Pete had spent the night on Wheeler Peak, New Mexico's highest mountain, while Lynda retreated to Junebug Campground near Red River, NM.  While Pete was scaling the summit (right top), Lynda began a hike up the trail to meet Pete on the way down.  Pete made the summit around 8:30 am, returned to the campground near Horseshoe Lake, packed up the tent and sleeping gear, and at about 11:00 am.

Lynda, in the meanwhile, slowly trudged her way up the mountain side, laden only with a fanny pack and a couple of bottles of water.  Pete was amazed to meet Lynda only a few minutes after leaving his overnight camp site.  Together they made the return hike, with Lynda sharing in the carrying of the 50+ pound pack (right).  (The pack was extra heavy as Pete wanted to test himself for an upcoming attempt to scale Gannet Peak, Wyoming's high point.  Gannet Peak involves a 17-mile hike each way, and the plan was to spend seven days in the process.)

The trek back, although initially routine, soon turned worse as both rain and occasional hail at higher altitudes began to fall.  Pete had full mountaineering gear, to include heavy GoreTex parka, but Lynda had only a light rain jacket, making her uncomfortably cold, as well as wet; but she continued to push forward like a champion, and by 2:00 pm they were back at the trailhead and the warm and dry car.

After they returned back to Red River, Lynda decided to treat the both of them to a night in a motel.  They chose Golden Eagle Lodge, the same one they stayed in two nights ago.

We slept a little later than usual, getting up sometime between 7 and 8 am.  Our plan for the day was to:

1. Ship excess gear back home via UPS
2. Stop for an hour or two in an internet cafe to take care of bills.
3. Make it half way to Corrales, New Mexico, where we were to meet David and Lorraine, Lynda's childhood friends.  Corrales is located near Rio Rancho, a few miles North of Albuquerque.

We accomplished 1 and 2 in Taos, about 35 miles South of Red River.  (See Pete working on his lap-top at right.)  We then headed down towards Santa Fe, stopping in Black Canyon campground near Santa Fe, operated by the National Forest Service.  We  like NFS campgrounds even though very few have showers or flush toilets -- they're cheap:  $5.00 a night with Pete's Golden Age Passport card.  Most of them are clean, namely those with a live-in campground host.  Black Canyon did not seem to have one (below right).