The shuttle service that gets hikers to the official starting line loaded up me, Alanna, and three others for the three hours of very bumpy dirt roads to the Crazy Cook monument—the Mexican border and official starting line.
After a few pictures and some sunscreen, it was time to start our journey through the Bootheel desert. Of all the deserts I’ve walked in, this one is definitely what comes to mind when you think desolate. It’s us hikers, some rabbits and birds, and a bakers dozen lizards.
Even in the springtime, daytime temps climb into the 90s everyday, so we chose to play it smart and take our first siesta (shade break during the blazing hot hours of the day) in the only shade we’ve seen. The only water out here is what has been cached by the CDTC for hikers, so we’ve got to be smart with our resources and energy.
After 5 hours of siesta in the heat of the day and meeting plenty of folks who came to share the shade with us, it was time to venture on towards water cache #1.
The CDTC puts out boxes full of water for hikers in this section because it’s just simply too brutal to be safe otherwise. We didn’t have an ounce to spare when we arrived, so we were glad to refill our water. Three more miles of bonus hiking later, we bid thee goodnight.
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