by Melanie McManus | Sep 17, 2023 | Continental Divide 2022, Trail Journals
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...
by Melanie McManus | Sep 18, 2023 | Continental Divide 2022, Trail Journals
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, according to the FarOut app. 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,...
by Melanie McManus | Sep 19, 2023 | Continental Divide 2022, Trail Journals
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...
by Melanie McManus | Sep 20, 2023 | Continental Divide 2022, Trail Journals
Today’s trek to the Trujillo water cache was very beautiful, but very difficult. This morning I struck out at 7:30 a.m., not sure whether I wanted to try to make it to the Trujillo water cache (about 22 miles/35.4 km) or stop a few miles short, knowing I could fill up...
by Melanie McManus | Sep 21, 2023 | Continental Divide 2022, Trail Journals
I thought today’s hike to Jones Canyon Spring would be a walk in the park. After all, I’d start out full of water and only be hiking about 15 miles (24.1 km), compared to yesterday’s 22 (35.4 km). Ha! So I let myself sleep in until 6:30. It had been quite windy from...