WalkingCarrot

After 640 miles, +/- a few for mapping and walking inconsistancies, we now have New Mexico squarely in the rear view mirror. We crosed the NM/CO border yesterday, arrived at Cumbres Pass about 4 miles later and then hitched a ride back into New Mexico. Not because we missed it so much, nor for a last dose of green chiles, but because Chama is the town nearest to the pass. (Although we did like NM, after 6 weeks we are ready to move on.)

The CDT began a transition upon leaving Cuba. Entering the high country of the San Pedro Parks Wilderness was only a first taste of the high country to come. Much cooler, wetter and more lush and green than the rest of our hike across New Mexico

We dropped back to the classic high desert landscape of red rock bads, spires, mesas, badlands and canyons as we ppassed through “Ghost Ranch”, a very hospitable Presbytirian retreat center.

Walking the Tusas mountains north to Colorado we could easily see that we were following an “on ramp” to the San Juan Mountains. We climbed to 9,000 feet and never looked back, or below.

The lush, green mountain plateaus are as much meadow as forest, but at least they are not desert. They are dotted with wildflowers and populated with mule deer, elk, antelope, marmots, coyotes and, of course, cows.

We are down to less than 2 weeks and about 180 miles to go, looking forward to the summer wildflowers of the San Juans.