Will hold for 2 weeks after estimated arrival date.

Hours: M-F   0800 - 1500 (knock on door until 1630)
          Sat   0800 - 1500

Day 6 - 5/2 - into Silver City
Its 10:00 and Ken took the H20 filter down the canyon to Mud Spring for 2 liters. We're running along the rugged, mountainous divide with Ponderosa pines, lots of singing birds and no people or animals. I can hear the wind in the trees above and am so glad to be sheltered. 

We got off on the wrong ATV trail coming down the mountain. Oops. We were a bit lost but knew we would hit the right road. We finally found the road and walked by a huge mine dump.

We'll be back onto NM 90 for another road walk. If I run out of water I'll just hold my empty bottle up to sparse passing traffic.

We're both feeling great, but need to take thorns out of our soles and slivers out of our calves.
... Gottawalk

Subject: Day 7, 15 miles, elev 6570, 5/3
We left Silver City at 12:30 pm after much needed baths and laundry. It's funny how long it takes to get everything clean & organized again. We picked up our 2nd box of food. The Tide leaked and made a mess.

Silver City is a college town with an artistic bent. Also walked by a large copper mine with miles of multi-colored many levels mine tailings.

Today started with a 6 mile road walk. Weather was great for hiking. At lunch (sitting on a roadside pile of dirt) a little old lady stopped to warn us about the local ants. Seems they are small but pack a painful bite. She asked where we were going.  When we responded Mimbres, she said you can't get there from here. We told her our maps said we could. She didn't believe us. Marcia said we would send her a postcard. She smiled and that was the end of the conversation.

The rest of the day was exceptionally good hiking. Finally found trees taller than 6 feet.

Subject: Day 8, 5 miles, elev ?  5/4

Surprise! We are back in Silver City.

We realized this morning that we cannot pick up our mail in Mimbres until Monday morning. We came out on a highway 6 miles from Silver City and decided it was a better place to stay.

Besides the 'Tour of the Gila' bicycle races were in town. The criterion was in progress when we arrived. Ken watched the top women and men flying around town.

Back to hiking news...

The trail today was really great. Nice trees, soft trail - mostly single track.

At 7:30 am the bells on the monastery across the valley started to ring.  Pretty neat when you are deep in the woods and not expecting it.

Off to Mimbres early tomorrow.