Trail Guides, Gear Reviews, and Backpacking Tips
The following meeting took place during my Continental Divide Trail hike of 2012: As I descended towards Morrison Lake, I was approached by a latino man on horseback. He greeted me with an enthusiastic, “Hola Amigo!” Much to his surprise, I responded in Spanish. Read More …
With the popularity of the Triple Crown increasing, the amount of information on the internet regarding the three long distance trails is staggering. Some of it is good; some of it not so much. That being the case, how does one separate Read More …
The CDT represented the penultimate hike of the 12 Long Walks series. I began my journey at Waterton Lake on the US/Canadian border on August 3. I reached Mexico 74 days later on October 15. In regard to conditions, I Read More …
Information: I used Ley’s Maps and Yogi’s guide book pages for the town stops. Jim Wolf’s books contain lots of interesting info on flora, fauna and background history relating to the trail, however, I wouldn’t say they were necessary for 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 …
DATE: September 9 to 12 START: Roadside ditch, not far from Rawlins FINISH: Muddy Pass (thereabouts) DISTANCE: 169 miles (272 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 42.3 miles (68.1 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1414 miles (2275.1 km) The Beer Gods are Smiling: Maybe it’s Read More …
DATE: September 4 to 8 START: Scenic spot, just south of Lester Pass FINISH: Roadside ditch, not far from Rawlins DISTANCE: 203 miles (326.6 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 40.6 miles (65.3 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1245 miles (2003.2 km) Cirque of the Read More …
DATE: September 1 to 3 START: Turpin Meadow (six miles from Togwotee Lodge) FINISH: Just south of Lester Pass DISTANCE: 102 miles (164.1 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 34 miles (54.7 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 1042 miles (1676.6 km) The Wind River Range. Read More …
DATE: August 29 – 31 START: Campsite OA-1 (close to Lone Star Geyser) FINISH: Turpin Meadow (six miles from Togwotee Lodge) DISTANCE: 86 miles (138.4 km) DAILY AVERAGE: 28.7 miles (46.1 km) TOTAL DISTANCE: 940 miles (1512.5 km) Mack’s Revenge: Read More …