Journey Day 476 | CDT Day 139

The Mogote Ridge was in the distance.

10/31/87

Cold morning, but not like in Northern Colorado high country. Breakfast, pack, then on along in a daze, missing (guidebook writer Jim) Wolf's turn and walking extra along a ridge in deepening snow before reaching the right road down south. Hike along, unsure of location, snow and mud alternating in roadway. Pass intersection with Wolf's route, then a camp and spring on his draft route. Stop for water, push on. At puddle spring Ojito Jarosito, leave the road and bushwhack on trail through a meadow to aspens, bushwhack until note a road down the ridge. Follow this out to main drag through meadows. Unsure of location again, walk back and forth, finally orient and hike up to Mogote Ridge crossing, where I break beneath strange skies alternately sunny and cloudy - typical for New Mexico so far. On break, meet two young Hispanic guys out bear hunting from a truck, the driver wanting to kill for bear rug he doesn't want to have to buy. Bought $10.50 permit. Still we talk, I show them where they are, although the other guy is unconvinced. They drive off to Canjilan, I fill in draft corrections, eat. Follow fence up ridge, cross jeep road, follow Wolf's contrived bushwhacking road route to peak with a tower and shed, Sangre de Cristos and or Taos peaks in the background, also an excellent mesa.

Steep bushwhack down, through aspens according to Wolf's instructions, cross new road, other tracks, pass cows before settling on a jeep road back to the saddle, up along the ridge. Despite Wolf's warnings, keep on road on ridge, soon find bear hunters with walkie talkies and hounds behind them. They 're in too much of a hurry to help. I hike on past a cow camp. Meet younger guide who is unsure. I expect a dry camp and get it despite last-minute instruction that my road and spring are below. Hike down cross country, stop in clearing. Pitch as darkness comes. Long rainy night, but no snow.