CHAMA, NM
New Mexico is done! I completed 1 whole state with 3.5 to go (Colorado, Wyoming, part of Idaho, Montana). HeHo!
It started pretty early with about 14 miles to the state line and 2 more to the 12 mile road to Chama. The weather was great, but navigation wasn’t. A very nice trail disappeared along a ridge line, and occasionally I would see pink flagging where the trail should be. When I got down from the ridge I was in wet and muddy valleys with few hints of trail. I did spot a gate with a CDT marker and started climbing up into a forest. This had me concerned because I did not want to posthole through deep snow in the forest like yesterday.
It was exactly like yesterday, but only longer. I think I spent about 8 hours with my cold and wet feet well below the top of the drifts. It was very slow going. Fortunately I had footsteps to follow. It stayed that way all the way to the state line.
After 791 miles, New Mexico and my Soloman shoes are done. New Mexico was a challenge, adventure, and it apparently saved up the toughest part for the last day. My shoes did very well, but they are pretty beat up and its time for the new pair I have at the post office.
I basically skied down the mountain the last 2 miles to Cumbres Pass. The view of the valley is pretty spectacular and the train blowing its whistle as it departed the station was cool. When I got down to highway 17 I saw Moist who had been trying to hitch a ride for 2 hours. After I walked about a mile down the road I got a ride and I saw Moist go by in another vehicle. I got into Chama and stayed in a very nice room at the Chama Trails Inn with a whirlpool in the bathtub. Nice! I had dinner at High Country with Papichulo, SOL, Andrew, Trooper, Dr John, and a few other hikers that came by.
Now I have to figure out what is next. It better not involve more postholing or gear purchases!