Start: Grants Southwest Motel Stop: Grants Sands Motel 0 miles Total miles: 377 Three zeros in three weeks is unprecedented. But once I tell Beads about the snow up north we decide that slowing down a tad and taking a day here in Grants is just what the trail gods ordered. At 9:10am the room … More Day 21: Elvis Room

Start: Acoma-Zuni Trailhead Stop: Grants 21 miles Total miles: 377 It’s a 5:20 am wake up for the 6 am road walk. It’s not very long before I put the tunes in. We crush the first 8.5 miles by 9am. Luckily, the skies are covered with clouds and the temps are cool. 15 miles and … More Day 20: Walk The Line

May 13 Start: Armijo trailhead Stop: Acoma-Zuni trailhead 24 miles Total miles: 356 “Is there a Jennifer Claire Smart here?”, Shane asks as he walks up. It’s weird to hear my real name but this is how one gets their wallet back. I admit it, I’m Jennifer Claire Smart. Shane tells me that my wallet … More Day 19: The Narrows

May 12 Start: Pie Town Stop: Armijo Canyon trailhead 29 Miles Total miles: 332 We roll out about 7:30 am and hit the road. Pavement soon turns to dirt. I see my first pronghorn antelope. Beads tells stories from Saint Kits which helps the morning hours pass. Just after 1 pm and at nearly the … More Day 18: The Long Road

May 11 Start: Pie Town Toaster House Stop: Pie Town Toaster House 0 miles – “a zero” Total miles: 302.7 I awake early and make use of the free Wi-Fi at the rv lot. I’m glued to my phone as I upload the last six days of journals plus instagram pics. The sun slowly rises … More Day 17: The Pie Came First

Start: Valle Tio Outhouse Stop: Pie Town Toaster House 15 miles Total miles: 302.7 Beads’ alarm goes off at 5:15 am and we shuffle to life in our cozy outhouse. We emerge just before 6 am to find a thin layer of frozen white. The moon reflects off the ice crystals. We walk the road … More Day 16: An Everest and a Bunyan

Start: fs road 94 Stop: Valle Tio Outhouse Miles: 23.5 Total miles: 287.7 It’s about 25F as we pack up our gear. My water has ice crystals in it. A few snow flakes fall and accumulate on my tent. After rejoining the main trail we climb straight up a mountain towards a dark cloud. It’s … More Day 15: Outhouse Campout

Start: bursum and eckle canyon roads Stop: fs road 94 26 miles Total miles: 264.2 I forget to take a picture out my front window of the dozer parked nearby but nonetheless, foot hits road by 6:30am. It’s roads all morning, first dropping into the WIDE open valley and then climbing back into the mountains. … More Day 14: Squirrel Crossing

Start: past flying v canyon Stop: bursum and eckle canyon roads Miles: 20.2 Total miles: 238.2 I believe that hiking up the Gila River is quite an accomplishment. A test of strength and endurance. I awake to partially frozen socks and shoes which is like the cherry on the top of this challenge cake. I … More Day 13: Right Of Passage

Start: Jordan Hot Springs Stop: just past Flying V Canyon 20 miles Total miles: 218 Beads wants to leave at 6am but at 545am I hear nothing from her tent. Despite being mostly ready to pack up, I get back in my sleeping bag and wait for her rustlings. Besides, it’s still a little too … More Day 12: Gila Is For The Birds