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Continental Divide Trail 2009 – Zuni-Acoma | Average Hiker

Zuni-Acoma Trail

I had been looking forward to the Zuni-Acoma Trail and was not going to let gluttony stop me from hiking it today. Unfortunately, I was still unable to hold down any food this morning, but not for lack of trying.

Feeling marginally better later in the morning, I headed to the PO to get my resupply box. The maintenance manager at the motel gave me a ride to the PO, and the motel manager then gave me a ride out to Highway 117, so I could hitchhike out to the CDT.

Once at Highway 117, it only took about 20 minutes to get a ride with Jerry McGuire. Seriously, that was his name!

As was often the case when hitchhiking, I was given an education. Jerry was a local rancher, and as we hauled his trailer of alfalfa down the road, I learned the history of local communities and ranches. Most interesting was my lesson on raising and training rodeo bulls.

With relief, I learned the bulls are trained using a reward system and that “elite” bucking bulls are rare. Jerry said he had never been fortunate enough to raise one until recently.

A slow grin spread across his weathered face, and his eyes lit up as he described his bull “Cowboy Bling.” Cowboy Bling was unique, he said. This bull had that “extra something,” a natural talent for bucking that was not common. Jerry sat straighter behind the steering wheel as he announced, “Cowboy Bling is going places.”

His grin was infectious, and I could not help grinning in return. This was in 2009. Bling was not a commonly used word and quite “hip.” I LOVED the name “Cowboy Bling!”

Natural Arch & Zuni-Acoma Trail

Jerry dropped me off on the side of the highway, and I headed up the dirt road to the Natural Arch formation near the Sand Cliffs. I snapped a few pictures (which I have since lost) and walked up the road toward the Zuni-Acoma Trail. This was a trail that I had been looking forward to walking.

Zuni-Acoma Trail

Zuni-Acoma Trail
Zuni-Acoma Trail
Zuni-Acoma Trail

The Zuni-Acoma trail traverses an old lava flow. It connects the Zuni and Acoma pueblos and has been used for over 1,000 years. Like many parts of the CDT, the trail length depends on whatever maps or data books are used. I’ve found three sets of mileage for this particular stretch of trail, including 7 miles, 8 miles, and 15 miles. I’ll split the middle and take credit for the 8 miles hiked.

I have three small tips for this trail through old lava.

  • My first tip for hiking this trail is NOT to walk it in the middle of the day when it is hot. There is very little shade, and hiking on lava in the mid-day sun is warm. The novelty of the lava field did not wear off the first couple of miles, but it was not long before I began to feel as if I was high-stepping through a hot oven.
  • The second tip is a result of falling once and ONLY once. It felt like falling on crushed glass, followed by extensive profanity. Pay attention and lift your feet. The lava is unforgiving, and dragging your toes will probably result in a crash.
  • The third and last tip, pay attention to the route. There were sections with no actual trail, so I had to watch for cairns. This made the route finding slow but made me pay more attention to the actual lava formations, which were quite interesting.

Back to Grants

It took me about 4 hours to cross the lava field, and I was worn out when I reached Highway 53. I had not eaten anything all day and had zero energy after having held down nothing the day before. Squinting down the highway, I began the 10-mile road walk toward Grant. I wouldn’t say I like road walks. They are so hard on my feet.

Hearing a car behind me, I halfheartedly held my thumb out and kept walking. I did not expect anyone to stop since they could see nothing but a large pack and two legs. But, surprisingly, a small compact car veered around me and pulled over onto the shoulder.

Annette taught school at the Navajo Reservation, and as we traveled the 10 miles back to Grants, I had another interesting conversation about her experiences.

The people I met along the CDT were some of the most interesting of all the trails.

2 thoughts on “Continental Divide Trail 2009 – Zuni-Acoma | Average Hiker”

  1. Looks like I have the honor of being the first to comment here. We moved to NM a year and a half ago because if the beauty, nature, and decent cost of living. I’ve had my eye on this trail for some time but have been reluctant to attempt it without a hiking partner. I think it’s probably a great time of year right now with it being chilly, so maybe I’ll hit up my FB hiking group to see if anyone is interested.

    1. If I could get my better half to move, NM would definitely be on my shortlist! It is such a beautiful state. I enjoyed this unique CDT section but had to watch my feet closely. It would be good to hike with others and more fun. 🙂

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