20.5 miles
563 AZT mile marker
I was woken three times last night by a pack of coyotes breaking out in a howling/barking session. They weren’t far off, but I didn’t expect they would bother me. The last session was just before dawn so I got an earlier start than usual at sunrise.
I continued across the Sonoran Desert today, and the trail was largely flat scrub for the first half of the day. There wasn’t really much of note. Just something that has to be crossed as part of walking across the state. It wasn’t good or bad, it just was.
I bumped into Kevin early on at a cow pond with water that wasn’t too cloudy despite the cow shit in it. It filtered decently. I cut a corner off trail leaving the pond, and I think I passed Kevin by doing that.
It got warm again, but there was some wind today so it wasn’t that big of a deal. The miles just flew right by since they were flat and easy.
Half way through the day, the landscape woke up slightly and there was a little elevation change and I passed a mountain, but nothing too exciting. I saw a mule deer sprint away from me at one point but was stymied by a cow fence that it had to really work to get around.
I took a good break at a huge overflowing tank of spring or well water. There clear water being piped into the tank which is pretty rare out here. I traded out some of the dirty cow pond water I had from earlier in the day.
I mentioned that I was going to do lower miles, but looking at the trail ahead, I pretty much have to average 20 miles per day for the next week to deal with some logistical difficulties on the trail. Not a big deal, but just a slight change in plans.
I pushed on to just over 20 miles. It was still early in the day, not even 4 and I was thinking about continuing on. However, it was windy and the trail next goes on an exposed ridge. I met some northbounders and they said there wasn’t much for camping ahead, so I stayed low in the shelter of some mesquite trees at a large camping area. I did enough to make my week ahead work just fine, so I just laid in camp and relaxed for the afternoon.
There was a chance of rain this evening, but it looks like it is going to pass. Hiep showed up and is camping here, and Kevin passed through since he has to get to town tomorrow.
Today wasn’t too exciting, but it was somehow just some pleasant easy desert hiking, and I did enjoy it.