Less is MORE!

In the final phase I love the moment when I can answer one of the most important questions:

How heavy is my backpack?

21 ounces... that's the answer :-)

But it's not just all about the backpack... what about the entire content inside? What's my base weight?
The last two days I continuously moved between my laptop, all the hiking gear and my digital scale and did a lot of measurements .
In the end I had it all together... 15 pounds without water and food.

- 3,7 pound

EPIC :-)

For a "normal" hiker that might not sound like a lot of weight but 3,7lb less compared to last year is in my world a thru-hiking a quantum leap! That is half a gallon of water that I do not have to carry around useless for 3,000 miles!

For more details visit the category "Gear".

Happy trails :-)

Ready to go again!

A lot of time has passed since I was in Lander in the middle of nowhere in Wyoming without knowing what to do. The decision to get off trail was the right one!

Meanwhile it is spring again and I can't wait to get another chance on the CDT.

And YES... I'll start again at the very beginning ! Only a thru-hike is the real challenge!

I got professional help treating my Achilles tendon practically every week since I returned and I'm ready to go again... 100%!

I lightened up my gear on more time and got rid off 4 pounds! More details on that coming soon.

But the most important thing is my overall fitness this year. Last year I was certainly well prepared but this didn't compensate my overweight which resulted in my problems with the Achilles tendon. This time I shaped up and lost 26 pounds of body weight!!!

The CDT is just not like the PCT... you have to be in top shape on day one!

And another problem is solved.. I found NEW "Banana Pants". Unfortunately my original model is no longer available and the green version wasn't really successful. But I have a new pair again, now I am yellow again!

The countdown has started and I am looking forward to put my first steps into the sand of New Mexico!

Cold wave & Gila Canyon

Doc Campbell's (195mi) - Pie Town (325mi/520km)

I think I told it before, Gila River had been hit by a huge flash flood last year.

The first 8 miles of the Middle Fork are not passable until today, so we had to hike a detour throught Little Bear-Canyon. So I dropped the chance of visiting "Gila Cliff Dwellings". The cliff contains the ruins of interlinked cave dwellings built in five cliff alcoves by the Mogollon peoples in the 13th century. Well, a typical example for the trail having absolute priority...

As soon as we reached the river, we were overwhelmed by the dimension of the canyon. At the same moment we realized, that the next miles won't be easy.

Stress relief has been possible at "Jordan Hot Springs", a small hot spring.

So, who finds Analog and Rattlebee in the next picture ?

The trail hat been brutal, but much better than endless miles on the highway.

As suddenly as Gila River appeared in the landscape, as fast is disappeared. Open range as far as you can see! And the weather became cold, the nights have been below freezing since.

Did I tell you about the wind ? Generally saying, it's there all the time. ALL the time. First I liked the cool breeze, but now it became more than a pain. 24 hrs a day, right into the face...

After the first weeks with water caches and then Gila River, water became more of a concern now.

I really have to rely on my Sawer Waterfilter - it seems, it's working pretty well. You probably don't want to have a look at my water resources of the last days...

Being cold and tired I reached the small city "Pit Town", a accumulation of a few houses, two restaurants and a post office.

Nita's house is open to used by all travellers, from hikers to bikers. The landlady Nita drops by from time to time, chatting with visitors.
 

Nice, but too crowded for my opinion, so I hiked on - on my way to Grants.

Happy Trails :-)

My first steps in Gila Canyon

Silver City (146mi) - Doc Campbell's (195mi/312km)

Since I left Silver City, quite a lot happened:

Gila National Forest is definitely one of the CDT´s highlights. The trail out of Silver City has been a bit painstaking. The post office opens not until 10 a.m. on Saturdays - so I had to start hiking in midday heat. The whole days had been pretty unspectacular, but suddenly all my hiking buddies came by (and I had been convinced they would be far in front of me...). So next morning we all have been together again.

Our first glimpse of the Gila River...

After a strenuous hike down the Canyon our drink water problems were vanished for the next 5 days - there was crystal clear, ice cold water in the river... 

From now on there had been no dry feet anymore. Using simple trail-running shoes proved to be the right option. My shoes kept being dry again every morning.

For the next days we had to cross Gily River more than a 100 times - on the next picture you can see Pounce and Smiles crossing...

It´s uncredible that this wilderness is in New Mexico, isn't it ? Three days before we had been in pure desert.

One short stopover is "Doc Campbell'S" - a small roadhouse surrounded by a few rustic campsites. I recieved one of my supply packages, had a couple scoops of homemade icecream - and hiked on.

Together with Analog and Rattlebee we went about the "Middle Fork" of the Gila Canyon.

Happy Trails :-)

"die hard" in Gila Canyon

Wow, there is cell phone connection in the middle of nowhere. So there will be a short report:

Shortly after Silver City we reached Gila river, this means great drinking for the next days :o)

The canyon we have to follow had been hit by a big flash flood last year. There is still debris everywhere: sand, mud, dead tree trunks - true wilderness. Looking great, but hiking 10-15miles a day is more difficult now.

However, this has been one of the greatest hiking experiences so far - you won´t find more "true" nature.

I expect to be in Grants on Friday, having my first "zero day". This will mean more pictures and postings.

Good night from a very tired hiker !

Happy Trails :-)

CDT'14 pictures #2

Silver City (05/02) - Grants (05/14)

Happy Trails :-)

CDT'14 pictures #1

Mexico (04/25) - Silver City (05/02)

Happy Trails :-)