Twig Adventures

May 4th, 2019 Gila Alt. mm 73.6 – mm 101.1 Distance in miles: 27.5 0630-1830 It was so very cold when I woke up…into the 30’s. Putting on wet shoes and socks was bad enough but I dreaded starting off immediately with river crossings. We had to plunge into the icy water in our first 30 steps. Then over and over again after that. I couldn’t feel my feet and my rash burned. I was wearing all my layers, including my tights. They got wet below the knees but I didn’t care. Thank goodness that there weren’t any waist-high crossings like the first day. We only had to go about 4 miles to the end and were so happy to[…]

May 3rd, 2019 Mm 49.4 – Gila Alt. mm 73.6 Distance in miles: 24.2 0630-1930 It was a long, tedious, but beautiful day working our way up the river. I slept well and was ready for a full day. The canyon walls are very high, steep, and narrow in this section, which means there are even more river crossings. But all the while I felt like I was surrounded by magnificent castle walls. I have enjoyed several river canyons from a raft but this is one of the grandest I have seen. Too bad I was on foot and had to be looking down most of the time. There was really good trail up to Jordan hotsprings, a popular overnight[…]

May 2nd, 2019 Doc Campbells mm 40 of Gila River Alt. – mm 49.4 Distance in miles: 9.4 1400-1900 I slept well overnight but it was cold and damp in the morning. Not surprisingly I had condensation in my tent and nothing dried. It then got so cold that I had a thin layer of frost inside the tent. My water bottles did not freeze, however. So I reasoned that my water filter was still ok. I had not thought to protect it. I did not have much of an agenda for miles on this day and there were plenty of distractions in the area: hotsprings, a store with wifi, and cliff dwellings. I first went for a soak in[…]

May 1st, 2019 Gila River alternate mm 11.5 – Doc Campbells mm 40 of Gila River Alt. Distance in miles: 28.5 0630-1930 There were 2 musicians in the otherwise silent night. One was a whip-poor-will and the other an owl. Both had a very limited repertoire and were set on repeat all night long. At least they moved around so as to fade in and out. I have gotten used to tuning out whip-poor-wills but I laid awake for sometime wondering what kind of owl it was, counting the beats to its single hoot. It did not sound quite like a horned owl but that is the closest I know of. It sure liked to hoot…every 2 seconds most of[…]

April 30th, 2019 Silver city to mm 161.6 to mm 173.1 on CDT main route, then to Gila River alternate mm 11.5 Distance in miles: 23.5 0730-1830 It sprinkled overnight…just enough to hear it on my tent but not actually make anything wet. I packed up early so I could go to the laundry room to charge my phone while I worked on my blog. I figured a few things out but am still having problems with the app. I was ready to get out of town so I wouldn’t have to deal with these things for awhile. Bearman texted to say that he was on his way in and that I should take a zero but I couldn’t stomach[…]

April 29th, 2019 Side Canyon tank mm 144 – mm150.6 Distance in miles: 6.6 0630-0930 It was dead quiet overnight…not even a cricket. I went to bed before it was even dark but then woke in the middle of the night, legs and hips hurting. Guess I’ve been pushing too hard. I had to take another pain killer. But then in the morning, nothing was sore. Getting old I guess. I hiked down the canyon, enjoying the rock formations. I was hoping to see some deer, bear, etc but all I found was more cows. There was another tank that I thought of hiking to last night and I am glad I didn’t. My campsite was so nice and cozy.[…]

April 28th, 2019 Burro Peak Trailhead mm 116.5 – Side Canyon tank mm 144 Distance in miles: 27.5 0630-1800 I found the best frog and horned lizard today, so I called it a “herpy” day. Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. I love salamanders but also other herps. I just don’t mess with snakes. Climbing almost 2000 feet up to 8000 feet in elevation was the order for this morning. The climb went well but all the while I was dreaming about a smaller and lighter pack. Just when I thought I was pretty content with my gear, Trail Days gave me a bad case of packserexia. There were many nice views around the tops of Jacks and[…]

April 27th, 2019 HWY 90 crossing mm 108.6 – Burro Peak Trailhead mm 116.5 Distance in miles: 8 1600-1900 I got enough sleep to feel refreshed and wasn’t too dehydrated from the beer the night before. We all headed out to attend the free pancake breakfast in the park, sponsored by the Kiwanis club. Free food had attracted all the hikertrash for many miles around and it was a reunion of sorts. I ran into P’Diddy, Relentless, and Salty, who had just arrived, plus the French couple, Elevator and Dustbuster, and a whole bunch of others. I then checked out the booths, looking at mostly gear I didn’t want or need. Although I was greatly tempted by Six Moon Designs[…]

April 26th, 2019 Engineer’s Windmill mm 100.1 – HWY 90 crossing mm 108.6, then ride to Silver City Distance in miles: 8.5 0700-1100 I slept so well, way better than I would have in town. I also did a good job of exhausting myself the day before. I did have a migraine because of the dehydration. Easily taken care of but I will have to do better. The morning was very nice, with cotton candy clouds all around. I caught up to Bearman and we hiked the short distance to the road. I had thought about hiking an additional 8 miles to make it to another trailhead but there was a guy with trail magic set up at the road.[…]

April 25th, 2019 Cache 5 mm 78.3 – Engineer’s Windmill mm 100.1 Distance in miles: 21.8 0630-1930 I didn’t sleep very well overnight because my legs were hurting, mostly my hips. But I woke feeling rested. The morning was nice with the trail winding through the hills to town. There is a road walk that shaves a couple miles and avoids a lot of ups and downs…many take it. But I’m here to walk the trail when there is one and was rewarded with seeing lots of birds and rabbits. I met a really nice french couple along the way. This was their first long thru-hike and also first time in the US but they seemed to be handling things[…]