[Day 29] Interstate 10

Interstate 10. It is a landmark of north-south, long-distance, southwestern hiking. On the Pacific Crest Trail, Interstate 10 lies just beyond 250 miles of northbound travel between Mt. San Jacinto and Mt. San Gorgonio. On the Continental Divide Trail, Interstate 10 locates itself 90 miles north of the border at Lordsburg. On the Arizona Trail, Interstate 10 is some 120 trail miles north of the Mexican border. On my previous long hikes, this highway has marked the first steps in millions to come. In this case, it marks the home stretch.

But, for now, this is where I depart trail. Business on the left coast beckons my return, along with a much anticipated Thanksgiving dinner.

I made it to Interstate 10 in five miles, but hiked another five miles south to the intersection of Sahuarita Road and Arizona Highway 83. Interstate 10 is not hitchhike-able. Plus, this intersection seemed a reasonable milestone to return to. I got a hitch quite quickly in the bed of a truck. After flying down Highway 83 and Interstate 10, the driver ideally dropped me off near the airport.

Is the Sahuarita Road-Highway 83 intersection my southern terminus? That is certainly a no. I have enjoyed the past 300 miles of Arizona the most, and the sky islands of Mt. Wrightson and Miller Peak call me south. As I’ve always reasoned, I came out here to see the America between the inconsequential border monoliths at the terminuses. The monuments are purely symbolic — I’d be just as happy starting and ending one mile before each end point. Hopefully, I’ll catch the fringe of the winter season upon my return. But, for at least a week and a half, I’m off to Southern California.

Seeing plenty of open lots and acting upon my addiction of scummy discomfort, I stealth camped in bushes near the airport. Around midnight though, there was a desperately terrible smell that came over the area around me. Though I haven’t showered in many weeks, this wasn’t a smell from me. If I had to guess, a coyote likely dropped some scat near my camp. Hungry, I decided to walk to a 1am Waffle House breakfast.

I found another dirt lot and slept until heading to the airport at 4am.

To be continued…

Signing off,

Zeppelin

“Freak on a Leash”