Day 16: April 9, 2023
AZT mile 220.7 to 240.6
Hiked today: 20.9 miles / 33.6 km
AZT ascents today: 889m , descents: 838m
AZT hiked to date: 30.0%

Water carrying seems to be the biggest challenge in this dry desert region. We need to drink more because of the hot dry conditions, and water sources are spaced far apart, so we have to carry greater quantities, which slows us down, increasing our water needs! Today we stopped at a large tank fed by a well and could get nice clear water from an outlet.

The trail was mostly undulating over low hills, and with the weather continuing to warm up, we are seeing more wildlife every day. Today, we passed 3 rattle snakes close by or on the trail. We also saw a number of rabbits and small ground squirrels, horned lizards, and plenty of birdlife.

After a lunch break, it was hard to get moving again in the heat of the midday sun. We started down a dirt road with a soft gravel surface, trudging slowly as each step was a bit forward along with a slide backward. Watching our feet, we walked right past the turnoff to the trail and had to retrace our steps, doing an extra mile of very hard work in the hottest part of the day.

We did finally make it to the campsite we had chosen as our goal, and the adjacent water cache was well stocked. After a good meal, we are now in bed exhausted after a long, hot day.