Mesas to San Pedro Parks Wilderness of the Santa Fe National Forest.

Goodbye to the waterless sands of the mesas. Hello to the lush Santa Fe forest. The last day of zombie hiking through the heat trying to conjure clouds of shade. Appreciation of miraclous flowers on desert sands were behind me.

Cuba

There is nothing like the feeling of clean clothes. Especially socks. Although I haven’t had a shower since Pie Town, I felt much cleaner. The dried sweaty salt that was chalking my shirts was gone. Along with the snot crisps on my sleeves.

It was fun meeting up with five thru-hikers in town. Which was weird since I haven’t seen anyone for 3 days.

I also talked to a foreign couple bicycling the CDT. They gave me some water as I headed out of town.

I walked by a house and a guy yelled, “want a barbecue?”

“Sure!” I yelled back as I headed up their driveway. They were a Navajo family celebrating their son’s graduation. We talked about the weather and the trail. I said thank you and they told me how to say thank you in thier language. “Ah he he.”

Ghost Ranch

Water was dependable and it was nice not carrying the extra weight. Cattle would stare at me as I filled my water bottle from their troughs. I walked along the beautiful Rio Chama toward Ghost Ranch. There I met a couple of hikers. One had a sketch book that she had drawn cartoons of her adventures. It was amazing. At the ranch I used there free ice to make kool-aid as I sat and stared at the light playing off the rocks. I was transformed into a Georgia O’Keeffe painting.

The rolling terian with shade trees and small creeks seemed like paradise. I liked to take a break at a spring. Camel up on some drinks while listening to the babbling brook.

Colorado

A special moment crossing from New Mexico into Colorado. My body has been broken but rebuilt into a efficient hiking machine. New Mexico has prepared me mentally as well for the new struggles ahead.