Day 44. Mexico

Mile 776 – Stealth To Mile 789 – Border Monument 102

First day / last day

I wake up yawning, the sun streaming through the windows. I throw my blankets off, and check the clock. 9:00 am.

My eyes were open before the alarm, silently waiting. It’s dark outside, and cold. A draft seeps from under my quilt. I ask my dad for the time. 4:30 am.

We don’t leave the hotel until 11, taking time to shower and eat. Warm coffee and hot breakfast await downstairs. I am still drowsy from waking up.

I struggle to remove my sleeping bag and put on damp, cold socks. I manage. We pack up in 30 minutes, awake and ready to hike. Or maybe just ready to warm up. Backpacks and headlamps on, legs ready to go. 5 am.

The van comes late morning to pick us up. We sit with the heater on and jackets off. We ride for an hour to the state line, where a weekend hiker family wishes us luck. A few rvs populate the dirt parking area. The trail is wide and smooth.

The sun barely hits us, and we are already stopping for oatmeal. 15 minutes and then back to walking. We shiver and pull out hand warmers.

We start hiking at 1. It’s 60 degrees and sunny. 100 foot climb and flat for the rest of the day. Shade at the top, smooth trail.

We reach the top of the mountain at around 10. 3000 feet up done so far, all down to the border from here. The sun is finally warming our faces.

11 miles and we’re done at 5, get water at 5:30. It’s dark by 6:30. We’re asleep by 7. I slept through the night. My feet are sore already.

We got to the end at 1, and spent an hour checking out the border wall and the view. We hike back up to the nearest road to wait for a ride. 17 miles and we’re done by 1. 4 hours sitting and we’re picked up by my mom and head to an Airbnb. It’s dark by 6. We’re asleep by 8. My feet feel fine.