24th May
16.8 miles
Scenic Overview Camp (651.3) to Cumbres Pass (668.1)
I slept well. Despite camping above 10000 feet surrounded by snow it was not too cold. I was hiking by about 6.30am. The patches of snow I had to hike across had a hard layer of icey crust. It’s good to know that the snow is freezing overnight. Very soon we will be night hiking.
No sign of Crunchmaster or spontaneous. I hiked alone. It wasn’t long before I made it to the New Mexico / Colorado border. I just hiked the whole length of New Mexico. I had a couple of miles to walk to the nearest highway. I walked part of the way on the railway line. In a couple of days the railway will open for the tourists. An old steam train taking people from the nearby town of Chama to the mountains.
I made it to Cumbres pass by midday. I tried to hitch into the town of Chama. I waited two hours. Nobody wanted to stop and pick me up. I started to get cold. Cumbres pass is over 10000 feet. I did eventually get a ride. Spontaneous and Crunchmaster arrived later in the evening. They too had a very long wait for a lift at Cumbres pass.
I’m tired. I need to rest. My body is weak. I plan to rest in the town for several days, regain my strength then hit the high altitude snow covered mountains. I also need to upgrade my clothing and snow gear. The next section promises to be brutal. The most difficult hiking that I have ever done. Now where is that pizza I’ve been dreaming about.
Next – Day 38-40 Rest Days in Charma
Everything you need to know about hiking the CDT:
Complete Guide to Hiking the Continental Divide Trail
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