<html><body><div style="color:#000; background-color:#fff; font-family:HelveticaNeue, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, Arial, Lucida Grande, sans-serif;font-size:14px"><div>Hi All,</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423353843265_2698"><br></div><div dir="ltr">I'm contemplating starting a chunk of the CDT this spring -- New Mexico!</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423353843265_2731" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423353843265_2699" dir="ltr">The PCT desert is hard on me, so I have no fantasies about the ease of the CDT.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423353843265_2700" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423353843265_2701" dir="ltr">Some things I've read talk about the ideal starting time being mid-Apr with 'winds' beforehand that are best avoided. In thru-hiker world, are these 'winds' really to be avoided? I imagine the temps might be a bit easier earlier in April.</div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423353843265_2703" dir="ltr"><br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423353843265_2704" dir="ltr">Also, the shuttle to Crazy Creek starts in mid-Apr. If I did decide to go earlier, does anyone know of a local who might be convinced to set up reliable water drops for the first bit? Or, is doing it without pre-arranged water drops safe? Or, can I conceivably do my own water drops without a 4WD and because it's so close to the border, what are the chances the water would be found by me and not someone else?<br></div><div id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423353843265_2705"><br></div><div dir="ltr" id="yui_3_16_0_1_1423353843265_2706">- Porsche<br></div></div></body></html>