Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
It looks like I'll do some backpacking on the CDT this year. This trail is a bit different than others. It has an official path that is over 3,000 miles. But it also has a number of unofficial alternate routes that some or most of the hikers actually take. The typical thru-hike will be over 2,600 miles, but usually less than 3,000 miles.
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| CDT with Alternates |
The trail starts (or ends) at Crazy Cook, New Mexico at the border with Mexico and heads north to Glacier National Park at the border with Canada. It passes through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, and Montana.
I've done most of the planning and some of the prep to do a thru-hike, but the plan is just to go as far as I can or want to--starting from Crazy Cook.
There are some unique challenges on this long trail. There are portions that are cross-country with few trail markers. Resupply is generally farther apart than on other trails. In several long sections, it can be difficult to find water, and you frequently have to carry more water than usual. If you get to Colorado too early, the snow can be difficult. Likewise, if you get to Montana late, the snow can cause problems. So to wrap up, you have to carry more water, do more active navigation, carry more food, travel farther per day, and at times be prepared for snow travel.
The plan is to start in mid-April. I'll take a bus to Lordsburg, NM, stay overnight, then take the Continental Divide Trail Coalition sponsored shuttle to Crazy Cook. I should start the trail on April 15th. I'll stop my overview here. But you are encouraged to follow along on my blog.
Trail Planning Blogs
Photos
On Trail Blogs
- Day 1 Crazy Cook to Water Cache
- Day 2 Water Cache 1 to Dry Camp
- Day 3 Dry Camp to Third Water Cache
- Day 4 Third Water Cache to Cow Paddy
- Day 5 Cow Paddy to 5th Water Cache
- Day 6 5th Water Cache to Lordsburg
- Day 7 Zero in Lordsburg
- Day 8 Lordsburg to Windmill
- Day 9 Windmill to 7100 Ft
- Day 10 Over Gray's Peak to Silver City
- Day 11 Zero in Silver City
- Day 12 Silver City to Gila
- Day 13 Bear Creek to Just Shy of Gila
- Day 14 On the Gila
- Day 15 Gila to Doc Campbells
- Day 16 Doc Campbells to Middle Fork
- Day 17 Continuing on Gila
- Day 18 Gila Past Snow Lake
- Day 19 T-Bar Canyon to NM 94
- Day 20 NM 94 to Dry Camp
- Day 21 Dry Camp to Water Tank
- Day 22 Water Tank to Reserve
- Ended hike after day 22...
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