652.2 to 674 (21.8 miles)

Simple, basic description of today’s hike: finish descent, change back to more desert environment, climb up mesa, hike across mesa, big descent into Chama River canyon. One young bull elk sighting soon after leaving camp.

Though I did good miles and got to my planned site, it was harder for me today. I don’t know why. I suspect it was nutrition based, but don’t know. I am starting to feel more hungry during the day. I will have to tweak my food plan.

It was a pain to go back to worrying about water after having it in abundance yesterday. Nothing huge, but I had to carry more and plan my stops. My main water source today was a spring on top of the mesa. It was a great one. Some cows showed up as another hiker and I were taking a lunch break near it. They seemed annoyed we were there. We moved a few feet away, which apparently satisfied them and they approached to drink.

There were several steep climbs today, but they didn’t affect me psychologically as much as before. Slow my pace, control my breathing, take breaks. It worked. Still tired, but not bad. Getting better at this.

The most wearying part of the day was the descent off the mesa into the Chama River Canyon. It seemed to take forever. Despite going down, I had to slow down often to negotiate rocky steeper areas. My planned timeline to make my campsite (an open canyon area near the Chama River) was in jeopardy. I hate that feeling because I focus on my timeline and don’t enjoy the hike as much.

I made the water source near my campsite ( the Chama River is silty and not a great source) a little later than planned but with enough daylight left to scout out an open area in the sagebrush to set up the tent. Great views in the canyon for sunset and just close enough to the river to hear it. Ahhh....,