Continental Divide 2022

• Prelude to the CDT (7/29/2022) - I can't believe I'm getting ready to start a section-hike of the CDT, or Continental Divide Trail. It's one of the Triple Crown trails within the 11 National Scenic Trails, along with the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail. It's also famous for being rugged, remote and, until recently, unsigned in many spots.
• Day 1: Crazy Cook Monument to Big Hatchet Mountains (9/18/2022) - Can't believe I was standing at Crazy Cook Monument this morning, starting my section-hike of the CDT. I've thought about this trail for so long – it seemed so wild and daunting. But one day I realized if I was smart, I'd hike it sooner than later. I'm just getting older every year! So here I am. 
• Day 2: Big Hatchet Mountains to Hachita Peak (9/19/2022) - Today’s trek from the Big Hatchet Mountains to the Little Hatchet Mountains was intense. And not so much fun. Just being honest. I awoke to a beautiful sunrise, and took my time packing up and having breakfast. I was on the trail by 8:15 a.m., feeling pretty good about the day.
• Day 3: Hachita Peak to Near Vista Tank (9/20/2022) - Today’s hike from Hachita Peak to near Vista Tank was interesting, to say the least! So was last night. As I was setting up camp a few miles shy of my goal, if you recall, I’d messaged Jeffery about possibly dropping off water for me tomorrow, as I was pretty low, and the next water cache was far away. 
• Day 4: Near Vista Tank to Water Cache 4 (9/21/2022) - I don’t want to seem like a whiner, but rather a realist, so other hikers know what to really expect. So many people downplay the hardship of various hikes. The CDT in mid-September through October is supposed to be glorious. At least before our weather got so wonky.
• Day 5: Animas Street to Lordsburg (9/22/2022) - When hiking long distances, you have to be flexible and ready to pivot. I kind of hate doing that; I love to follow my plan. But as I looked over my itinerary, I’d need to hike roughly 25 miles (40.2 km) today to get to Lordsburg and stay on schedule. Not too bad if the […]
• Day 6: Zero Day in Lordsburg (9/23/2022) - This is officially my first zero day. Sort of. I had to take a zero day on my 2013 thru-hike of the Ice Age Trail due to a case of cellulitis. But I never just took one to rest up. I decided to take two during this hike because, well, I’m getting older!
• Day 7: Lordsburg to Engineer’s Windmill (9/24/2022) - Today’s trek from Lordsburg to Engineer’s Windmill started and ended well, but was not fun in the middle. Here’s the story. The first 3.3 miles (5.3 km) were great, as they were a road walk out of town. I chatted with Ed and was upbeat, as I was leaving early when it was still cool […]
• Day 8: Engineer’s Windmill to Burro Peak Trailhead (9/25/2022) - I slept well last night. I heard one cow walking around, so I made a little grunt noise to let it know I was here. Other than that, it was nice. Not too hot, no bugs, etc. This morning dawned warm and humid, though – not a good sign.
• Day 9: Burro Peak Trailhead to Silver City (9/26/2022) - I got up before 6 a.m. because Maria said they left early to start working. She mentioned 6:30 as a time I should be up and about if I wanted to top off my water supplies once more. So at 6:30 I wandered over, but everyone was still asleep. I topped off my water anyway; I knew they wouldn’t mind.
• Day 10: Mt. Taylor Trailhead to Grants (9/16/2023) - A year after being forced off the Continental Divide due to a torn meniscus (which needed surgery), I'm back on the trail. This time I'm starting around Mt. Taylor north of Grants, N.M. I left off last year in the south in Silver City, so why am I resuming my hike in northern New Mexico? Two reasons.
• Day 11: Mt. Taylor Trailhead to Mt. Taylor (9/17/2023) - As per almost any day on the trail, today’s trek up Mt. Taylor was full of surprises. My trail angels, Carole and Hugo, set aside the day to help me. Hugo picked me up from my motel and dropped me off at the trailhead. It was 8:30. The forecast was for a pleasant day with some clouds. Perfect!
• Day 12: Mt. Taylor to Near Cattle Guard (9/18/2023) - I woke up at 6:00 a.m. today, hoping to get an early start to reach a sweet camping spot south of a cattle guard. It would be about 17 miles (27.4 km). There was an owl in a tree right near my tent. It didn’t stir as I got out of the tent, then back in to get my camera and take a picture. Too cool. Then it hooted twice and flew away.
• Day 13: Near Cattle Guard to Cistern Area (9/19/2023) - The hike to the cistern area featured the usual: the good, the bad and the ugly. Last night, my ORV neighbors headed out around 8 or 9 p.m. They appeared to use the spot in front of my (hidden) tent as their rendezvous point with their friends. I heard them again around 5 a.m. I’m almost positive they’re elk hunting. Everyone is that I’ve met.