Ellen S - Continental Divide Trail Journal - 2017

Day 25

A few additions to yesterday. ??When we took a break, we saw a wolf (or the biggest coyote we had ever seen). ??Grey wolves were introduced to NM, but I'm not sure of their current range. ??Anyway, Yeahbut spotted it in some cornlillies below us. ??It gradually circled around and uphill from us, keeping an eye on us.We scared an elk and ourselves. ??It mus have been laying down. ??As we topped a hill, it jumped up and ran off, not 25 ft away.We had a lovely sunset last night from our ridge top camp. ?? Up and hiking by sunrise, hoping to get some miles in while the weather was good. ?? We dropped a little to reach a water source, then continued along high meadows and plateaus. ??Beautiful country. ??The trail was pretty easy to follow this morning.We quickly reached the Laguna taste camping areas. ??I didn't realize that there was no water in the campgrounds, so missed a chance to get some from the Lake before we clbed to the upper campground. ??Luckily, a family offered us some of their water, saving me from backtracking.??The trail left the Laguna taste via exposed ridges. ??We remained high, reaching almost 11,000 ft. ??The clouds were building by 11am. ??We cold hear thunder and see a storment in the distance. ??We got a few sprinkles, which we waited out under some trees.By lunch, we could see that the storm cells were joining and circling us. ??We put on our ponchos, resigned to walking in the rain. ??Despite the fairly steady rain, the hike along the high plateau was lovely. ??No lightening near us, fortunately.??We had planned to do 15 or 16 miles today. ??It gradually got colder in the rain, so when we reached a water source at 15, we decided to stop at a nice campsite we found.W e warmed up in the tent. ??By dinner time, the rain had stopped and the sun even came out for a bit. ??Happy to be warm, dry and fed in our cozy camp.
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Entry 34 of 35
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