I first spotted him at 10:08.

A lone figure, still several miles off. Distorted by the heat waves that arose when the morning's delightful clouds faded away.

Yet another Continental Divide Trail hiker.

You never know about these travelers on the Trail. Some are the most gregarious folks you have ever met. Others, like the two cyclists who stopped to eat lunch by themselves literally across the highway from the wife and I yesterday, with barely a nod as they hit the pavement again, are more aloof.

And some, like Saturday's hikers, are dead tired, almost in survival mode by the time they've crossed 100+ miles of desert.

At 10:34, I got to find out about this one.

A friendly hiker. Who likewise wasn't sure about what kind of reception he might receive. But after consuming a liter and a half of my water, and refilling both his containers, he was happy. And, after a cell phone call to the wife, he had a rough idea of two places to spend the night in town.

But he'd forgotten about the holiday. Or even what day of the week it was, for that matter.

The "General Delivery" package at our post office would have to wait until tomorrow.

Saturday's hikers were actually an impromptu team. A couple who met on the trail, and stayed together for the company. They were doing the trail in pieces, starting in 2005, and leaving our desert stretch until last.

Today's hiker was doing the whole thing. Nonstop from Canada to Mexico. Looking forward to Colorado's high mountains, but eager to get through that state before the snows fall.

And so, by 10:48, he was back on the trail.

And, as with most trail travelers I meet, I never did get his name.