California: On January 1, 2017, I was camping with friends as we kicked off the new year. I was on the western edge of the continent, nowhere to go but east. And so I headed out, aiming for the other coast, but without a firm timeline or big plan. Arizona and New Mexico, with a side trip to Texas: I surprised myself by absolutely falling in love with the high deserts of eastern Arizona and southern New Mexico. From Chiracahua to the Sacramento Mountains, I camped and hiked and listened to birdsong morning and evening. I was only going to…
