May 26, 2025

To Red line mile 347

Hiked today: 21.9 miles / 35.2 km

Neither of us slept particularly well, so we were up early and walking by 6 am. We had a 20 mile road walk, so no navigating required but a long, hard slog. Either side of the road was dry grassland, and we could see for miles. In the early morning we saw a coyote (or possibly a grey wolf) long along into the distance. Grey wolves have recently been reintroduced into New Mexico and are a protected species.

Next we came across a herd of cows. All of them turned to look at us with bemused expressions wondering if we were mad to be out walking in the desert. Ten miles further along, we headed 0.2 miles off road across a field of dry grass and clay soil to a solar powered well. We were able to collect and filter water. Due to the algae, it took 45 minutes to filter with frequent stops to back flush the filter. A major problem for us is that most water sources are now dry as we are heading into summer. We calculated that we need enough water to take us the next 18 miles plus more for dinner. We hope that 4l each will be enough.

We next had a long slog up the road with heavy packs, then the road wound up a hill to the point where the alternate track we are on, joins back with the CDT. We had to stoop and slide under a barbed wire fence to get onto the track and then we headed up to a ridge with a view where we ate dinner.  Then we were down a steep slope, dusty and rocky, with the trail obscured by dead fall. This is when dead trees following a fire have fallen across the trail and we have to chamber up, down or around the tree to get back on the trail. Finally we were down to a flatter level tent site.