you walked with the sun. It’s that simple. Walk during the light, sleep when it’s dark. Eat when you’re hungry and drink when thirsty.

It’s the long road walks or boring crossing of featureless open spaces that bore you. Even if there are things to look at you see them for so long they quickly become like that sticky note you put up to remind you of some daily task. You just stop seeing it.

Everyday this trail tests me. It’s without a doubt the hardest and toughest of the three. It’s the weather hot or cold, wind or rain/snow; rocks; sand; mud; water; climbs; descents; lack of water; the intensity of the sun and so much more that test you over and over.

I had stayed up to around 1 am or so talking and catching up with Jill.  We had some great conversation and at the time I truly enjoyed her company.  Looking back on the evening I see how like with most of our interactions she was holding back and not as open as she appeared to me at the time.  I only saw what I wanted to.  When she left I was left with a glimmer of hope.

Surprisingly the day went by fast.  I also made friends with Rafiki who would be my hiking partner for a big portion of the trip ahead.  By the end of the day I was ready to be on the move again. 

Back to Day 26, Forward to Day 28

Scatman