Waiting until the last possible days before my trail adopter report was due, I finally allocated time to visit my adopted section of the Continental Divide Trail south of Pie Town in the northernmost reaches of the Gila National Forest.
Most hikers bypass this segment for the alternate more direct route into Pie Town, so grass is taking over the tread, both on the northern and southern ends. I scrape a few sections, but the adopted segment is 11 miles long.
Juniper in this area eventually topple onto the trail, succumbing to old age, and I clear 20 deadfalls. A recent rain shows that the water bars and rolling dips are working well to divert water from the trail. More should be added in the center third of the segment.
Camping out is complicated by lack of working water sources. Perhaps caching water will be necessary on the next visit.
My pie at the Pie-O-Neer this visit is blueberry-almond.
In Datil, the next town to the east, I observe an old-looking sign not noticed before.
