Ghost Ranch Nero

• NNML 2026 Day 8, June 25, Thursday
• Start S2 70 down from rim
• End S2 76 Ghost Ranch HQ
• Miles walked: 6

Continuing my descent from the mesa rim, in early morning the sandstone cliffs are painted in muted pastels.

A suspension foot-bridge is in the middle having wood blanks replaced.

Ghost Ranch is a convention center located in a gorgeous natural setting, used by youth groups, spiritual programs, artist functions, and more. The Ranch is a popular stop on the CDT, and is super hiker-friendly. I have a food supply box mailed here, and decide to spend the night in the campground to use the shower and laundry, and I even sign up for a couple of cafeteria meals.

( For long-distance hikers, a zero is a day with no miles on the trail, and a nero (near-zero) is a day with very few miles. )

I check in with the camp host, Trinke, who is just finishing her three month volunteer session, and will soon return to Wisconsin.

Usually I visit a museum or display when I am at Ghost Ranch. Ghost House is one of the early buildings when the land was a working ranch, and old photographs tell some of the history here.

At lunch and dinner, we eat family style at round tables, and we are encouraged to talk to strangers/ new friends-in- passing. You would be surprised how social I am when on a trail adventure, so much more outgoing than normal life. A couple of large youth groups are currently at the ranch, and an artist retreat. I meet adult leaders for a small youth group from Wooster, a small liberal arts college in Ohio, where Dotter attended. What are the chances?

A display near tho dining hall shows the geology of the rock formations that surround us.

I attempt a repair of my backpack. A buckle on the sternum strap came off and is lost. I have spare buckles in my repair kit, but they are incompatible. I put together and sew a new sternum strap– maybe it will work. A rip in my trail pants is sewed and taped, and hopefully will not look too disreputable when I go into towns.