Journey Return

May 22
Start: Cuba, NM
Stop: near hwy 96
27 miles
Total miles: 510

The room did not flood and the feet are in the puddles along the roadway by 6 am. An hour later I remember a few more things that I want my parents to send in my next resupply box. So I call my poor parents at 6 am their time. I of course wake them up and my mom takes more notes. I say goodbye and a few steps later I lose cell service.

The climb to Los Pinos Trailhead is a muddy one. A good old fashioned slip and slide. Past the trailhead, the trail turns into a creek which then just turns into snow. And it’s an over 3,000 ft. climb pushing up near an elevation of 10,600 ft. 3 miles in 2 hours. And then another 7 miles in 5 hours. The trail is either snow or flowing snow melt. I posthole often and the amount of work it takes to get through this stuff is tremendous.

Luckily the sun is out when my grumbling stomach orders me to stop. It’s a short break where I sit on a nice log and contemplate my freezing feet. Soon I’m headed down the other side of the mountain where there is a massive blow down section. More slow going. I find a Golite umbrella and add it to my collection.

I happen upon a lovely spring and take a short break. No sign of Beads since after 11 am. I push on until just after 8 pm where I find a nice cow pie campsite. Sprinkles flit from the sky so it’s good timing. My first night alone in 500 miles.