3 Highlights:
• Stunning vistas of the Gila Canyon
• Finding a hot spring before camp
• Enjoying dinner by the fire
Daily Summary:
• Distance hiked: 38 km
• Starting point: Gila 119 km
• Ending point: Gila 83 km
• Weather conditions: Very cold in the canyon until noon
Reflections (Challenges, Insights, Musings):
Let me tell you, waking up to frozen shoes? Not fun. It took all my willpower to get moving. The day kicked off with one of the 80+ river crossings lined up for us, and the first four hours were nothing short of miserable—wet, cold, and questioning life choices. But, like clockwork, the sun finally came out, and after some lunch, things didn’t seem quite as awful. Funny how sunshine and food can fix most problems.
The canyon views were unbelievable. Around every bend, there was a new rock formation that looked like castles, faces, or ancient ruins—if you let your imagination run wild enough. It was like hiking through a fantasy novel, with nature showing off at every turn.
There were fish everywhere too, taunting us. If Semper Dry were here, I bet he’d have snagged a trout for dinner. Meanwhile, I spent the day dreaming about food, doing mental gymnastics to ration what I have left.
By some stroke of luck, we found a hot spring before setting up camp—absolute bliss. There’s nothing quite like soaking tired feet in hot water after a cold, wet day.
Dinner by the fire was the grand finale. I even managed to feel satisfied for the first time in days, which is saying something. And, get this, I still have bars left for breakfast tomorrow. Things are finally looking up.
Time for sleep—fire’s out, belly’s full, and I’m calling it a win.
Good night.
