Follow Strider's Rambles

Day 122

While Safari put water in the bird bath, l fed the feral cats. There were two momma cats with kittens living under one of the Toaster House outbuildings. Then she, Ruby Red, Long Strides, and I walked to the Gathering Place for breakfast. We were the only customers. I enjoyed an omelette, crispy potatoes, and several cups of coffee. The others had resupply boxes and Safari & RR were concerned when theirs could not be found. It ended up being at the post office.

Back at the hostel, the guys were gone. Safari & Ruby Red organized their resupply and departed. A dazed Pop wandered out of the upstairs, she’d just hiked 72 miles in 24 hours. Four others had done the challenge with her, though Pop completed the greatest distance. I saw Bird out front with three packs and carried two inside. After hiking 60 miles, she hitched and had taken packs for Rally and Pig Pen. Within the hour, the two of them arrived, then several hours later, an exhausted Swampy. We hugged; she’d hiked 55 miles in 24 hours!

Early that morning, Fifteen texted me a picture of his CDT finish at the border monument. We’d kept in touch ever since we parted ways  in Wyoming. He was on a bus to Albuquerque and planned to chill for a week before taking the train to Portland. Since he also planned to rent a car, I convinced him to visit me in Pie Town the next day.

As all of the women were resting upstairs, I hung out on the main floor. Mostly I caught up on my neglected journal, though I also chatted with Long Strides. Top Shelf got a ride out of Grants from trail angel Jenn. She returned to where QD picked her up and began hiking to Pie Town. She plans to arrive tomorrow, stay here overnight, zero with her uncle the next day and night, and return here to hike south with me. It means two more zero days for me, a triple zero! That’s okay, I’m having fun and am not in a hurry to finish the CDT.

Day 123

It felt chillier than yesterday when I walked with Swampy and Long Strides to the Gathering Place. We got breakfast; this time I ordered two eggs, a double serving of crispy potatoes, and coffee, of which I drank copious amounts. As we finished, the rest of the Toaster House crew arrived and ordered breakfast. Long Strides and I got into an hour long conversation about films. Then it was time for him to hike south. I went outside to chat on the phone with a friend.

Around 12:30 pm, I finally left our breakfast spot and returned to the Toaster House for lunch. I ended up walking back to the GP to send an email. Top Shelf texted that Fifteen brought her trail magic and was ~10 minutes from Pie Town. Swampy and I walked back to the Toaster House and there was Fifteen! We gave him hugs and congratulated his finish.

Swampy, Fifteen, myself, and various hikers spent the rest of the afternoon sitting on the Toaster House porch, chatting about the trail and partaking of trail magic. Fifteen brought veggies, fruit, drinks, sandwiches, cheese, GF brownies, and misc. other goodies. Mid-day Pitch Perfect, Knotty, Whimsy, MacGyver, and Silverback had all arrived so the hostel was packed full of hikers. It was stellar catching up with Swampy and Fifteen!

Around sunset, Top Shelf arrived at the hostel. I introduced her to the others and she had fun exploring a hiker hangout that she hadn’t seen in years. After everyone else drifted indoors, Fifteen and I stayed outside chatting, until Top Shelf came outside to set up her tent in the yard. As I headed to the bathroom to brush my teeth, I got pulled into a long conversation with Silverback. He’s a tall black man, 66, and he wrote a book about hiking across the United States; an interesting guy, full of heart. Eventually I returned to the porch, where I cowboy camped with Fifteen. I saw a shooting star.

Day 124

The night was warmer than the last couple; I ended up un-cinching my down hood. Fifteen drove Swampy, Top Shelf, Pig Pen, and I to the Gathering Place for breakfast. There was a cute, black cat that purred on my lap for a few minutes before I headed inside. I sat at a table with Swampy, Fifteen, Top Shelf, & Silverback, though Top Shelf got her burrito to go and left with her uncle for a zero day at his home near Datil. As we finished breakfast, Swampy went to the post office to mail extra food ahead to Lordsburg.

Back at the Toaster House, Fifteen & I hung out with Swampy until she and the others departed (Bird & Pop stayed). Then we moved our conversation to the fire pit and watched a red-headed woodpecker. Back on the porch, we chatted with Silverback for a long time. Panty Pirate & Steamy arrived and accepted trail magic beers. About 3 pm, Fifteen and I drove back to the Gathering Place for a late lunch. I piqued his interest in hiking the GET next spring. Then he took off toward Doc Campbell’s to continue his trail magic quest. It was great to see him!

I hung around the Gathering Place to send two emails using the WiFi. Panty Pirate & Steamy were also there and I helped them apply for NDA access to the southern terminus. After I returned to the Toaster House, I took a shower. Suddenly Steam Engine, Roadrunner, RR’s bf, Dusty, and several other thru hikers pulled up to the house in two vehicles. It was nice to see Steam Engine, he gave me a big hug, however it was a lot of people; especially as a handful more were doing a 24 hour challenge and due to arrive sometime the next morning.

To free up a double bed, Bird moved into Pop’s bed, even though Pop was coming down with a cold. I got overwhelmed and retreated to my bed upstairs, putting in ear buds and watching a show on my phone. I saw that Bird was doing the same. I also texted Top Shelf that I’d hit my social limit. She was understanding and said she set up a tent while there in order to have her own space. I thanked her for listening and she said “it’s what hiking partners are for”. To sleep, I put in my earplugs.

Day 125

In the morning, rejuvenated by a night’s rest and alone time, I was ready to socialize. I talked with Steam Engine. On the phone, I spoke with Quick Draw about his post trail depression. Then I chatted with Roadrunner and her bf, and Stew (he’d arrived at 6 am after 55 miles in 24 hours). As others headed to breakfast, I packed up my gear and did sink laundry, hanging two items to dry. I caught up with Mamacita and Strix.

At 12:40 pm, Top Shelf and her uncle pulled up to the house. Doug kind of wanted a tour, yet did not want to brave the hiker crowd. Who can blame him? He thanked me for waiting for Top Shelf and said to watch out for one another. I was happy to hear that her appetite had vastly improved. We set out along a wide dirt road, headed south, chatting away. About half-way along, we caught up to and passed Panty Pirate and Steamy. As we rounded a large cinder cone, we passed Silverback.

After close to 14 miles of hiking, we stopped at Davila Ranch. We were joined by Panty Pirate, Steamy, and Silverback; a great group! Everyone else set up tents while I arranged a cowboy camping spot in one of the open-fronted, roofed, metal outbuildings. The bathrooms and laundry were closed for the season, however there were outlets and beverages (courtesy of Quick Draw). There was also a spigot and a propane powered cooking area.

Panty Pirate and Steamy put on Halloween masks and danced around to make a video. While I ate with them, Top Shelf ate in her tent. Steamy is in her late 40’s, from Florida. She and PP met on the PCT in 2022. Since then, she’s visited the Czech Republic three times on 90 day tourist visas. They’ve also done several short thru hikes together. Steamy and I bonded over cold soaking and non-rainy trails.