Companion forum thread to:

7 Myths about the Continental Divide Trail

Agreed

Awesome article Francis, makes it sound easy!

Two great articles in one day. Am I in heaven? 1 backpacker in 2,000 miles? This is my kind of trip.

Again, another excellent article that only gives the reader a flavor of of what is out there, and leaves us wanting... more, which can be found by ourselves.

Wonderful!!

Ok...now Addie is just teasing us by putting 3 of these out in one day.

Good stuff Francis.

I like the three different perspectives of these CDT articles

Thanks

What's this about 7s anyway???

I'm a sucker for a theme. Order, odd-numbered multiples, and great writing/photos make my heart beat faster!

These were really fun to work up. Thanks to all this week's authors!

Addie, you're torturing me!
Francis, very nice to hear about what not to listen to when I eventually get around to the CDT. I can't wait!

"1 backpacker in 2,000 miles? This is my kind of trip."

If you think about it another way, it's no backpackers in 2,000 miles.

"If you think about it another way, it's no backpackers in 2,000 miles."

Even better!!

Great article. Thanks.

Many of my friends have hiked or are hiking the CDT. So I have wondered about the issues described in this article. Thank you for your many valuable insights.

I was in the San Juans the first week of June in 1977. If God had not ordained my legs to grow together at the waist I fear I'd still be sinking into that snow...

My sense is that there may be a window of opportunity depending on the snow fall and temperatures of a given year, but I would not say it is a myth.

Neat stuff. Thanks for sharing with us.

It's really wonderful to have three great CDT articles the same week! They are making me homesick! I keep remembering those Wyoming winters of my youth, though, so I will stick to going back in summer hiking season.

Francis' yo-yo bit only leaves me in awe. At my tortoise-like hiking speed (5-7 miles per day) it would take me several years to go one-way! However, I've always noticed that the scenery looks quite different when you're going the other direction! That not only keeps out-and-back trips from being boring, but also brings to mind that a good safety rule is to turn around and look back occasionally so that you know what to expect on the way out.

Tim, you make a fair point. I never said it would be easy! I just said it's a myth that you can't do go through Colorado in May. The fact is: you can do it.

Sure, you'll see more skiers and snowmobilers than hikers. And some days will truly test your patience. For example, one day my voice became hoarse because I was swearing so loudly after postholing for most of the day. I was swimming in snow. I probably did 1 mile every 2 hours.

Still, if you follow my get-up-at-4am-and-take-the-ridge advice, then you'll be able to do 20+ miles in a day even in May.

It ain't easy! But you can do it. :)

Thank you all for your comments!

Francis Tapon

Edited by ftapon on 04/11/2011 03:35:20 MDT.

I think these new articles on the CDT will help popularize the trail among potential thru-hikers and help people see that it actually is a realistic endeavor. The CDT deserves to grow to the stature of the PCT and AT.

Francis, you did fail to address my own personal fear about... Grizzlies:)

Edited by Legkohod on 04/08/2011 08:48:47 MDT.

" The CDT deserves to grow to the stature of the PCT and AT. "

??????? wtf ?


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sorry, just had to do that.

v.

I don't understand your reaction. I'm talking about public awareness, number of thru-hikers, degree of trail organization, etc. Obviously it lags far behind the AT and quite a bit behind the PCT. That's what I'm talking about by "stature."

I've backpacked in the Rocky Mountains a little, but now I'm fearful of Grizzlies.

I've heard they can attack humans.

I've encountered black bears in Oregon a couple times and they just ran away, so I'm not fearful of them.

Should I be fearful or is that an irrational fear?