May 3rd--- The Mouth of Deadmans Canyon to Bear Creek

Bandana Noseguard

Not much to look forward to this morning since I knew that all I had before me was 15 miles of road walking to get to Silver City and more of the same to get out of town.  Early on it was pleasant enough with the sun still low and the lingering morning chill making things cool.  To the right were the Burro Mountains I'd crossed the day before and to my left was the denuded wall of the Tyrone mine, a huge scar on the landscape.  Setting my pace, I was trying to go as fast as I possibly could.  There weren't any spots that called for you to stop and linger.  As I got closer to the Highway, I saw more heavy equipment, mainly the graders and the mechanical behemoths that pass for mine trucks.  A few passed me on the road, kicking up dust and spewing their deisel fumes.  If you're interested, there is a little informational overlook just before you hit the pavement that has assorted facts about the mine on a series of plaques.  I went there mainly 'cause it offered a little shade from the sun as well as a place for second breakfast. 
There are only two good things about the walk along Highway 90.  First, it has a very wide shoulder so there shouldn't be any undue worries about the speeding hunks of metal flying past you.  Second, there are green mile markers that let you know how much distance you've travelled--- sort of a countdown into town.  Using my watch, I discovered that I was doing a mile every 16 to 17 minutes, so, if I could only keep the pace, I had a pretty good idea of when I'd be entering suburbia.  To avoid a baked nose from rays bouncing off the road surface I readjusted the bandana to make an improvised shield for my schnoz.  On all the trails I've been on, I've never carried sunscreen.  Long-sleeved T-shirts and a wide-brimmed hat usually do the job of keeping the sun at bay.
Silver City has everything a hiker needs and more.  I availed myself of the library and its Internet service first before hitting the lunch buffet at Pizza Hut.  Resupply at a local supermarket just around the corner and voila!  Town stop complete.  Fast and efficient.
Little Walnut Road led out of town between scattered shops and houses.  For a short while I enjoyed the sidewalk, then it was onto the shoulder, which over time narrowed and became hardly any shoulder at all.  Occasionally, a dog would bark at my passing or a car would cruise by, but other than that, the only noise I recall was the steady tromp of my feet as they propelled me onward. 
I didn't carry much water out of Silver City because there are picnic grounds and campsites further on which have faucets.  Using the Little Walnut Campground, I took advantage of a shady picnic pavilion for a brief respite from the afternoon sun.  Must have been the wrong time of day or the wrong season as I had the place pretty much to myself.
Setting out again, the asphalt gave way to dirt and I found myself contouring in the forested hills.  At times the track would dip and I'd be heading lower while at other times I needed to do a bit of climbing.  All in all, nothing too difficult.  The last bit of hiking I did was scurrying down to the waters of Bear Creek.  I could hear a jeep laboring on the road somewhere behind me and realized by the sound that it was drawing closer.  As I was setting up camp on the far bank, the four-wheel drive emerged from the trees and with engine groaning, and tires spinning, manuevered its way over the rounded stones in the creek bed, splashing water it its wake.  I waved to the driver, who gave me a bit of a strange look as he waved back.  With my bandana covering my nose still, he may have thought he had driven into an ambush by a craven desperado.  HA!  After the groundcloth was down and everything was laid out to my satisfaction, it was time for grub.  A nice little hiker meal to close out the day.


28.2 Miles