Day 85

Day 85 (cdt 10): 19 miles

Last night was the first time in the CDT that I camped near some other people. Didn’t get moving until about 9 this morning cause it was cold again. I refilled a water bottle in the river and my hand went numb pretty quick. After a few river crossings I finally got in some sunlight and it wasn’t too bad. Early in the morning I saw some havalina (spelling?) basically wild boar in New Mexico.

It was a tough but pretty uneventful day, probably had over 30 river crossing but none too deep. The trail did get worse today and there was a decent amount of bushwhacking. At times I was getting shredded by sharp plants. Not really enjoyable. I think it’s a combination of getting hit with those and sunburnt but my calves are tender. I haven’t been putting sunscreen on them cause they’re usually caked in mud but I guess that didn’t get the job done.

Today I also came across a different kind of high grass. It was almost like bamboo but when it was dried out in the sun it was orange and looked like a snake which I did not like. I also think it’s the plant they used in Without a Paddle when they hide underwater.

I made it to the final junction with the Gila high route which I’ll take tomorrow to save my feet from a few more river crossings. Being wet 24/7 has done a number on them and they are hurting periodically from the damaged skin so I’m ready to get back to some dry hiking. That being said, I’ll still have some river crossings tomorrow but it shouldn’t be 30. I’ve been interested in the gila high route this whole time. I’m sure it’s amazing and I want to come back for it someday but I decided against it for most of this alternate because allegedly there isn’t much trail, it’s mostly you finding your own way and I didn’t want to have to move that slowly. Also the lower route has been fantastic!

I listened to a Joe Rogan podcast today with Matthew McConaughey. I think I could listen to them speak for days on end.

Tonight I am truly cowboy camping in a cave. Gonna try with no sleeping pad (because there’s a lot of little pointy rocks so I’m scared it might pop) so we’ll see how this goes. (Continued)

There’s a bunch of frogs or something nearby in the water that are making sounds nonstop. At first, I thought it might be soothing now it’s just annoying as hell.

Song of the day: we can’t stop-Miley Cyrus
Absolute banger