Movin’ and groovin’
Yowza, what a day! We crushed 27 miles, which put us back into Lordsburg and marks the end of the first stretch (I.e. a resupply point where we prepare for the next section of trail and grab any food and equipment needed).
While the town itself is quite small and sparse, since this was where we grabbed our shuttle from, we stashed some supplies at the hotel, so we really don’t actually need to do much. A few adjustments in equipment, possibly sending a few things to the next town that didn’t quite work, but all in all, a chance to relax and rest our feet (and souls).
After we woke up this morning, we carried on along the trail and was pleasantly greeted with overcast skies and a cool breeze - always welcome down in the desert.
The plan was to go about 20 miles to the final water cache, camp there, and roll into Lordsburg tomorrow morning after about 7 miles of hiking. However, early on during the day we realized it would drive us mad being so close to town, but not in a bed with real pillows. Soooo, we ended up doing a thing. And that was walking 27 miles.
Since we caught this bug early on, we decided to slow the pace and reduce breaks. Every timing or mileage point we came to where we had planned a break, we decided, eh, let’s just keep going. We’ll break in two more miles, or we’ll break in two more hours. With only our sore feet being the real gauge of time and miles continuing on, we ended up making about 20 miles, to our planned camp, without a stop longer than a few minutes.
With the terrain being smooth, it made for relatively easy walking. We did lose the trail a few times, but never to the point where we were doing extra walking. We’d be off trail for a bit, check our maps once we had lost sight of signs and and then make our way back towards the trail, but ahead of where we lost it. A little bit of zigzagging, but all in all not too shabby. The cow trails are more worn down than the CDT itself, and they often loop back towards the trail anyway. Even more, sometimes the “trail” was as unworn as the bushwhacking trails we made ourselves when righting out errors.
We did a little leap frogging with Jess and Toby, but with our lack of breaks, ended up not seeing them for the rest of the day. They plan to zero in Lordsburg, so maybe we will see them tomorrow! We also met a local rancher who’s family has been in this area since 1900, as he went to go check on the feed for his cattle at one of the marked water sources on the trail.
Typically speaking, we find water anywhere we can. Down in ranchers territory, that means the same water the cows drink. Some are like the troughs we used on the first day, and some have their own little faucets for hikers. The latter is always preferred, as you don’t share the exact source as the lovely cows. We thanked our new friend for his kindness to hikers, and continued onwards.
After about 45-60 minute break at the last cache, we decided to push on. Even though our feet were sore and our bodies weary, we trekked on in search of relaxation (and showers). Thru hikers aren’t the most attractive smelling of people, and showers can be few and far in between. There will come a point where we have grown accustomed to it and don’t notice, but we are definitely not there yet... so for the sake of our noses, and all those around, we desperately craved a shower and laundry.
The smooth rolling hills into Lordsburg, cool air, and shaded skies really made for the best case scenario for getting into town. While Bens fresh hiker legs trudged on, I decided to remind my body of what pain and misery will be in our near future, and increased my pace so I could get into town a bit before him, prep the hotel room with beer and food, and he could just collapse and not have to leave for the night.
A little while after I arrived, so too did Ben. A bit beaten and woozy, but having accomplished a 27 mile day. Not something most are able to say, not even in the hiking world; an epic feat, for sure.
I definitely didn’t come back unscathed, myself. My blister I mentioned earlier doubled (possibly tripled?). And not in size, but in layers. Drained all levels of them this evening, and the two new ones which formed on my trudge to town. The hiker hobble is in full effect (pretend you’re walking on hot coals, and the silly knee jerk movements which would ensue. Either that, or a penguins hobbling along).
Tonight we rest, and likely will take a full day off tomorrow to allow our bodies to adjust and heal as we continue to push on.
