CDT Day 83: Sierra Madre Mountains

Daily Miles: 22.5, Total Miles: 1,374.9

Walked from Riverside back to Encampment and had a cup of coffee while hitching from near the post office. A few local people drove by and stopped to apologize for going the wrong way or just a short distance. A few minutes later a lady pops out of the backdoor of the PO and asked where I was going. I said Battle Pass and she said hop in, pointing to her truck. She mentioned that she gave one hiker per year a ride back to the pass and today was my lucky day.

While hiking up the first mountain of the day, I met a couple on an ATV heading to their cabin near the top. After chatting for awhile, they invited me to their cabin for a rest, some shade, and maybe even a meal. I certainly am impressed with the folks in this small community.

Today had a bit of everything – walking rocky ridges, through forests jumbled with fallen timber (I imagined giants playing their version of the children’s game, 52 pick-up sticks), meadows of sagebrush and fragrant purple flowering bushes.

Near dusk, I stepped into a large varmint hole and went down face first, fast and hard. Fortunately OK, but a reminder to tread more carefully.

Walked and leapfrogged with Twoplay and Mooncup, a couple I met at dinner last night.