Journey Day 480 | CDT Day 143

New Mexico high desert, 1987.

11/4/87

Heavy dew leaves gear soaked, so cook, wait for sun to dry it out. Then on along a pretty canyon. Cross Chama, soon on option for Canada Fuentes route despite Willie's advice at the Ghost Ranch. Follow through rough overgrowth, deadfall stabbing me in the head. Creek meanders, making it tough, as do high ridges spurring off it. Impatience, bad position on one such ridge goads me into climbing up. Perilous in places, I eventually find a way to the top.

Follow clifftop. Luckily no dropoffs, all wooded. Some problems, but eventually hit an old logging road. I follow around to intersecting Road 468. Lunch in the sun, happy with my route-finding. Hike alongside nice park. After a couple miles, hit Fuentes Spring.

Decide to camp, again under the stars. Across the road by a corral. Enjoy spring's proximity. Read long, crash outside despite another dew.