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Charles Gutierrez

Trail Name “Boomerang” Retired Military Officer, World Traveler, Chef, and aspiring Thru Hiker. Taking the all-of-the-above approach to not growing old gracefully and living the quiet life in Montana. My wife and I have a small ranch and 18 horses and mules. Having successfully thru-hiked The Appalachian Trail in June, 2024 I spent a few weeks healing overuse injuries and started SOBO on The Continental Divide Trail in early August, 2024 and came off trail for foot surgery. In January 2025 I began to walk the 560 miles from France to the coast of Spain on the Camino Frances and came off the pilgrimage with the flu for 18 days. In March 2025 I will begin my trek North from Crazy Crook NM to Canada to complete the CDT. Upon completion I will either begin a SOBO journey on the PCT or return to Spain to complete the Camino Frances. We'll see what the far side of the year will bring.

Posts

Day 19 Continental Divide Trail (CDT) 2025

Day 19 Continental Divide Trail (CDT) 2025

The Pie Town road walk that wasn’t After mildly recovering from the long days going north to Highway 12 I woke up on day 19 and began to hitchhike

May 2, 2025 : Charles Gutierrez
Days 16-18 on the Continental Divide Trail

Days 16-18 on the Continental Divide Trail

Enough is enough and I could wait no longer for my resupply in Reserve. With the help of a new friend, Juan, I was able to find my way back 40+ miles

Apr 27, 2025 : Charles Gutierrez
Days 13-15 on The Continental Divide Trail

Days 13-15 on The Continental Divide Trail

New Mexico is the Land of Enchantment. Having the good fortune to see so much of it that I have never seen before, although I have driven past it.

Apr 22, 2025 : Charles Gutierrez
Continental Divide Trail Days 9-12

Continental Divide Trail Days 9-12

There is a beauty down here that I would describe is alluring and stark. After my chance meeting with the good folks at Ravenswing Farm I had a

Apr 17, 2025 : Charles Gutierrez
Continental Divide Trail Days 6-8

Continental Divide Trail Days 6-8

An extra 24 hours in Lordsburg, waiting for my resupply box to get to me was not a total waste. I took the opportunity to sample a little more food,

Apr 4, 2025 : Charles Gutierrez
Days 2-5 on The Continental Divide Trail

Days 2-5 on The Continental Divide Trail

I don’t think there’s any way to do this besides putting days two through five together the remaining portion into Lordsburg. There was a lot of

Mar 31, 2025 : Charles Gutierrez
Day 1 Continental Divide Trail NOBO Thru Hike

Day 1 Continental Divide Trail NOBO Thru Hike

“Let’s start at the beginning. It’s a very good place to start”– Do-Re-Mi lyrics The Sound of Music. A flight from home in Montana to El Paso, Texas

Mar 28, 2025 : Charles Gutierrez
Continental Divide Gear List for 2025 NOBO Start

Continental Divide Gear List for 2025 NOBO Start

After some fits and starts, ordering and reordering, weighing and replacing, And going through my gear bins I am finally packed for my noble start on

Mar 10, 2025 : Charles Gutierrez
Camino Frances Day 11 Santiago de la Calzada to Belorado and The Flu

Camino Frances Day 11 Santiago de la Calzada to Belorado and The Flu

What Had Happened Was... I have put off writing this post and the last few probably because I'm still in denial. Bottom line up front I returned to

Mar 4, 2025 : Charles Gutierrez
Camino Frances Days 9 & 10 Navarrette to Santa Domingo de la Calzada

Camino Frances Days 9 & 10 Navarrette to Santa Domingo de la Calzada

Slowing Down and Enjoying the Beauty I had planned on going from Navarrette to Santa Domingo de la Calzada in one day. My plans went astray

Mar 2, 2025 : Charles Gutierrez