June 15, 2025
‘Red line’ mile marker 770.6 to 780.0
Hiked today: 9.4 miles / 15.1 km
Hiked so far: approx 25% of CDT

Our camping spot proved to be both well sheltered and quiet until the coyotes sang in the middle of the night. In the morning we hiked on through some meadows, enjoying wet feet again! Rob saw an elk with huge antlers but it had moved off before I could catch a glimpse. Our friends, Amethyst and Timber, caught up with us after breakfast and a water stop.

We all hiked on up and over further slopes until we arrived at the border between New Mexico and Colorado. There, on the Colorado side was an esky full of cans of beer and soft drink – a great celebration for completing the New Mexico portion of the CDT.

The last few miles continued up a mountainside with views to the distant snow capped mountains and then down to the carpark at Cumbres Pass where we finished this section of our hike.

While we waited for a lift to town, we were able to watch the arrival of a steam train, bringing tourists to the mountains. Then we were off to Chama where we now are staying in a motel. Unfortunately, Rob has been experiencing an unusual degree of breathlessness. It has responded somewhat to salbutamol but we will try to see a doctor for a check up before heading into the high mountains of Colorado.