The weather cleared and we hiked through Goat and Saddle Rock canyons. These are beautiful riparian canyons with water flowing on top of the sand. We met Jane, a tough (but friendly) cowgirl with a huge sombrero and chaps.  She was just leading her horse out of it’s trailer and into the wash we were coming down.  We talked with her for a bit and she gave us some water before going our separate ways.

We eventually reached the highway to silver City.  This is a 12 mile road walk on a busy highway with minimal shoulder. This is my first taste of road walking and I found it very slow and stressful. I really don’t like trucks whizzing by me at 70 mph and am amazed at how slow and monotonous this is.  It is also incredibly hard on your feet and legs walking on the tilted surface for miles. I’ve often heard experienced thru hikers complain about road walking and thought “What’s the big deal? You can make good time on the flat pavement.” Well, now I know.

We got tired and stealth camped on someone’s land off the highway.  We hopped the barbed wire fence along the highway and descended a small wash to a larger wash where we found a large tree and some shade.  We hung out here until it cooled a bit and then went up the bank to a flat area where we set up the tents.  I worried a bit about a rancher roaring up with a shotgun to chase us off.  Every now and then I can hear the faint sound of dogs barking in the distance.  I also noticed that I could see some houses far away up on the hillside.  Hopefully there isn’t someone in there with binoculars that has noticed us.  Whatever, I’m sleepy and tired.