My first steps in Gila Canyon

Silver City (146mi) - Doc Campbell's (195mi/312km)

Since I left Silver City, quite a lot happened:

Gila National Forest is definitely one of the CDT´s highlights. The trail out of Silver City has been a bit painstaking. The post office opens not until 10 a.m. on Saturdays - so I had to start hiking in midday heat. The whole days had been pretty unspectacular, but suddenly all my hiking buddies came by (and I had been convinced they would be far in front of me...). So next morning we all have been together again.

Our first glimpse of the Gila River...

After a strenuous hike down the Canyon our drink water problems were vanished for the next 5 days - there was crystal clear, ice cold water in the river... 

From now on there had been no dry feet anymore. Using simple trail-running shoes proved to be the right option. My shoes kept being dry again every morning.

For the next days we had to cross Gily River more than a 100 times - on the next picture you can see Pounce and Smiles crossing...

It´s uncredible that this wilderness is in New Mexico, isn't it ? Three days before we had been in pure desert.

One short stopover is "Doc Campbell'S" - a small roadhouse surrounded by a few rustic campsites. I recieved one of my supply packages, had a couple scoops of homemade icecream - and hiked on.

Together with Analog and Rattlebee we went about the "Middle Fork" of the Gila Canyon.

Happy Trails :-)

"die hard" in Gila Canyon

Wow, there is cell phone connection in the middle of nowhere. So there will be a short report:

Shortly after Silver City we reached Gila river, this means great drinking for the next days :o)

The canyon we have to follow had been hit by a big flash flood last year. There is still debris everywhere: sand, mud, dead tree trunks - true wilderness. Looking great, but hiking 10-15miles a day is more difficult now.

However, this has been one of the greatest hiking experiences so far - you won´t find more "true" nature.

I expect to be in Grants on Friday, having my first "zero day". This will mean more pictures and postings.

Good night from a very tired hiker !

Happy Trails :-)

CDT'14 pictures #2

Silver City (05/02) - Grants (05/14)

Happy Trails :-)

CDT'14 pictures #1

Mexico (04/25) - Silver City (05/02)

Happy Trails :-)

3 very different days

Mexico (0) - Lordsburg (84mi/135km)

The first section is done! I´m back in Lordsburg - the small city where the adventure began a little bit more than 4 days ago.

The start has been smooth. The trip from Lordsburg to the famous "Crazy Cook Monument" took us about 2.5 hours. We´ve been 11 hikers in total on this day.

The south of New Mexico is - simply speaking - dry, sandy, windy and very flat. And there is the brutal sun!!! I´ve never experienced such a aridity before. We are drinking about 2 gallons of water a day - not sweating at all! You can actually feel the water being sucked out of you...

But no worries, there are enough water caches (thanks CDT-C) !

And - a big difference to the PCT - there is now "real" trail. You just have to hike through the desert, watching out for the next post mark...

At the momente we are a nice little group of 7 hikers, spreaded out during the day, but camping together in the evening. I enjoy being on my own and the freedom of going whereever I want to, but also the company of others at lunch or dinner.

Weather has been perfect ´till now, but also pretty windy. This means "cowboy-camping"

In conclusion, this desert is definitely too much of one-of-a-kind to be really described - but a good therapy for the soul.

Happy Trails :-)

Desert - a challenge

New Mexico is a gorgeous solitude - I´m just starting my forth day in this steppe-desert!

The picture shows Pyramide-Peak in the background, being my lead for the next hoursa... 20 miles away! Tomorrow morning I should be in Lordsburg again :-)

A new adventure has just begun...

Today, on Friday 25th of April at exactly 9:50 a.m. Robert became "Banana Pants" again ! Let´s take the first steps of the CDT...