The horse where fenced in at the river and had fresh tall Lucerne feed for the night. Their bells where singing all night and i had to walk through the river twice in my bath trunks at 6 in the morning to gather the fencing.. Refreshing, to bad you can not save to cold for later in the day. We had a good start at about 7.30 after having breakfast and saddled the horse. While on the trail we passed a set of rappids, and the trail took us over a small mountain cause we could not get through. At a given moment, Guairini decided to go by himself and after that i was missing my Spot Satelite, with which i had let everybody know, that we are well and alive. Kind of frustrated i walked on, not knowing where we lost ist. Fortuantely Water Kat,a hiker from Anchorage came down the trail and we asked if she could look out for the Spot on and also inform my family that we wont have comunication for another 4 days.2 She promised and delivered, even found the Spot on, at the camp, where it must have slipped out of the bag while packing.Today we total 110 crossings bringing the numbers up to 245 Gila River Crossings in 3 days.The trail is hard on the horses and they dont proceed at their normal speed, so the day grows on us.We come to Trotter camp and on the ample field we fence the horses, put their bells on and start cookingour evening meal. The horses dont need to be ground tied any more and the are happy to relax and eata s much as they can. |
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We wanted to see the Cliff Dwellings but Guarini had a different idea and did not like the prospect oh having to stay with Mark with out us. He bucked and run and distributed his stuff all over the road and parking area till Szolt and I returned. 2 Belts torn, a Bag torn, one hour later we were packet up again and left agreeing with Guarini it was to late now to try to see the Dwellings. Mark now riding Apache, i had the Privileg of riding a horse, i did not need any help to get on. Guarini and i had some more discussions on the road abiout who made the disicions on where to go, but later on he opted for peace. The Trail took us through beautiful bear canyon and down to Gila middle Fork. We followed the river another 25 km up stream and after 38 km made camp.
We have food with us for about 3 weeks, but the heat does make us not really wanting to eat. We have to drink a lot, because it is very dry. Taking a bath in the river is refreshing, but it lasts only for 30 min. and then you again are dusty and sticky. The trail in the Canyon is very difficult for the horses and we do not make good progress. Cause the only go about 3-4 kmh an hour if we ride them and leading them does not provide any better speed, then they just let them self be pulled. We follow the river to the Gila hot springs and take a wrong turn, just about ending up taking a bath with the bathers in the hot springs. Later on at one of the many crossings, Apachee sinks into a mudhole and i load both my boots with fresh cool water. We reach the RV Park and get a Beer from the Campers, who are happy to show their kids the horses. After another 8 km we come to the second Hot Springs where we miss the store just riding passed. After 46 km we reach Woodys Corral at the Gila Cliff Dwellings. The manager of the store happens to drive by and i get him to provide us with hay for the horses. He tells us about the beauty of the trail next day and provides us with some beer. Great fellow. The horses behave very well. There eagerness to hide and run, has turned into them looking forward to beeing with us and getting further. The only issues we have, are they do not like to be led. Except for Kino Kiowa.. We camp outside every night, just with sleeping bag and mat. We cook on a gas stove, cause fires are not allowed. It never has ben so dry in the last 35 years and we might have difficulty finding gras further north. We descent from Tad Pool Lake and reach Sheep Creek Corall, where we load up on fresh water and reach Gila River at about 2 pm. We make camp after 3 crossings and take a refreshing bath in the river.
After 4 seamingly endless days in the "desert" the word River and Canyon had a very attractive note to it. We rode on the trail leading to the CDT and run into some nice small creeks, where the horses where happy eating soft green gras the very first time. The trail took us zigzaging through forrests and ended at Hwy 15. There we startet on Tad Pool Ridge Trail, it said 8,5 mls to Sheep Creek Canyon. We decided to go for it since it was only 3 pm. A decicion we regretted, then the trail was in bad shape and the 15 km did not want to end. Up and down we led the horses on a small single trail and we had dozends of trees we had to climb around or over. Finally short before nightfall, we came to Tad Pool Lake, where a black bar, whos track and Poop we had seen on the trail, was taking a bath. As we aproched he run and we did not see him again. Apachaee was tied to a stake in the ground and the other three where roaming the area inside the elektric fence.
We made about 100 miles in these days and are getting up at 5 each morning, starting to ride at 7.30. The days are long and tyring. It is hilly landscape, that used to be covered with about 700 small ponds, but 90 % of them are dryed up. At Spade Fork Ranch we watered the horses and ride another 38 km till we make camp.
On the Trail to Sepra. After talking with some Ranchers it is clear, that no one wants any riders traveling over his land. The only recomendations we got, was to follow the old railroad track, later we read, that the owner of that peace of property is not exited about traverles of the CDT either. But never the less, instead of going to Lordsburg having to travel tons of tarroad, we chose cross country to Sepra. We endet up at the Village, of two houses at abot 12 am. and arranged for the horses to stay at an empty corall next to the Souvenier shop, that was the village. The Son of the Rancher, who was contacted by the lady of the store, came by to check on us and the cows, behind the corall, and all was fine. After the Rancher came to see us off in the morning we roade accross a hilly desert, following the road
to Lordsburg. We reached a plateau from which we could see the sheer endlessness of the land. One could feel scarred by the sheer size of dimensions. Kaktus is blooming but there is only water in several wells on the road. At 3 pm we reach the official CDT Trail again and camp on BLM Land. After the 65 km yesterday we ended up doing 38 today. The heat wears you out.
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AutorPeter van der Gugten Archiv
June 2018
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