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Subject: 5/7, day 11, 18 miles

We had a cold night and realized how cold when we tried to pour water that had frozen. It was, of course, the first night after steam crossings so our shoes were icy too.

We crossed the Gila River innumerable times, but the Ranger told us 3, so 4 or 5 is a good guess of crossings per mile.
We had trouble following the trail. The river obviously washes it every rainy season. We just followed the river up the canyon. It wasn't easy at times, but we couldn't get lost.

... Gottawalk

 Subject: 5/8, Day 12, 18 miles

Started the day camped at a forest service camp at the bridge over Gila River at Gila Hotsprings. Our shoes had frozen the night before. We finally got them thawed enough to road walk 2 miles to Doc Campbells, a small store. Problem was that it didn't open for 2 hours. After peeking through the windows we deecided it wasn't worth the wait.
We road walked 3.5 miles to Gila Visitor Center, then took a side trip to Gila Cliff Dwellings. Interesting. One woman was terrified at the cliff dwellings (heights) and I thought how sad to let fear limit our lives. Maybe that's why I hike. However, we are down in the canyons instead of on the divide. Because the divide is waterless with undefined trail and indeterminate miles. I guess we just have different limits.

Next was hitch back to visitor center, then started long hike up the Middle Fork of Gila River. Canyon walls frequently 300 to 400 feet high and carved into spires and other interesting shapes. Hiking was difficult. We were crossing the river 3-4 times per mile. All approaches to the river were loose sand and river rock. We did make it up the canyon 13 miles. As we get farther up the canyon narrows and crossings become more frequent. Our legs are painfully chapped from air drying and rose and berry bushes scratching our legs front and back. We have no lotion so I used olive oil...thanks again, Jerry!

Plump black tadpoles are at each crossing. The surprise is the huge spotted brown tadpoles almost 6" long, some already with back legs. The fish we saw were also big that we wondered if the hot springs had something that promotes growth.

We found a hot springs about 11 miles up, and soaked our tired feet for a few minutes.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 5/9, Day 13, 22 grueling miles

Continued hiking thru the canyon of the Middle Fork of the Gila. Same as the day before - many more stream crossings. Saw a small herd of elk. They were in a canyon with no way out except going a couple of miles upstream. Saw bear prints on the trail 2 or 3 time during the day.

Late in the day the canyon widened, the river got smaller. We rock hopped the last few stream crossings.

We hiked until 8:30 that night to get to Snow Lake at the top of the Gila River. Saw our first humans that day at the campground. Campground had picnic tables, pit toilets, and water spigots.

Coyotes howled during the middle of the night. Our campsite was exposed and cold.

... Gottawalk

Subject: 5/10, day 14, 7840'on divide
We spent last night at Snow Lake where our shoes froze again. We were in a FS campground without correct change of $5/vehicle. We decided we aren't vehicles. (The FS ranger later agreed that we didn’t have a vehicle and shouldn’t pay. J) Other occupants of the campground got up during the night and ran their cars to warm up.

We hiked 23 miles to Collins Park (another name for a meadow). Easy road walking was constantly interrupted by visitors: the same FS woman 2 times, several Negrito Fire Base Hotshots and 2 groups from an owl survey camp. Both of the latter said the supervisor is an avid hiker and would we please come to their camp. We gave the last group our regrets and a hiking card and said he could visit us at Collins Park if he brought Coke and Pringles. Still waiting. Several pickups also stopped to ask if we needed help. All our visitors seemed to be aware of the CDT.

We're out of fuel. That's the first time ever that we've miscalculated. We were in a big hurry to get out of Mimbres and hike because we...

... Gottawalk

Subject: 5/11, day 15, lots of miles
Elevation was supposed to be 8975 feet. We overshot that several times.

USGS map from 1929 in meters, guide text in feet (mountain 8975), map road number doesn't match road number on the ground, jeep roads on ground but not on map or text: we weren't exactly having a good time. Got to Spurgeon tank by accident and took a long but dependable route to the divide. (And our route wasn't on the map.) If we measure miles by work and the number of hours hiking our day was about a 30 miler.

The terrain is rolling forest that is too dense to bushwhack through in places which makes map reading impossible. More deer and elk are bounding around.

Last three miles were a joy with a campsite in deep oak leaves, better than any mattress. Supper was instant hot chocolate served cold and lumpy. We were too tired to be hungry and thought "pudding" sounded good.

Tomorrow we need to get to Reserve, so we’ve...

... Gottawalk

Subject: 5/12, day 16, 21 miles, 9050 elev.
We were mostly hiking to get to highway 12, which leads to Reserve: PO, shower, laundry and town food. We hiked hard through rolling mountains with tan grass and green juniper and ponderosa. Part of our hiking was following blazes on trees or stone cairns cross country...slow. Our first water opportunity since Negrito Fire Base was Damian Spring that is said to always flow. There was a pool 6" in diameter and the water was .75 in. deep. We filtered out about a liter and the seep back was too slow to filter, so we pumped the spring temporarily dry. Saw more deer and elk.

Rush to get to Reserve. Need to call our Mothers for Mothers Day.

... Gottawalk