2024 CDT # 3 Gila River-Pie Town-Grants NM

“Never sleep indoors. Always keep moving.”     quote from Andrew Forster’s t-shirt.

This quote summarizes how we have been living for the past 12 days. It has been an extended time of hiking days with no rest ( zero ) days due to the nature of the resupply stops. No complaints as beauty surrounded us throughout the journey.

The terrain has moved away from the classic desert and has offered a variety of landscapes. A premiere hiking section passed through the Gila (pronounced ‘Heela’) National Forest. The actual trail involved several days of hiking along and in the Gila river with more than 200 crossings! Yes, our footwear was soaking all day but this was more refreshing and comfortable than I thought it would be. Only thing was the cool almost frosty mornings led to stiff and partially frozen shoes!

The cliff spires that canyoned the river were stunning at every bend. It was hard to hike with your head looking up and avoid the prickle bushes simultaneously!! While up on a river bank we spotted a HUGE 2 foot long Sonoran sucker fish drift-dancing its way downstream. Another bonus were natural hot springs!

The trail has tested us on many levels. During this stretch of time we found our fitness. With no options and following the, “Don’t think, just do” philosophy we are in better shape. I am  glad for this improvement as now more of a driving energy can apply to the venture. We are acclimatizing to higher elevations as we have been hiking steadily above 7000′ which prepares us for what’s coming in Colorado. Our appetite is up and our weight is dropping.

Mentally, the numerous road walks SUCK! This trail involves connecting trail sections by using existing roads. All kinds of roads take part : fast highways, paved, all season gravel, logging, and jeep tracks. It doesn’t take long to turn negative while hiking on hard packed gravel roads which turn your feet and lower legs into concrete blocks. It only takes a few short seconds hiking near a highway before an inner rage builds. We, therefore hitchhike on these big road sections and have met an interesting mix of drivers that include a professional  bull rider, a landscaper, a farm market seller and a martial arts instructor whose heart is torn apart about his grandson moving away. Always the people with too many things in their vehicle seem to find room for us!

I have been challenged with healing multiple blisters on my feet while walking through water for days, hiking over lava rocks, and lots of miles on roads. But! I have come to some new solutions! KT tape, gauze, antibiotic ointment, and callous donuts are my go to blister items. Epsom salt soaks when in town on a Zero day help as well.

We are thankful for a couple of rest days while we await new shoes. As the world turns we will head north to Cuba NM and we look forward to what the land wants to show us!