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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal>Greetings To all on this list:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>This is to update you on my NM trip.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>First off: My trip has ended. I hiked from Mexico to Snowy Lake following the CDTS route.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>At Snowy Lake I hitched into Reserve and made my way home from there. And confirmed by the camper giving me a ride to Reserve: Yes, I did smell very badly. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I had a lot of followers on the this list giving advice and encouragement so I want to give you a short explanation.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Though I am fine around the house generally, I still have some personal hygiene problems that linger from prostate surgery and radiation. Bike seats, hard ground, rocks, give me some "control" problems I never had to put up with before cancer. If water was abundant and I could wash my pants every day...., but that was not possible. So I stopped after 2 weeks. I just wanted to let everyone know. I discussed this a bit with JD- it was a concern of mine. That should be enough explanation for an early stop.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Quick Overview of the CDTS route:<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>It was everything I was looking for. NO trail markers- like I was hiking a free trail and I loved it! Keith was a great guide and help getting started. I told him $25 was too cheap for what he does. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I did alter the route some- I hiked right out of Columbus on 11 and after passing the airport development I picked up small jeep road 6300 and followed that in to the Tres Hermanas mts. That was a good route. Keith has set up a nice alternate route to the Wolf guide book and anyone following the CDTS should pay close attention to what Keith tells you. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Anyone using keith and doing the CDTS- have something to take notes with before you start to the border with Keith- what he tells you you will want to remember in the next 2- 4 days and he has a lot of info to share. keith is an A+ in my book. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I used New Balance Trail shoes- nice and soft for walking. About 2 miles out of Columbus as I was walking along the road off blacktop I stepped on one of those trademark southern NM thorns. It went through my sole and about 1/4- 1/2 inch into my foot. The thorn broke off and I could not pull it out from the bottom of my shoe- my foot was pinned inside that shoe with no way to lift my foot free of shoe andthe thorn so I just ripped the shoe off- OUCH!!! <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Heading north out of Deming is interesting. Once you find the old abandon windmill the next windmill has great water. Use a GPS and use the coordinates in the Wolf guides- they work!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Black Range is a surprise.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Crossing Hwy 35 Allie Canyon Tr is a delight!! You will find good water along that trail after 2 miles or so. And when you cross the CDT and see your first CDT marker- ignore it and just stay on Allie Canyon Tr.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>There were about 30 resupply boxes waiting at Doc Campbell's Trading Post to be picked up when I passed through there.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>The Gila River in Gila Springs runs a dark chocolate color but the water quality will improve gradually as you make your way up the Gila River. Still, I could only get about 3 qts with my MSR filter before I would need to clean it to pump again. Still, the Gila River is an excellent route. If you follow it to the end, the last river crossing is on a log and you will be about 1 mile from Snowy Lake. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>I did not take Ley's maps with me. I used Ley's maps along with Wolf's and BLM maps to draw my own maps on the Delorme topo 10 map program. I loaded those routes into my GPS and they were pretty much perfect. I have usually been very good with my mapping skills- and I was pleased to see I had lost none of those skills since the cancer problems 4 yrs ago. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b>I have a Hexamid Solo-plus tent/tarp with screen (no cuben floor attachment- that is another $100+) for sale for $300. </b>I do not intend to try anymore trips longer and 2- 3 days. That is just my reality.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:red'>Best advice before going:</span> Take <b>the heavier sleeping bag</b>- its cold out there and it was!! Most nights were into the teens where I was. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Again, everyone who helped me prepare for this trip- THANKS!! I had a wonderful time while it lasted. <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>And the stay with Lynnae and Will was a real delight. I highly recommend the CDTS route- it is a wonder.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>-Trew<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal> <o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p></div></body></html>