Vancouver long-distance hiker nearing his goal

PIE TOWN, N.M. — Vancouver long-distance hiker Jeff Garmire was on track to reach this tiny New Mexico community today, leaving a bit more than 300 miles to the Mexican border to complete the Continental Divide Trail and his quest to hike America’s three great trails in a calendar year.

Garmire hiked the Appalachian Trail in the spring and the Pacific Crest Trail during the summer.

He’s expected to reach the border about Oct. 14 or 15, then will travel to El Paso and a flight home.

“I wasn’t truly up and into the hiking until I brushed a cactus and got poked,’’ Garmire wrote on his blog on Wednesday.  “The last few miles into Grants (N.M.) are by a prison and down a semi-dangerous road so I was a little on edge. It’s ironic to walk by a prison since I would describe what I have as complete freedom and they the opposite.’’

He also noted buying flavoring to add to the New Mexico water “to stomach the very foul taste most of it has.’’

Wednesday was day No. 68 on the CDT. His CDT total is 2,350 miles and total trail miles including the AT and PCT total 7,230.

Only a handful of hikers have walked the nation’s three long-distance routes in a calendar year.

Garmire’s progress can be followed on his blog at http://freeoutside.com.