Ranching occupies a large portion of the state, and where there were cows, we were sure to find windmills and water. It took some extra planning, and it wasn't much fun packing the weight of extra water, but we managed to get across New Mexico without serious dehydration. Still, the dusty, tawny brown landscape took some getting used to for a boy from the marshes of Essex, where drizzling rain succeeds in creating year-round greenery. At first I found New Mexico unbelievably harsh and barren, but you soon notice how even the driest areas teem with life. Lizards and insects were everywhere, and we were often amazed to find a delicate flowering cactus in an area otherwise devoid of vegetation.
Backpackers are a rare breed in New Mexico.
We saw more hikers in our first week in Colorado than in the whole of the Land of Enchantment. We traveled across some classic and memorable country. As we enter Colorado, our gear has not changed considerably, partly due to the cost and hassle of shipping equipment across the Canadian border. We have picked up a water filter and gaiters in Pagosa, but opted against ice axes due to the early spring and lack of snow. It has been cold at night in these high mountains, and we've been wearing all our clothes.