Gila National Forest

---

• Day; 5
• Start:  85
• End:  109
• Miles:  24
• Hours:  11
• High temp:  84
• Low temp:  46
• People met:  2

---

Road walk out of Lordsburg 

---

Leaving Lordsburg with 5 liters of water, I notice that my pack feels fine, rides well, I'm getting used to the extra weight. A couple of cotton tails scurry under protective bushes as I approach.  Eccept for cows, small gray lizards, and a buzzard, that's about all the wildlife viewed today. There is a change in the air, clouds are rolling in from the west.  Thankfully the clouds provide a cooler morning hike. I dropped my pace to about 2.5 mph, really kind of a stroll for me. The slower pace places less stress on my feet allowing them to go longer without damage or fatigue.

One more desert stretch to navigate.  This section is flat with dried mud and scarcely placed bushes sprinkled with some grass,

Gotta cross this 

In a while a change occurs, as grasses are plentiful and the ground is softer allowing for a trail. I'm following 3 hikers this morning, Asher, Guy on a Buffalo, and Scout. They are about .2 mile ahead of me, sometimes I lose sight of them. I'm looking forward to today's hike as the trail gains altitude in the Gila National Forest. Trees, shade and an honest to goodness real built trail, very nice. 

The trail start to climb. 

I catchup with the three and we rest a while in a wash without shade. Now we are hiking separated but together, as a loosely knit group. Shortly we come upon Grim doctoring his feet. We met him at dinner last night.  Now Grim is part of the loose group. 

Starting our ascent into the Gila were water is provided by springs at cow watering facilities.  We will need to get water, so we try to decide the best ones, having the least amount of cow influence, if that is possible. 

We make our 99.9 mile point at the first well. Not bad, fresh well water seems to be flowing into a clear steel tub. We break for lunch in a scrub oak grove offering blessed shade. 

Guy on a Buffalo 

Pretty good rest area today. "Guy" resupplies at the grocery store instead of boxes. Today he is having salad with dressing. He offered me some, I gratefully accepted as fresh salad is always good. Soon Grim informs the group of a snake in a tree.  It's about 2.5 ' long, non venomous, and moves from tee to tree without getting down. No ID was offered, but I've never seen a snake do this. Frankly it give me the creeps. 

These beauties appeared in just one area. Not many other flowers of any note today, except a rather nice cacti specimen. 

Climbing continues and more scrub oaks fill the landscape. The jeep road well exposed, making for a hot hike. I developed a knack for catching breezes in my umbrella and redirecting the cool air directly down on me. I refer to this breeze redirection as "breeze showers", refreshing and delightful. 

The next water source is a solar well with a spigot on the well head, directly from the cool ground. 

Here's a candid shot of the group 

This site is flatter and better suited for the cooling off of feet and resting. 

Now for the last push of the day, trying to get somewhere above 20 miles in. Scout and I chat during this section. Scout is on the borad of directors for the Pacific Crest Trail Association. His dedication to the trail is honorable.  He relates many historical stories about the PCT that I find fascinating. The time rolls away and the light is fading. 

We spot a good camping site with Grim already setup.  The sky looks like rain tonight, I pick a spot with drainage to setup my camp. Exhausted can barely do the blog. 

Back in Lordsburg

---

• Day; 4
• Start:  70
• End:  85
• Miles:  15
• Hours:  7
• High temp:  88
• Low temp:  46
• People met:  3

---

Sunrise on day 4

---

The moon's silver light kept the little birds up as they sang sweetly in the early night. Sunrise is here, time to hike.  I soon find Scout and Frodo we hike a while with a reasonable separation, until I catch up with them at a fence. We chat a while then I move on. I like to hike faster in the cool morning hours which saves me water and discomfort.  Scout and Frodo are famous in the hiker community for several reasons, perhaps the biggest to most is they host hikers in their San Diego home just prior to the hikers Pacific Crest Trail adventure. They are a wonderful couple that hosted me when starting my PCT trek. 

Pyramid Peak

Remember Pyramid Peak from yesterday, well today the trail goes around the left side. 

Much closer now

I hike making my trail between the bushes cross country for a while until a jeep road becomes the trail.  While walking on a road is not as nice as the remote trail experience in this situation it is welcome because effort is not wasted by weaving around bushes. 

A sheep herders house

On the east side of Pyramid Peak I come upon an old sheep herders wagon home, the owner stopped to chat about a mile earlier. He spoke broken English, but the idea was, that I was free to enter his house and make a sandwich. I thank him for his generous offer, when I got to his home I admired it from the outside and moved on, I have plenty of food already.  Really he herds cows not sheep, but I have never seen ranchers use this type of home. 

The hills are splendid this morning as the morning light brings out their colors. 

Almost to the next cashe

On a trail again with about a mile to go until the next water cashe. I really carried more than enough water this whole section, I have to be careful of over drinking and flushing my electrolytes.  Water management and proper hydration are important aspects of hiking.  7 miles from here to town. I notice a vehicle parked on the road where the trail intersects. A fellow came around the vehicle to greet me saying heis name is "Apple", a trail angel, and he has cold drinks and hot dogs if I would like some. Not only tha,t he has chairs and Spoonman is already there enjoying his lunchtime. Of course I'm delighted to rest and have a cold drink with my hotdog. Apple is from Cincinnati, he host hikers on the AT, and now out here on the CDT. He appears satisfied and stress free, and seems to enjoys helping others. 

Spoonman at the Apple Cart

Left is Frodo, Scout and Apple

When I'm hot and tired ready to rest, coming upon something like this lifts my spirits. I think the feeling is universal as my three fellow hikers all seemed to react the same way. 

Into town, back to where I started. Time to get chores done, retrieve my food box from the post office, get that much desired shower as well as some gear tweeks. 

Dinner time comes around and 12 hikers squeeze into the local pizza joint, we about fill it up. Lots of discussion about the next section and water, no cashes up there.  We are told the desert is what we just finished and it's by far the worst desert section. There are a few more but nothing like the one we conquered. Pretty much making us happy. Bed now early day tomorrow.