April 27-Day 1 / Make Hiking Great Again!

 

I'm at the border again. Excited, nervous, and wondering if I left my toothbrush at the motel in Lordsburg. (I didn't. ) I'm ready for a second thru-hike from Mexico to Canada. This time 2,800 miles through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana! There were a total of eleven hikers in two vehicles that were shuttled  to the border today. It surprised me that only three hikers, including myself, previously thru-hiked another long trail. The others must be very brave or blissfully ignorant of the challenges on the CDT. The only woman in the picture below is named Goosebumps. She's from California and she hiked the PCT in 2014 (the same year I hiked the PCT), and she started on the same day I did (April 24th)! In spite of that, we don't remember meeting each other on the PCT. We did have fun talking about all the people we both met on the PCT- great memories and a nice way to begin the CDT. 

 

I started last so I could have a moment to myself at the border. A prayer of gratitude, for my family, and for God to speak to me during the next five months. The "trail" is marked with signs and when the path on the ground is obscure or nonexistent, you simply look for the next sign and head in that general direction. It was a warm, windy, and clear day with views of miles and miles of desert. By 1:30 pm I had passed everyone except three hikers: Goosebumbs, Foxtrot, and Damon (no trail name yet). I hiked with Gooosebumps and Foxtrot for the rest of the day. We passed Damon about 6 PM, and hiked another two miles, making camp at mile eighteen.

 

Of the hikers who started today, only one is older than me and he is only hiking the New Mexico section. The youngest is only 18. His name is Lincoln from Montana. He is hiking with his brother and two cousins who are also brothers. 

 

It's been a good day and I am excited to be back on trail again. I go to sleep tonight gazing up at a starry sky that reminds me how big God's creation is and how blessed I am to experience it. Good night all!