Trail Guides, Gear Reviews, and Backpacking Tips
DATE: Oct. 29 to Nov 2 START: Pinkham Notch, NH FINISH: Kinsman Notch, NH DISTANCE: 70.4 miles* (see Choices below) (113.3 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 14.1 miles (22.7 km)* TOTAL DISTANCE: 389 miles (625.9 km) A sign just east of Lake Read More …
DATE: October 27-28 START: Pine Ellis Lodge, Andover FINISH: Pinkham Notch DISTANCE: 62 miles (99.8 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 31 miles (49.9 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 318.7 miles (512.8 km) With Hurricane Sandy almost upon me, I decided a couple of huge Read More …
DATE: October 25-26 START: Poplar Ridge Lean-To FINISH: Pine Ellis Lodge, Andover DISTANCE: 47.2 miles (75.9 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 23.6 miles (37.95 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 256.6 miles (412.9 km) Chief Sherpa: Believe it or not I ran into another southbound Read More …
DATE: October 23-24 START: Caratunk FINISH: Poplar Ridge lean-to DISTANCE: 58.2 miles (93.6 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 29.1 miles (46.8 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 209.5 miles (337.1 km) Ferry Across the Kennebec: Early morning crossing with Dave (aka “Shadow”) who hiked Read More …
DATE: October 20-22 START: Carl Newhall Shelter FINISH: Caratunk Read More …
DATE: October 19 START: Nahmakanta Stream FINISH: Carl Newhall Shelter DISTANCE: 34.6 miles (55.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 78.7 miles (126.6 km) After a few good nights sleep, today was the strongest I have felt in the last couple of weeks. Read More …
DATE: October 18 START: Hurd Brook Shelter FINISH: Nahmakanta Stream DISTANCE: 25.5 miles (41 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 44.1 miles (71 km) I have a confession to make…….I’ve never been that interested in hiking the Appalachian Trail. Crowded shelters, limited views, Read More …
DATE: October 17 START: Mt Katahdin FINISH: Hurd Brook DISTANCE: 18.6 miles (29.9 km) + 5.2 miles climb to Katahdin summit (23.8 miles total for the day) DAILY AVERAGE: 18.6 miles (29.9 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 18.6 miles (29.9 km) “Are Read More …
DATE: October 12 to 15 START: Doc Campbell’s FINISH: Columbus, US/Mexico Border DISTANCE: 174.6 miles (290 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 43.7 miles (70.3 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 2592 miles (4171 km) Major Route Choice #4: Columbus or Crazy Cook/Antelope wells? I chose Read More …
DATE: October 9 to 11 START: Pie Town FINISH: Doc Campbell’s DISTANCE: 122 miles (196.3 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 40.7 miles (65.5 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 2417.3 miles (3890.3 km) The Gila: The CDT makes its serpentine way along the middle fork Read More …
DATE: October 7 & 8 START: Grants FINISH: Pie Town DISTANCE: 81.6 miles (131.3 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 40.8 miles (65.6 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 2295.3 miles (3692.7 km) He ain’t heavy, he’s my brother-in law: There was a lot of gravel Read More …
DATE: October 3 to 6 START: Just past the junction of FR 137 & 139 – about eight miles before Ghost Ranch FINISH: Grants DISTANCE: 172 miles (276.7 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 43 miles (69.2 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 2213.7 miles (3507.1 Read More …
DATE: September 29 to October 2 START: Wolf Creek Pass/Pagosa Springs, CO FINISH: Just past the junction of FR 137 & 139 – about eight miles before Ghost Ranch DISTANCE: 137.2 miles (220.8 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 34.3 miles (55.2 km) Read More …
I took my first zero of the CDT today. Physically and mentally it was time. Liv Holmes, trail angel extraordinaire and 2011 CDT thru hiker, had ‘spread her wings to Pagosa Springs’ in the form of a very kind invitation Read More …
DATE: September 24 to 27 START: Spring Creek Pass/Lake City FINISH: Wolf Creek Pass/Pagosa Springs DISTANCE: 115.3 miles (185.6 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 28.8 miles (46.4 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1904.5 miles (3064.3 km) Major Route Choice # 3: San Juan’s or Read More …
DATE: September 21 to 23 START: Monarch Pass/Salida FINISH: Spring Creek Pass/Lake City DISTANCE: 96 miles (154.5 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 32 miles (51.5 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1789.2 miles (2878.8 km) Freebird: A funny thing happened on September 22; for the Read More …
DATE: September 18 to 20 START: Tennessee Pass/Leadville FINISH: Monarch Pass/Salida DISTANCE: 100.2 miles (161.2 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 33.4 miles (53.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1693.2 miles (2724.4 km) Four Breakfasts: The morning of the 18th saw me make a late Read More …
DATE: September 15 to 17 START: Grand Lake FINISH: Tennessee Pass/Leadville DISTANCE: 105 miles (168.9 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 35 miles (56.3 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1593 miles (2563.1 km) Lynz: The highlight of this section was not any particular view or Read More …
Backpack: MLD Burn………currently on my second one……..the first lasted more than 8000 miles……..not bad for a pack which only weighs 11 ounces. Shelter: MLD Sil ProPoncho…….doubles as pack cover and rain protection. Sleeping Bag: Katabatic Palisade Quilt…….conservatively rated at 30 Read More …
DATE: September 13 to 14 START: Muddy Pass (more or less) FINISH: Grand Lake DISTANCE: 74 miles (119.1 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 37 miles (59.5 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1488 miles (2394.2 km) “He was born in the summer of his Read More …