Date: 10/19/20
Daily Miles: 8
Total Miles: 2070
We did it! We made it to the Mexico border!
It felt like a quick morning today. We started out walking in the wash where we had slept last night. After a mile or so we ended up on a two-track for the next five miles. It was cool out and it felt really nice to be walking in the morning.
When we got to four miles in for the day, we realized we were ahead of schedule, so we stopped for a long break. After chatting for awhile, we just sat in silence…appreciating the complete stillness of the desert. It felt like a nice way to say our own goodbyes to New Mexico and to the CDT for the year.
Of course we managed to get off the route again in the final two miles before the border. Once again, the path peetered-out and there wasn’t a sign post in sight. We ended up in a field of the devilish burrs we had experienced along the Gila River. We bushwhacked our way back to the route and found a clear path the rest of the way to the border.
As we had the border in our sights, we could see a truck driving up, which meant that our Trail Angel, Tim, had timed it perfectly. It always feels a bit strange to be taking the final steps of a trip…maybe anti-climactic…maybe just seeing it as one piece of a larger journey.
We took some photos at the border monument, and then piled into Tim’s truck for the three and a half hour drive to El Paso. Tomorrow we fly to snowy Wisconsin, which will surely be a shock to our systems.
Our CDT journal will definitely continue with a “Part 2” installment in the future. Hopefully, next year Glacier National Park will fully reopen and we will be able to finish up our northern miles from Jackson, MT to the Canadian border (somewhere between 550 and 650 miles). We look forward to what Montana has in store for us in the future.
Congratulations!! What an amazing trip. We were with you every step of the way and your story never disappointed. The pictures always completed your story. Be safe in Wisconsin, things have changed a lot since you’ve been gone. You both still are Joes hero’s.
Thanks Sheila! It means a lot to know you guys are supporting us in spirit! We hope the Pryor clan is doing well!
Simply amazing. Congratulations. I have followed your trek from the beginning. We are in ‘Lockdown’ in Melbourne, Australia, so it has been great to share your adventure. Thank you.
Hi John – thanks for following along! If our Covid-19 cases keep climbing, we will probably be in lockdown in the US soon.
Congrats – what an adventure you had and still more of the best to come! Just got back from the Chiricahuas (one of the Sky Islands) hiking with my grandsons. Hey, I’m planning the Mogollon Rim Trail next spring and have some updated maps/info from Brett. Would you guys do anything different if hiking it again? All the best, Purple Haze
Hey Purple Haze! Awesome that you are getting out hiking with your grandson. Great to hear that you are planing to get out on the MRT next spring. I don’t think we’d do anything different on that trail. The trail is pretty excellent…a bit easier navigationally than the GET. There were some tough water crossings down on the Black River, but we believe that Brett has done some re-routing in that part of the trail. Enjoy!
Congratulations! Thanks for sharing your journey. I really didn’t know much about the CDT before following your walk. Maybe you will post about this at a later date, but I would be interested in hearing a post trail review of gear, food choices, etc. if you get around to it. Thanks again!
Thanks so much Mark! We hope to put together a post-hike run down, but it may take us awhile as we have lots of work to catch up on! Thanks again for following along.
I have enjoyed reading your journal. Congrats- hope to run into you in RL.
V
Hi mr. V – Thanks for following the journal – Hope you are doing well in WI!