Today started off well enough.  We broke camp and I waited for Pat in some trees to block the wind.  We started up the trail together, went around Nevada Mountain, and eventually reached Black Mountain which had some snow covered switchbacks.  No biggie, they were easily traversed or avoided.  Pat was just a few hundred feet behind me at the top.  I could see him through the trees before I started down the other side.  The top of Black Mountain had a lot of thick trees and snow drifts that obscured the trail making the route finding a bit tricky.

After descending a ways down the other side I noticed Pat wasn’t behind me any more so I stopped for 20 minutes to wait for him.  He never showed and I was getting cold so I started downhill again. 30 minutes later I waited again for 30 minutes.  Still no Pat.  I’m wondering what he could be doing, and I’m mildly concerned.  I got cold again and continued. 30 minutes later I reached a nice tree in some grass and waited another 20 minutes.  Now I’m worried so I text him on the In-Reach and ask if he is ok.  We both have In-Reaches and can communicate directly with no need for cell service. I get no answer.

I continued to Dana Spring and messed around there for another 20 minutes and texted him again.  I also texted him with regular cell service.  Still no answer.  I then texted him that I’m headed to our agreed upon campsite for the night. On the way I met a friendly guy named John who is riding a motorcycle the other way.  We talk and I mentioned that I’m worried about my buddy.  John says he will look for him and tell him to text me.

An hour and a half later Pat finally texted me that he will not make it back to the CDT and he is hiking out to the highway.  At that moment John returned on his motorcycle and told me there was no sign of Pat.  I explained that he just quit.  We talked a bit more and John told me that if I ever need help he lives near the railroad tunnel further ahead and I’m welcome to stop by. What a nice guy!

I’m on my own now, and honestly I’m relieved. I’m totally free to do whatever I want now! It will be much lonelier and I will miss my friend, but I’m really looking forward to making up some miles. Unfortunately the trail is a bit chopped up now. It’s going to be a real pain to hitch and connect all the sections to get this hike completed.

The wind picked up to quite a gale as I was walked along the dirt road. I wanted water but all the snow had a thick covering of dirt and debris blown all over it. It was during this section that I saw three badgers off the side of the road.  They saw me and disappeared into their hole.  I walked down the hill and waited 5 minutes for them to come out but they had more patience.  Eventually I went to the front of the burrow so I could look inside.  The mom was glaring at me just inside the hole and made a really deep, spooky growl.  I finally remembered that badgers were pretty aggressive and wisely decided to leave them be.

I’ve been looking for a campsite for miles now, but I’ve been on a dirt road traversing the side of a steep hill with no flat spots. In the distance I see another hiker coming towards me (headed north). It was Twig, whom I had met in Lordsburg.  He flipped from Ghost Ranch to Butte and is heading NOBO now.  It was nice to see him again and we talked for a while before going our separate ways.  It seems like everyone is going NOBO, but I’m SOBO now and may have a lonely hike.

After quite a while I found a spot below a clear cut in some trees where the slope wasn’t as steep. I put in 21 miles today even with all the waiting I did.  I’m camped in the middle of nowhere by myself and slightly lonely/sad but mixed with relief and excitement.  It’s all on me now.