Photo and article by Mary Alice Murphy

From left are Jim Zawacki, VFW chapter Commander; Warrior Hikers Dana Phillips, Jon O'Dell, Sterling Deck, Andrew Dyer and Dyer's girlfriend Kim Geisreiter.

On Wednesday, four of the warrior hikers and one veteran's girlfriend, who had started out on the Continental Divide Trail at the Mexican border, on April 20, arrived in Silver City to spend one or two nights. The hikers have a bit less than 3,000 miles to go to reach the Canadian border.

In a prior article on the group of hikers, http://www.grantcountybeat.com/news/news-articles/21319-warrior-hikers-feted-on-eve-before-their-cdt-hike-begins, the Beat talked to four of the hikers, but two on Wednesday were different hikers.

Wednesday evening warrior hiker Andrew Dyer and his girlfriend, an experienced through-hiker, Kim Geisreiter, joined the group for dinner at the home of VFW commander Jim Zawacki.

One hiker, Brian Leppek, who began the hike, became ill and had to return home. He hopes to rejoin the group in Colorado, his health permitting.

Dyer said the hike was rough on the feet the first week, but "it's fantastic hiking. From Lordsburg, it's been a good trail."

Dana "HD Mama" Phillips said the group started out from the Mexican border together, but because hikers go at different speeds, they soon separated. They often camp in pairs, but usually join up in towns along the way.

Sterling Deck, who says he often goes off trail, following bird calls, wants to become an ornithologist after this "walk off the war" hike. "I'm often whistling at birds and calling them in, so I can take photos of them."

Dyer said the reason he is doing the hike is because he already does "a lot of outdoor stuff. This hike has been on my to-do list for a while. I found out about the program, had a hard date commitment and found someone to take care of my dog. The Continental Divide Trail is the hardest, longest and most challenging of the three primary trails. I guess I like to punish myself."

Zawacki read to the warrior hikers a letter, which said that programs like Walk off the War help combat veterans, recover. Congressman Steve Pearce, a Vietnam veteran, wrote the letter. In it, he said Vietnam veterans did not have such programs when they returned and many still pay the price from that war.

Zawacki also presented to each hiker a certificate of appreciation from Pearce for the veterans' service to country. Zawacki said he would mail the certificates and a copy of the letter to each hiker, so they didn't get destroyed in their packs.