I’m making it - Lordsburg to Silver City (Mile 85-161.7)

  (Mile 85-161.7) May 16th - May 20th

I made it to Silver City about 12:30pm today! The scenery has changed from flat desert to mountains! The highest point so far has been 8,020 feet. On the road out of Lordsburg, NM, I ran into a man named, Silvio Suanez, who is 62 years old. He is an Air Force vet and is biking from San Diego to Florida. We chatted for about 30 minutes and then went our separate ways.

At the first water stop I got water from a pump that fed a cow trough. I didn’t think any cows were in the area till the whole heard came over the hill. At first they just stared at me wondering if they could trust me, but then slowly came to the trough and started drinking water from the same place I just filled up. I guess out in the desert we are all after the same thing. Two of the female cows starting fighting over the water so I sat and watched, then the bull came over the hill and wasn’t happy I was around. I was just glad there was a fence between us.

Along the way I ran into another man. This guy is a legend of his own time. I just sat down on a rock for a break and this older man came around the corner and said, “break time, huh?” He sat down next to me and I heard from the previous day from another hiker of an older guy driving a van supporting his son on the CDT. I also heard that he thru hiked the CDT. So, I asked him, “Did you thru hike this trail?” He told me, “Sure did! I started thru hiking when I was 60. I’ve done the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail three times over, all 1100 National Park trails, and I did the CDT back in 2005. I’m now 81 years old.” We chatted for a few minutes then he smacked my arm and said, “Well, James, have a nice day!” Just like that he was off and so was I.

The next few days I didn’t see anyone, so I just walked on and listened to music. The mountains have been pretty rough going up and down, but that’s something I’m gonna get used to because they only get bigger in Colorado! I keep my pace between 15-18 miles a day till my legs work up to doing over 20. The last 14 miles to Silver City were all down highway 180. It was a little sketchy with all the semi trucks and cars flying by, but I made it. I even had one guy stop and ask if I wanted a lift. I told him I was grateful for the offer, but I was gonna walk the last few miles. The CDT association says to get your name on the completion list you have to hike 3,000 of the 3,100 miles. I figured I’d save the hitch hiking for a snowy or rainy day in Colorado or Montana.

The next stop is Pie Town, it’s one of the two longest stretches of the trail. So I’ll take the Gila River alternate route to have a constant supply of water and have a few resupply points along the way for food! All in all, it was a pretty solid 4 days!