Will hold packages indefinitely.

Subject: Day 9, 21 miles, elev 9029 
We began hiking today at Arrastras, a historic gold ore mining/crushing site.

The trail on forest duff, jeep track and fist-to-head sized pumice made another good hiking day. The temperature is perfect although the vegetation is so dry it looks like late fall. Parts of the trail were pretty steep. Guess we need more climbing practice.

End of a long 21 miles. We came out to the road right where the PO should be but someone said it's another 5 miles down the road. The good news is that a restaurant is where the PO is supposed to be. The special was salmon and baked potato.

We saw a fantastic snake and tried to get a picture. It was banded red white and black. Neither one of us could remember the color order of the bands that indicated a poisonous snake. We also got a picture of a small horned toad I also saw my first wood violet with heart shaped leaves.

Our first fellow hiker on the trail was Meegan. She asked to hike with us and wanted to hear stories. She also said Mimbres has commune that is willing to share their hot springs.

It's getting dark and we have to find a campsite.

... Gottawalk
 

Subject: 5/6, Day 10, 20 miles, elev 6599
7 stream fords (actually 1 stream 7 times)
We saw 5 deer and
crossed the divide at 6599 feet.

Started the day by hitching to the PO to get our box. The hitch there was easy, the return wasn't. Talked to the ranger and decided the best route was to hike up the Gila River for an extra day.

We road walked 16 miles. A few miles along a 65-year-old bicyclist caught us and rode along and talked to us. Made a mile go by fast.

Finished the day hiking in and out of deep ravines. At the beginning we waded the creek repeatedly. Now we have clean feet, and nearly clean shoes. We are 3 miles from the Gila. We expect 3 river crossings per mile for most of the way up the river.

We camped at an old corral 4 miles down the Sapillo Creek. We saw a sign that said Wild Cow Herd Collection Area, but didn't see any cows.

... Gottawalk