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 Mesquite scrub and openness. There is peace that can be found out in the desert regions. There was little elevation, change and little scenery change, except for the density of the scrub. Everything is going well, although I realized for the longer food and water carries I do not think the body of the pack I’m carrying has enough volume, I’ll address that later. I only plan to hike about 17 miles per day until Lordsburg says that to overexert myself with the temperature change from home. During one of the days I hitched a ride into Hachita to use the Community Center and patronize the Hachita store. Jeff and his small staff are as gracious, helpful, and friendly as anyone you will meet. Talking with one of the CBP agents that day I found out that my favorite chile farm in Deming would be shipping again. It had ceased operations a few years ago after the death of one of the family. Happy moments!

Day 2

After a quick breakfast, I walked the blue line alternate and around mile 20 stop for a rest and put out my umbrella. About 10 minutes into that nap. I heard a helicopter fly overhead and looked up noticing that it was a military aircraft. The helicopter circled four times and then landed approximately 1/2 mile away. I saw two individuals disembark from the helicopter and they began walking down the road towards me so I turned, walked in their direction. It was the New Mexico National Guard helicopter with the customs and border protection agent on board. They were merely checking on me as I was the only thing out there and it was a rather hot day. I had a great conversation with them as both of them and I share the same history with law-enforcement and military. I feel so blessed that they would land and check on me. That is definitely been the highlight of my journey thus far. I filled up 4 Liters at the second water cache and then walked on towards just before sunset.

Day 3

The CDT signs are pretty numerous so it is mostly easy to keep on path. Around mid morning a pair of F 16 were flying a training sword overhead. It has been 14 years since I’ve seen fighter aircraft in the desert, today is a happier time. The trail skirted along the foot of the mountains, but otherwise repeated the day before.

Day 4
Day four started near the fourth water, cash, and another beautiful sunrise. The foliage was becoming thicker in places, but still no real shade to be found. I came across the line of telephone holes and it reminded me of a question that I asked my mother years ago. She having been raised on a farm 6 miles out of town and how she managed to visit her friends with the distance being so great between houses and Grandpa, Grandma, or one of her older siblings, took her to visit. She said simple “you walk a telephone pole, and then you run a telephone pole, and then you walk a telephone pole, and run a telephone pole. Soon you will get there” funny the things that come back to you in the desert. Around mile 70, maybe 72 I came across the first real shade tree I had seen. It was late enough in the day to pitch camp.

Day 5

The last miles to Lordsburg. I started early enough so that I could make it to town by lunchtime and the trail was more long and flat.

I caught sight of Lordsburg about 6 miles out of town in over the next two hours. It didn’t seem to get any closer. Finally walking down the road past their veterans Park and into civilization. I stopped for lunch and plenty of lemonade and was preparing to go to my hotel. Little did I realize that my hotel was 2 miles out of town on the old hotel road. Poor planning on my part. I found someone to give me a ride to the post office sitting in the hotel. Apparently my resupply box had made a detour out to Little Rock and was going to be a day late. Oh well, little extra rest after the desert was in a bad thing.Lordsburg is a little oasis in the desert, the people, friendly and kind and the pace slow. A good place to be for a few moments.

Final Thoughts

“Do not judge me by my success, judge me by how many times I fell down and got back up again.” – Nelson Mandela