Tag: New Mexico

• [Day 21] Mt. Taylor

  

  I awoke to a cold morning at 9,000 feet. I slept next to a piped spring. In the wee morning hours, I noticed the pipe flow repeated a few repetitions of slowing, then surging. I figured temperatures were dipping below freezing higher on Mt. Taylor where the water was piping from. This was a good…

  jarodlyles

  May 6, 2023

  CDT

  New Mexico

• [Day 20] Grants

  

  I didn’t sleep too great in the hostel. I had an upper bunk which was excessively warm, and my bunk buddy below talked of some celebration in his dream along with his snoring. Surprisingly, I was not groggy at my 8am wake up despite a 2am bedtime. I got to my final tasks in town:…

  jarodlyles

  May 5, 2023

  CDT

  New Mexico

• [Day 19] Bonita-Zuni Alternate

  

  The day started rough. I was quickly into sharp volcanic rock fields following volcanic rock cairns around volcanic rock caverns. I do not want to recall the number of times I turned my ankle; it is definitely sore. Over the past two days, there were multiple munitions warnings at trailheads. The Malpais served as an…

  jarodlyles

  May 4, 2023

  CDT

  New Mexico

• [Day 18] Chain of Craters

  

  Today consisted of ankle-busting terrain along the Chain of Craters. The southern craters were not very fascinating. They were closer to hills with significant tree coverage. I cruised the first 18 miles through grassy lava fields with dispersed tree coverage. 🗓️ Date May 3rd ⇢ Mileage 33.2 📍 Trip Mileage 432.4 ⛅️ Weather Steady 70°F,…

  jarodlyles

  May 3, 2023

  CDT

  New Mexico

• [Day 17] El Malpaís

  

  I woke up later today, and I wasn’t hiking until around 8:30am. I’m unsure why my starts have been later. My puffy eyes were drowsy — I’d guess my chili macaroni of last night was a bit high in salt content. 🗓️ Date May 2nd ⇢ Mileage 30.1 📍 Trip Mileage 399.2 ⛅️ Weather Steady…

  jarodlyles

  May 2, 2023

  CDT

  New Mexico

• [Day 16] Pie & Roads

  

  I woke up, took a shower at the Toaster House, then grabbed my resupply box from the post office. 🗓️ Date May 1st ⇢ Mileage 16.1 📍 Trip Mileage 369.1 ⛅️ Weather A bit of clouds 🏞️ Trail Conditions Dirt roads Back at the Toaster House, I finished up my chores, packed my gear, then…

  jarodlyles

  May 1, 2023

  CDT

  New Mexico

• [Day 15] Davila Ranch & Pie Town

  

  I awoke to Patrick — the spotter at Mangas Lookout — waving down at me. He was on overtime this morning; it was supposed to be the day off he receives every two weeks on duty. The life of a spotter seemed like something I could do in my retirement life (should I unlikely survive…

  jarodlyles

  April 30, 2023

  CDT

  New Mexico

• [Day 14] Mangas Lookout

  

  “We have an active fire situation,” the spotter yelled at me. “Come on up.” After a 2000-foot, 4-mile climb to see the sunset atop Mangas Mountain, my heart was thumping. I was already ecstatic for the panoramic view, but a view from the tower with an active fire was icing on the cake. 🗓️ Date…

  jarodlyles

  April 30, 2023

  CDT

  New Mexico

• [Day 13] Cruising

  

  Today was a longer day of running the legs. I started out of Snow Lake a little before 8am. I made the maneuver of storing my socks and shoes in the vault toilet room at the lake parking to prevent freezing. I was able to pull on my wet shoes easily. I decided to swap…

  jarodlyles

  April 28, 2023

  CDT

  New Mexico

• [Day 12] River Exit

  

  My socks, shoes, and gaiters were frozen solid this morning. I knew it would be a cold night, but I wasn’t expecting freezing temperatures to last long enough to solidify everything that was wet. I warmed my socks with my breath, slipped them on, then jammed my feet into frozen shoes. 🗓️ Date April 27th…

  jarodlyles

  April 27, 2023

  CDT

  New Mexico