Category: Preparation

Once I committed to this section hike I’ve been physically preparing. This includes wearing a 25 lbs. weight vest and hiking up and down Austin hills. Although Austin TX is relatively flat my first choice is Mount Bonnell.

Along with the vest, I wear a cap for the sun and earphones to listen to books and podcasts. It also includes me wearing my COVID-19 face mask when encountering people, but if no one is around I remove it so I can breathe more easily.

By the time I’m done exercising I’m a big ball of sweat. Thanks Austin for the humidity!

With the help of Justin, my son, as support, I’m planning on getting back on the CDT from South Pass City WY to Cuba NM for a LASH (Long Ass Section Hike).

In my hotel room I unloaded my pack and made sure I have everything. Then I filled up my two Platypus water bags with 5L and my two front bottles with 1.4L. That’s 14 pounds of water. My pack is so heavy and big that I’m freaking out. The first day is always the hardest, but I’m very worried especially about my right heel. All I can do is try…

At about 4:20 PM the train pulled into Lordsburg. No station, just a road crossing. Thanks to Google Maps I walked about 20 minutes and TA-DA I’m now checked in to the Econo Lodge. So after a disrupted start I’m now back on schedule. Just as I got here I met Radar who is Peru’s friend and he said I was the ONLY person on the shuttle tomorrow at 6:30 AM. Although he drove today he was hoping that he wouldn’t tomorrow. Oh, and the weather is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit and cloudy. Great hiking weather.

I boarded the train at about 12 midnight. My Roomette is about 4×10 feet and Brian, the steward, converted it into a bed. Within minutes I undressed and laid down. I slept and was awoken as the train got underway. The car jiggled and swayed as I slept and woke. I could see light coming through my drawn curtains. I looked at my phone to see it was 7 AM. I got up. Meals are included and I had a Continental Breakfast. I sat with a couple and another man who chatted about how expensive it was living in California and who had moved to a small town in Texas. Pleasant light conversation helped make the meal enjoyable. Now I’m back in my Roomette which had been converted to seats. It’s nice to sit and stare out the window watching the world pass by. Desert, scrub brush, sand, hills all pass by. Only a few more hours until Lordsburg and the next step on my journey.

After what seems like eternity the train arrived. It’s now about 11:30 PM and I learned while waiting it would get here at that time, but would depart at 2:45 AM. I’m hoping I can get on soon and find my Roomette which I’ve learned indeed has a bed. Ahhh, sweet rest is only moments away…

So I’m killing time at the San Antonio train station. I’m killing a lot of time. I’ve just killed 1 hour. Only 10 more to go. The only positive thing to look forward to is that I’ve reserved a Roomette. Whatever that is. Maybe it’ll have a bed. Any bed will do. I’m not picky. But I’ll only have it from 2:45 AM to try to sleep so it might be a short lived luxury. Time will tell. Oh, have I told you that I now have on 9 hours and 45 minutes. I can’t wait. Actually I can wait. I must wait. I will wait. Sigh!

My train from Austin at 6:30 PM was canceled. Argh! They phoned and said I could get on in San Antonio. So Kathy and I drove the 90 minutes south to San Antonio after my lunch with my family: Matthew, Katie, and Kathy. The only problem is I’m here waiting at 4 PM and the train arrives at 2:45 AM. Yup, AM. Ugh!

Lots of trail food for my initial hike and three resupply packages. This is only about 22 days of food.