And They're Off!

I'm finally home, where I belong. Back on the trail. 

After two hellish days and nights on a Greyhound bus, Gary and I finally met up with Beaker and made it to Deming, NM. Trail Angels Keith and Mary Schwarzer helped us with local info and made sure we made it down to Palomas, Mexico. We ate a huge meal while a Mariachi band played. Getting back across the border was no problem and the hike had begun. Didn't get started until about 2pm and did a straight road walk about 12 miles north right back to Willie Pritchard's ranch. He kindly let us camp and water up on his property.

First full day on the trail was a blunt reminder of how harsh this environment can be. Every plant wants to stab you - each of us had 1 1/2" thorns poke through the soles of our trail shoes and into our feet. The sun is intense and there is absolutely no shade to be found. Sand and wind that can blast a license plate clean. Carrying enough water to get to the next source and navigation are the main concerns. Made 23 miles today and set up our tents in 30mph winds. 

Stay tuned for posts about the prototype backpack that Honor Point made for me, using Fitbit to track my mileage, staying warm with Stormy Kromer and my Montrail shoes from Ann Arbor's Running Fit. 

Gary and Beaker mark the GPS location of a water cache in the middle of the desert. 

Trail Angel Keith Schwarzer.

Gary and Chris hold the CDT bandana in front of the Pancho Villa statue in Palomas, Mexico.

Chicken mole and a Mariachi band to celebrate the start of the hike.

Mostly road walking the first day.