Start: La Jancia Creek
As I ascended out of the wash and again onto the flat desert plain, I saw what I thought were elk prints in the sand. I was skeptical of my classification though since, again, I didn’t think there were elk out here.
I regained the plain and followed cow trails until they stopped at more cow tire troughs. Then it was just up to me. There was a checkerboard of public and private land ahead that the trail wove its way through trying to stay legal. This time there weren’t even fencelines to guide the way and ensure I stayed on the straight and narrow. That meant it was once again compass time! With the wide open landscape, it was perfect to let me make my own path with minimal effort.
As I was crossing the land, I saw a couple elk in the distance. I guess my prior observations weren’t nonsense after all. I took many pictures as I got closer and closer to them, since they were along my route. Eventually they grew impatient and jogged off with their odd head tilted up saunter. There was another group on the other side of me bugeling occasionally as well. Quite the unexpected sight.
My cross country jaunt came to an end at a county/forest service road, and I soon entered a patch of National Forest, where the forest was only sparse juniper bushes.
From there it was an easy stroll through the “forest” and across some more ranch land before my road dumped me straight into the center of Magdalena. I got my bearings and headed off to the only open restaurant for their biggest burger and a beer, much deserved I thought after the challenges thrown at my by the land and weather.
I got a motel room since the weather is supposed to turn south once again and started in on all my town chores. Magdalena is an interesting town that has a lot of potential with quaint old-time charm, but most businesses are closed at this point, unfortunately.I’m unsure what the next couple days will bring in terms of weather. I’m being fought every step of the way so far which I had not expected starting this trail.