Day 1- Pecos

We all meet at Level’s house at 8AM. Level couldn’t go due to a knee injury, but we all wanted to see him so it was agreed that we meet at his place. Cappuccino and I drove over from her house, Jolly Rancher came in on the train, and Scatman drove up from Socorro.

There we were, old friends, together again. Most of us heading off on an adventure to the Pecos Wilderness. We loaded up Scatman’s truck and after a quick coffee and goodbyes, the four of us were off on the two hour drive north to the Pecos wilderness.

Conversation was easy and the time flew by and before we knew it we were pulling into the trailhead parking lot at 9,000 feet. packs were shouldered and the “beginning of the hike” photo was taken and we headed up the trail as the clock read 11AM.

This hike starts with a thousand foot climb up good trail through mature forest. JR and I were feeling the altitude a little more than Scat and Cappy who both live around 5,000 feet. So we divided up into the “Highlanders” and the “Lowlanders.” Scat and Cappy led and JR and I brought up the rear.

JR was feeling lightheaded and so he and I took it slow. The highlanders would zoom ahead then wait for us to catch up. We all moved up into the forest under overcast skies with the temp hovering around 60. Very pleasant hiking.

We eventually got up on the ridge and then moved north on pretty good trail that followed the ridgeline or contoured along the side. Our progress was slow but steady with a fair amount of stopping to rest. The sun did break through intermittently and we got some blue sky here and there. The temp stayed in the mid 60’s. We did notice fresh bear tracks in the mud of the trail for several miles, but finally they peeled off and we had the trail to ourselves again.

By the end of the day, JR found if he ate a little something and hydrated, he felt better so that was good. About 6:30 the sky darkened and we heard our first clap of thunder. We scurried for a copse of trees looking for a tent site for Scatman, and three hammock sites for the rest of us. We made due with what we found and everyone started busily setting up their shelters. Everyone, but me, got everything set up, as I was helping out where needed, but I did get my tarp set as the rain commenced. Accompanied by plenty of lightning, it rain pretty solid for nearly an hour. When the lightning subsided some, we assembled under and near JR’s tarp and made a quick dinner.

After dinner, I got my hammock set up and everyone bedded down for the night. The lighting is gone for the moment and a gentle rain taps on our tarps now. We are safe, warm, and dry.

Until tomorrow-Happy Trails…