Rachel "Chit Chat" Loomis, Wisconsin
New Mexico:
Land of Enchantment
Embrace the Wanderlust, Embrace the Brutality
Beginning Thursday, May 5th, Ross and I began our trek from Crazy Cook Southern Terminus (Mexico/New Mexico Border) and started hiking north from there.
New Mexico proved to be a beautiful state: dry, flat desert and higher elevation mountains, 95 degree days to 32 degree nights, blooming cacti to towering ponderosa pine trees and my favorite: the Gila National Forest (our nation's first designated wilderness area and known to be Aldo Leopold Country). And a whoooooole lots of cows.
Our journey changed quickly after our first week from an announcement made by the US Forest Service, which was also backed by the CDTC. From assuming we'd be able to hike the 700+ miles within the state, to only being able to hike 406.4, the fire closures within northern New Mexico in the Cebola, Carson and Santa Fe National Forests halted our continuous footpath. There were actually no active fires, however, the US Forest Service was taking action to prevent any from happening, as there was a rumor that a possible CDT hiker was causing fires along the trail already. They made this announcement to prevent sacred wilderness areas of being damaged.
After another Greyhound bus from Grants to Albuquerque, a train from Albuquerque to Santa Fe, a few nights spent in Santa Fe exploring the city and then a few free transportation buses from Santa Fe to Chama, we had made it to the next location where we could start hiking: the N. New Mexico/S. Colorado state border line. To give the snow in the San Juan Mountains a bit more time to melt, Ross' wonderful aunt picked us up in Chama so we could spend a few nights with her, Ross' cousin and kiddos in Durango, CO. A total of a full week off the trail allowed us quality rest (for my blister) good meals and a chance for us to look ahead to Colorado. Ross was getting antsy to get back on trail.
With the goal to reconnect our footpath from Grants to Chama (NM), we are hoping that if we reach the Montana/Canada border in time this fall, that we will be able to come back down to New Mexico to complete the 250 miles that we were forced to skip.
NM: Town Stops
New Mexico Start Day: Thursday, May 5, 2022
New Mexico End Day: Sunday, June 5, 2022
(Crazy Cook Terminus to Grants, NM)
Cumbres Pass to Grants: October 13 to October 27, 2022.
Stops Made:
1. Crazy Cook Terminus to Lordsburg, NM (5/5-5/10): 85 Miles. Stay at Motel 6.
2. Lordsburg, NM to Silver City, NM (5/11-?): 61.1 Miles. Stay at The Palace Hotel for 3 nights.
3. Silver City, NM to Doc Campbell's Post (dates): 50 Miles. Stayed at Gila Hot Springs Campground for 2 nights.
4. Doc Campbell's to PieTown (dates): 121 Miles. Stayed at Toaster House Hostel.
5. PieTown, NM to Grants, NM (dates): 76.7 Miles. Stayed at Lava Flow Hostel.
Finishing New Mexico:
6. Chama (Cumbres Pass) to Cuba, NM (10/13-10/20): 152.2 Miles. Stayed at Cuban Lodge.
7. Cuba to Grants, NM (10/21-10/27): 105 Miles. Final Stay = Lava Hostel.
CDT Interactive Map here.