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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 back to the trailhead. One nice local gentleman who was kind enough to take me approximately 15 miles and a deputy sheriff took me the next 32 miles. My hips are still bothering me and I began the 39 mile walk to Pie Town.
My pace had slowed considerably, and I took a video of the way I was walking to assess it. I could tell that hip rotation and stride were way off, and at the slow pace that I was moving, it would take me four days to reach pie town. I walked in approximately 3 miles and sat down to reconsider. After about an hour of contemplation, I turned around and walked back to the trailhead at Highway 12 and began to hitchhike back to Datil.
As luck would have it a couple of nice gentlemen who I had met a few days before that were in the mountains on their ATVs searching for elk and deer antlers stopped and gave me a ride to 47 miles back. I check back into the motel and had a friendly chat with three more antler hunters who are staying in the room next to me.
Knowing that my body needed a break from the mountains from the altitude, I decided to return home and think about my options. I am not ready to abandon this through hike no any other hike. I spent the night tossing and turning thinking about this and in the morning walked out to the road and began hitchhiking to Albuquerque. I was picked up immediately by the first gentleman who gave me a ride the day before, and he drove me all the way to Socorro MM, a considerable distance.
In Socorro, I walk to the highway and had only been there a few minutes before a white truck pulled forward from the traffic light just south of the entry ramp and began to flash their lights and drove in front of me. It was the gentleman from Belen NM who were in the room next to me. I might actually be related to one of them. His family is from Wagon Mound, New Mexico, where my grandmother was from. Harvest family, then moved to LaJunta, Colorado, where my grandparents lived after leaving New Mexico. A great chance meeting. They drove me to Belen and dropped me at the Rail Runner station to catch the local train to Albuquerque.
I decided not to wait for the train and instead opted for an Uber ride to get me to the airport. by the time my plane landed in Montana I had came up with my plan. I would return to Spain to finish the Camino Francis and go back to the CDT when it’s complete. I have not decided whether to continue NOBO in New Mexico, or SOBO in Montana, where I left off in the fall when I came off Trail for foot surgery. I’d be interested in your suggestions.
The long and short of it for this post is, I’m coming off the CDT to finish another adventure and then returning. A continuous foot path across the world.
Final Thoughts
“A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving.”
– Lao Tzu
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Comments 11
I know I don’t post often on your blog,.. but if I were you, I’d go SOBO once I return back to Montana. Otherwise, it’s gonna get really hot going NOBO.
I think you are right. Also, if there are issues I’ll be close to home. Thanks for reading!
Oh boy I didn’t see that coming. Living true to your trail name tho. Recently Peg Leg posted her stretching routine for her hips, on you tube. I started doing them before bed and once during the day, and it made a difference and how I feel when I woke up in the morning, I was quite surprised. I had not seen some of those stretches, in particular the reverse clamshell which stretches your hip and glute in a bizarre manner, thus I call it the Gumby move.
So wonderful how people helped you out with transport.
I wish you smooth painfree travels and look forward to your future reports.
I’ll need to do something. No problems thus far in Spain. This really lets me know that I should focus on a routine before and after the day’s hike. I’m determined to go as far as my body will let me.
I would say go SOBO in Montana, too because of the heat. Enjoying your writing & how you casually deal with the situations as they come up & your pictures are super nice! My son is in Malaga Spain if your trail goes anywhere near there?
I believe you’re right about SOBO. The Camino Frances is across Northern Spain. Your son is lucky to be in Andalusia. I’ll be done soon and posting a number of days behind me. It is a blessing both here and in New Mexico for people to ask who I belong to and that I am from here. I’ll return to Pamplona for several weeks of intensive Spanish language as I wasn’t taught growing up and had no interest in yet another elective in school. All things in time.
Sorry to hear the hip is acting up. Glad you are listening to your body and not overdoing it. I had hip pain and it was related to a back injury, the chiropractor figured it out. Just what you need, another medical opinion! 😄 Best of luck in Spain, hopefully with a lighter load your pain will abate. Safe travels.
I agree with Wendy in that I really enjoy your writing, and also impressed how you casually roll with changes and snaffu’s as they come up. I’ve been armchair rooting for your success on the CDT, have been impressed and inspired, and enjoy your posts whenever I get an alert! You were doing great miles if you ask me! But it seems like the best move to pivot with the increasing hip pain. I hope you get back to the CDT as soon as you are ready and able, and I hope you continue to post on TheTrek. Meanwhile, safe and happy trails to you!
Safe & healthy travels to you! I’d love to try the CDT and reading about an older person hiking that trail is very inspiring. I live near Campo and have hiked parts of the PCT with my fiancé. Take care!
Wishing you well. Enjoying your posts. Im 6 weeks post op knee replacement at 70 and envious of your exploits. Hope you will find someone to help with hips before you go back to Camino Way, even if you have to drive all day to Denver. Go in peace brother.
It’s a wise choice to take a break from the CDT to recover your hips. It would be great if you could get in with a sports physical therapist to help you rehab the hips. I so enjoy your perspective on hiking and traveling. I appreciate the photos and quotes. I look forward to the next stage in your journey. Best wishes! Dr. Sylvia Jones