Journey Day 481 | CDT Day 144

I hiked roads through valleys framed by amazing ridges.

11/5/87

From spot, after drying a bit in the sun, losing long-time flashlight, I walk up to an intersection, down sometimes steeply to Highway 96. Walk down too far, holy rollers unsuccessful in passing me reading material. I walk back, find road and follow, but uncertainty takes me from (guidebook writer Jim) Wolf's route. I end up walking around a private fence, catching a trail, then road leading me to the road sought - although a mile or more from where I was to reach it. Logging action as I pass them. Then they pass me, headed to lunch? Rain hits momentarily at an intersection, I end up too hot from raingear as the sun comes back out.

Lunch by creek, then up to signed Rio Capulin Trail. A three-way choice costs me, I end up on a logging road going the wrong way. So I bushwhack until I'm even worse off, climbing ridges, bucking deadfall, crossing creeks, no trails, one logging road going muddily nowhere.

Compass playing tricks on my mind? Decide to camp as night falls, weather looking bad, some snow on the ground already. Stormy night thankfully in tent. Cook in dark, no flashlight, several things go wrong.