{"id":11262,"date":"2026-09-25T15:30:51","date_gmt":"2026-09-25T22:30:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/yetihikes.net\/wordpress\/?p=11262"},"modified":"2026-09-29T08:02:30","modified_gmt":"2026-09-29T15:02:30","slug":"grand-enchantment-trail-day-7","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/yetihikes.net\/wordpress\/2026\/09\/25\/grand-enchantment-trail-day-7\/","title":{"rendered":"Grand Enchantment Trail: Day 7 Rio Grande"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Start: Sevilleta Land Grant<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finish: Rio Grande<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Miles: 24.56 \/ 139.41 total<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Ascent: 755 feet<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The forecast said it was supposed to storm last night, and storm it did.  In the middle of the night, the wind picked up and then yet another thunderstorm rolled through.  It didn\u2019t last too long, but I think I have already encountered more thunderstorms here than I have at home in the past 5 years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The wind kept up overnight which at least meant that my tent was mostly dry by the time I got up.  As if it didn\u2019t even happen.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I continued through ranchland, and I finally had to collect some water from a tire cow trough.  At least it had a bunch of seaweed growing in it which is always a good sign.  And no brown masses I could see which is a rarity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The route shortly turned off the road and followed a wash for a few miles this time. There were even some pourovers to negotiate. I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and experience, but it was too short lived and I ended up back on 4×4 track.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I reached the point where I would have to decide between fording the Rio Grande and crossing it on a bridge. As an engineer, I\u2019ve been studying the numbers and took one last look at the 500cfs flow rate and easily made the choice to use the bridge. From what I was able to tell, past successful fords earlier this year were an order of magnitude lower flow rate.

The GET had a bridge alternate, but it looked a bit circuitous to me. It looked like I could make a much quicker straight shot across the nearly flat and open landscape. So I grabbed my compass, took a bearing, and set off.I had been dropping down in elevation approaching the river, and about all there was left were creosote bushes. Easy to push through when needed, but for the most part cow paths led the way.<\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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Soon after negotiating a fence no one intended to be crossed, I joined a dirt road which would take me all the way to the Rio Grande. It turned out to be fairly scenic though. The road has history hundreds of years in the past since the Spanish used it in their colonial days. It held to a high ridge, touching each pass between the small hills on it. You don\u2019t often see a road routed like that; that\u2019s how trails work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I could see long distances on either side of me from the road, and especially to the south there was some great canyon country with red rock cliffs. Quite scenic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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testThen I finished the descent and got into some sandy flats. The day was warm and the sun beating, but I pushed through it and shortly arrived at the Rio Grande. Yep, definitely made the right decision on the bridge crossing. There would be no way without me swimming through the liquid mud. No thanks. I even said hi to the water level gage I had been watching online to make my decision.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I took a break at a park on the other side to rehydrate and rest my feet. I\u2019m using new shoes on this trail since no shoe company can make the same shoe for more than a year or so. I\u2019m using an \u201cupgraded\u201d version of the shoes I used on the PCT and it is noticeably tighter, giving my toes too much of a hug. Tried some alternate lacing and I might just have to do shoes off breaks. Will see.

After crossing on the bridge, I had to get back to the GET. The alternate walked up the levee next to the Rio Grande, though did briefly divert on some 2 track through the poplars lining the river. More wide, deep liquid mud.Then it got a bit boring and tedious on the flat and straight levee, but I was making progress so that\u2019s all that counts.<\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n
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During this time, there were a lot of storms off to the west and north, but I could only see blue skies and small clouds coming towards me. My lucky day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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I pulled off the levee at my planned stopping point of a picnic area that looked abandoned. It\u2019s out of the way, so I\u2019m sure it will be fine to set up here.

I hung up my tent to finish drying from last night, when some dark clouds and thunder started up overhead. I took a quick look at the radar and realized I was about to be hit hard. I threw up my tent and jumped in it just as the first drops started falling. What great timing! And I had been thinking about going another mile and a half!I hunkered down to some moderate rain until my tent started getting blown around and the rain suddenly started coming down in sheets. There was lightning every few seconds for over an hour, and I was pummeled with one of the strongest storms I have ever experienced in the back country. Wow, so glad I was in my tent and under some trees. It would have been tough if I had still been hiking. I am camped on the river side of the levee, but there\u2019s no flood debris at this level, so I\u2019m sure it will be fine.The storm continued and I went off airplane mode to monitor the reds of the radar that were passing over me. This area was put under a Flash Flood Warning and I got an emergency alert when I tooky phone off airplane mode. It was quite the storm. And since I was busy holding up my tent and making sure everything stayed dry, I couldn\u2019t even cook my dinner until things settled down a bit after an hour. I don\u2019t know what it is, but this state doesn\u2019t seem to like me. I just wanted to use the picnic table where I was camping. I finally finished my chores after things calmed down, but there is continuous lightning and thunder in the distance. There has been for hours at this point. I am supposed to have 2 hot sunny days next, but then yet another system is supposed to roll through for another 4 days or so\u2026 This weather is making it quite difficult.Hopefully things have settled for the night. Will let you know in the morning.<\/div><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
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