I was sort of anxious to get going this morning on the Pie Town Alternate, as I feel the need to get home and take care of some parental issues. Leslie and her mother dropped me off this morning at 8:30, telling me they thought the route would be pretty flat. Yay!
Except it was anything but. The roads were quite rocky for most of the day, plus climbed from about 7,100’ (2,164 m) in elevation to more than 9,100’ (2,774 m)! It was pretty awful. When I’d earlier thought I would be hiking on flat, gravel roads all day, I was hoping to make it 26 miles (41.8 km) to the Davila Ranch, a shelter on this route where they have laundry, wifi, water, a fridge with food, etc. But with all of the rocks and hills, I only made it a little over 20 miles (32.2 km) to a spigot on the side of the road. The other water sources were yucky, so this was my goal when I realized Davila Ranch would be too far.
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Dreaming of Pie Town
I’m now camped a little past the spigot. I should be able to reach Davila Ranch tomorrow morning to stock up on more 
water. And the legendary Pie Town, famous for its pies and the Toaster House, a free hiker/biker hostel. The temps were cool today, which was great, but it will be cold tonight (about 40 F / 4.4 C). Thus, I carried my sleeping bag liner. It was annoying extra weight, but I’ll be glad I have it tonight.
Snowshoe
Today’s Miles: 20.9 mi (33.6 km)
CDT Miles to Date: 385.5 (620.4 km)
CDT Miles to Go: 2,714.5 (4,368.6 km)
