CDT 2024 - Day 22, Water Cache

Rain, thoughts, questions, decisions

Warming on the cairn marking the trail crossing the road.

I woke this morning to the sound of rain. Lots of rain. I had a plan for this morning and the rain has put that plan into question. At about 0615 I checked my phone and the forecast said rain stopping in 20 minutes. I could deal with that. It's now 0745 and my phone says rain forecast for the next hour. Plus lightning and thunder in 20 minutes AND 95% chance of rain at 0900. I feel like I must be really simple as I just can't understand what any of that means.

Now I'm up and dressed with the heat on in my cozy trailer sitting in the KOA with my hot latte' with chocolate and cinnamon. Oatmeal is heating on the stove. I feel a bit guilty. Actually I feel a lot guilty. Runningbird is out there somewhere that I can't get to and I'm guessing she's wet. I'm thinking of her putting her wet tent, maybe wet sleeping bag, into her backpack. She has a raincoat but I'm fairly sure she's going to be wet from the waist down and hiking in wet shoes. At 0725 she sent a "Checking in. I'm OK" message. I'm guessing not really.

My plan for today was to head on up the highway to see if I could find the dirt road that might take me to near where she might be staying at the end of her day. There is a possibility of water reported off the trail but I could save her about a mile search off trail to find it. Two questions: can I get to that spot driving on a wet clay jeep trail, if there is one? And will the water I leave still be there when she gets there? And jeez, while I'm at it, I have two more questions. Does being out here and being a Wingman help me worry less than being at home? And why is she out there? I'm sure there are plenty of other questions attached to those questions but now I'm getting way too deep. And it's still raining!

Heading out to find the trail without getting lost.

Later in the morning it did stop raining and I made a dash for it. I grabbed my notes, phone, and the dog and headed on up the highway. 51 miles of paved highway and rural road and then 26 miles (1:30 minutes) of dirt and 4x4 track road to get to the mile mark where she intended to stop for the night. The notes on FarOut did not look promising for water being there so I left 4 gallons at that locations and signaled a message on FarOut that it was there. I also sent Runningbird a text (if she had cell service). After making my way safely down and off most of that dirt road, I switched to a different road and went to the next night's mile mark and left four gallons there as well. Also sending a message and a text to her. After the drive back to the campground I checked her Spot so I could feel some satisfaction knowing she had water. Unfortunately, she stopped for the night 7 tenths of a mile short of where the water was. Dang. I've said it before, "if you want to make God laugh, tell him your plans".

I didn't stop to take pictures during the really gnarly part of the road.

Stashing the water cache.

So, I made a reservation for another night here, took Beau for a walk, and grilled up my last Impossible burger. I made a cocktail and contemplated the light from the setting sun on the ominous clouds to the east.

Eastern sky at sunset from the KOA Bernalillo, New Mexico.