Hachita Ranch to Howell’s Ridge 17 mi :: 38 mi :: Sunny, breezy, warm We decide to walk the six miles to reliable water at a windmill before breakfast. On the way we pass two watering holes with usable water that appear to be spring-fed. We encounter some tracks in the road, one set Ann’s…

Sheridan Spring to Hachita Ranch 10 mi :: 21 mi :: Overcast, then sun We begin the first true day of the Continental Divide Bushwack. Here the trekking poles prove their worth as tools for balance and moving thorny branches. We fight through brambles and cactus up about 1000 feet to a pass, then down…

Mexican Border to Sheridan Spring 11 mi :: 11 mi :: Clear, sunny, and warm Peter drives off in the jeep, leaving us to our own devices on the Mexican border. The fear I felt before returns, but is gradually replace with the bliss of starting a great adventure. I mention this to Ann, who…

I wake up to a loud alarm at 6 am in the Palace Hotel in Silver City. I kiss Ann and she mumbles “no,” and turns over. I dress and venture out for coffee, but Silver City appears to be closed on Sunday. This doesn’t improve Ann’s mood. Peter sniffs out a place to eat…

This will probably be my last post from a ‘plugged in’ computer! We’re at Peter Gould’s house in Sante Fe. Our solar panels were rescued in Pueblo by a very busy but capable Greyhound employee named Terry. That was a big relief, and I look forward to my first attempt to send a post from…

We’re sitting at the bus station in Colorado Springs! I can’t believe it. I ran to get breakfast burritos when the bus stopped here, and when I came back the driver was unloading our bags. I can’t blame him for not letting us back on – we’d already made him late! It was agony watching…

We’re now down to just our backpacks and some supplies we will leave or mail to ourselves later. My pack with no food or water weighs 27.1 lb, Ann’s is 25.2 lb. I hope we can reduce both weights after some trail experience, but I’m not too upset with these initial weights. We have listed…

On my Pacific Crest Trail hike Pete and I almost starved due to naive food planning. Fearful from our stories, Ann really put her mind to the problem of providing us with a reasonable diet. The information she compiled follows, starting with the most general and working into more detail. The first items should satisfy…