Lucy Ondo

Days 7 to 10, April 7-11

Mile 86 to 162

After a zero in Lordsburg spent relaxing and watching the final day of play of the Masters, I met up with Ghost on Monday morning to hike to Silver City.

Hiking across cow pastures in open sun was hot and exhausting. It felt as if we were not making progress although we were slowly gaining altitude on the way to the Burro mountains.

The pastures were sometimes cut by wide washes.

Following is the type of gate typically found in these vast pastures.

I suspect ranchers do not trust hikers to close normal gates.

The coop windmill at mile 103 resupplied our water as the trail wound around Hornbrook Mountain and we began to see the beauty of south west New Mexico.

Ghost and I each camped solo as I wanted to take advantage of the cool evening and get a couple more miles. It was an amazing night to sleep without the tent fly and look up at the star filled night sky.

There is now a CDT trail and sometimes dirt roads to follow.

By noon we are at the Burro trailhead parking lot. We took a long rest and while eating lunch Dirtbag joined us.

After waiting for the day to cool we start up Jacks Peak (7900′) where we camp on top of the mountain and listen to the wind whistle through the tall pine trees.

After an early start up Burro Peak (8000′) it is mostly downhill through Deadman Canyon into Silver City. We hitched a ride to avoid the busy highway walk along 90.

During the first section into Lordsburg we were overtaken at water cache 4 by a hiker called Bangarang who had started his hike the day after us. He was leaving Lordsburg as we arrived. Previously he has thru hiked the AT. In each year 2015/2016/2017 he thru hiked the PCT. He prepared for the CDT by hiking 300 miles on the PCT. Serious hiker dude built like a linebacker. While talking with him I thought it best to not mention I prepared for my hike by playing golf.