Among the many triple crown mountaineering trails, the Continental Divide Path, also referred to as the CDT, looms giant. It’s the longest of the three (the opposite two being the Appalachian Path and the Pacific Crest Path), and the unofficial slogan of the CDT is “Embrace the Brutality.”
At 3,100 miles, together with all doable alternates, its scope is simply one of many distinguishing traits that set it other than its Nationwide Scenic Path siblings. Recognized for alternates that create a choose-your-own-adventure-style hike, colourful water sources (CDT additionally stands for the Cow Dung Path), scrappy climbs, seemingly endless ridgelines, and expansive views at excessive altitudes, the CDT is a bucket-list long-distance hike that’s actually unmatched anyplace else on the globe.
What Is the Continental Divide?
Far Out App
Additionally known as the Nice Divide, the Continental Divide is the last word hydrological divide of The Americas. It extends from the Bering Strait in northern Alaska (which separates the Pacific and Arctic oceans) all the best way to the Strait of Magellan in southern Chile (which separates the Pacific and Atlantic oceans). The Continental Divide defines the watersheds that drain into the Pacific and Atlantic (and the Arctic). Rain that falls west of the Divide heads to the Pacific, whereas rain that falls to the east drains into the Atlantic.
The Continental Divide Path follows this characteristic as intently as doable inside its United States boundaries by means of Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico.
A separate path extends north from the place the CDT terminates on the U.S.-Canadian border to Kakwa Provincial Park.
CDT Historical past
The historical past of American lengthy trails as we all know them in the present day began with the formation of the Appalachian Path Convention (now the Appalachian Path Conservancy) in 1925. The AT was accomplished in 1937, which laid the groundwork for dreaming up and plotting extra lengthy trails for public exploration and pleasure. The preliminary planning section for the Pacific Crest Path started across the completion of the Appalachian Path, within the Nineteen Thirties.
Quick ahead to the Nineteen Sixties, when members of the Rocky Mountain Trails Affiliation have been allegedly the primary to start mountaineering and plotting a route that might finally develop into the Continental Divide Path. In 1968 the Nationwide Trails System Act was handed and formally established the Appalachian Path and the Pacific Crest Trails as the primary two Nationwide Scenic Trails. The CDT was added to the roster of Nationwide Scenic trails in 1978.
However How Lengthy Is the CDT, Actually?
Getty Photographs
The quantity “3,100” is the most typical mileage quoted for the full size of the CDT, whether or not you ask hikers who’ve walked it or seek the advice of the web. It’s additionally the official mileage quoted by the Continental Divide Path Coalition, the physique that oversees the care and upkeep of the CDT.
Johnathan Ley, who creates probably the most detailed and commonly-used mapset for the CDT, has a essential route of (particulars on Ley beneath) that is available in shorter at 2,800 whole miles.
The CDT’s most typical path of journey is northbound, from Mexico to Canada, however the CDT is extra seasonally suited to southbound mountaineering from Canada to Mexico. Southbound hikers usually begin from late June by means of mid July, although that varies primarily based on present seasonal climate circumstances. Anybody mountaineering it ought to carry on prime of Snotel stories on snowpack, together with avalanche circumstances.
On a CDT south- or northbound hike, that you must plan on carrying microspikes and an ice axe for circumstances in Montana and Colorado. Familiarize your self with these instruments and a minimum of the fundamentals for utilizing them.
The CDT is usually a path for hikers and equestrians or pack animals, nevertheless some sections are open to biking and motorized use the place the CDT shares tread with different trails and use areas.
Navigation and Maps for the CDT
Johnathan Ley created an entire set of annotated and extremely entertaining printed maps beginning after his personal through hike of the CDT in 2001. He updates the mapset yearly primarily based on hiker suggestions, and produces the maps completely free of charge. You possibly can contact him immediately for entry to the maps at johnathan@phlumpf.com for printable PDF recordsdata. Customers are welcome to donate to Johnathan for his efforts through PayPal on the similar electronic mail handle.
Ley’s maps are additionally out there for obtain through the free Avenza app, which shows your location utilizing your telephone’s GPS.
The opposite app-based choice that makes use of GPS for navigational assist is known as Far Out Guides. The app itself is free to obtain, however then that you must buy the CDT information from inside Far Out after obtain. The CDT information prices $49.99 for the whole path. Be sure to make all of the maps you want out there for offline use earlier than leaving WiFi or cell service. Don’t assume the downloads labored, nevertheless; be sure you verify your maps can be found offline by closing the app, placing your telephone in airplane mode, then reopening the app and checking that the downloaded maps are nonetheless out there to view in full decision.
Water and Water Remedy
My methodology of selection for treating water is utilizing an ultralight water filter and carrying chemical therapy as a backup. Water therapy relies on private choice and it’s best to do what you’ve already examined, are assured in utilizing, and know works for you. I carry gear for backflushing and it’s one of many city chores I’m non secular about maintaining on prime of. As my filter’s movement fee slows between cities, I’ll catch myself getting too relaxed about staying hydrated. For me, backflushing is important to staying protected and performing properly (aka making miles) within the backcountry.
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I discover chemical therapies helpful for a number of eventualities specifically:
- I haven’t been capable of backflush my filter in fairly some time, both on account of opting out of a city cease, or not gaining access to potable water on the town. Generally the inevitable occurs and the movement fee turns into too low to justify all that squeezing throughout valuable break or tent time.
- The water supply in entrance of me is visibly filled with matter, and even with a excessive movement fee filter in hand, simply isn’t price pushing by means of and destroying the movement fee for the remainder of the part.
- There are recognized or suspected viruses within the water supply. Do not forget that water filters don’t take away viruses from our water sources. I as soon as acquired Norovirus that was recognized to be circulating amongst hikers within the space from a contaminated spring that I filtered from as an alternative of chemically treating.
Resupply and Path Cities
The CDTC affords a CDT Planning Information PDF obtain that’s out there for a advised donation of $10. Inside there are six full pages of advised resupply places to select from.
To slender these down, HalfwayAnywhere.com conducts an annual survey on most typical/greatest resupply methods (amongst their surveys on many different thru-hiker and lengthy trail-centric subjects)
Your particular person resupply technique will in the end be a private selection, maybe one which might want to preserve a level of adaptability and morph as your wants and needs change alongside the best way. You probably have allergic reactions or different dietary restrictions, it’s possible you’ll have to assume extra deeply about mailing your self resupply packing containers to accommodate your wants.
In the event you err on the aspect of getting fewer restrictions, or benefit from the journey of seeing what’s out there in gasoline stations, normal shops, and enormous field shops within the variable measurement cities alongside the path, then a resupply-as-you-go technique could also be for you.
For many hikers, your private technique will probably be some hybrid of mailing your self resupply packing containers and shopping for as you go. Anyplace you select to mail a field is your duty to personally name and make sure:
- The placement remains to be accepting hiker resupply packing containers. Additionally verify how lengthy they may maintain your field, and what data they want written on the surface (similar to identify, ETA, and so on.)
- The placement’s handle, and the way it must be formatted to include your identify
- The placement’s hours and days of operation. In rural and distant areas, many places function on restricted hours, restricted days per week, seasonally, and/or with few staff.
- Any charges. Most places will maintain a resupply package deal free of charge, however some cost a charge. You might wish to inquire about this so as to plan/price range accordingly.
Holding hiker resupply packing containers is a service to the mountaineering neighborhood and we’re grateful these institutions are keen to accommodate the distinctive wants of the thru-hiker.
Permits and Paperwork
The CDTC asks hikers, together with however not restricted to thru-hikers, to voluntarily register their CDT hike on their web site. Registering is free, and indicators you up for important path alerts (like closures, reroutes, hearth data) and likewise qualifies you to obtain a CDT cling tag, which have to be picked up at choose places close to the northern and southern terminuses. Registration doesn’t substitute use permits you want for sure jurisdictions alongside the CDT.
Permits
A number of permits are required to thru-hike the continental divide path. The permits beneath are ordered as if you’re mountaineering north to south.
- Tenting inside Glacier Nationwide Park prices $7 per particular person per night time. You possibly can start making use of for permits on the park’s web site March fifteenth of the 12 months of your hike. You may also get your tenting permits the day earlier than (by telephone or stroll up) when you don’t wish to be beholden to particular dates far upfront.
- A Blackfeet Nation Fish and Wildlife Recreation Allow is required for any recreation on the Blackfeet Reservation.
- Yellowstone Nationwide Park requires permits for backcountry tenting which are $3 per particular person per night time. Permits have to be obtained not more than 48 hours earlier than your journey and could be obtained at quite a lot of ranger stations and customer’s facilities.
- The CDT additionally briefly enters Rocky Mountain Nationwide Park and the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Each require backcountry tenting permits that are prevented when you select to easily hike by means of. Permits should not required for day use in these jurisdictions.
Climate on the CDT
Familiarize your self with summer season circumstances within the Intermountain West (which incorporates the entire states alongside the Continental Divide), which has a climate sample of frequent, if not day by day, afternoon thunderstorms. Learn your maps the day earlier than, and put together so that you’re not mountaineering alongside uncovered ridgelines or stopping at highpoints throughout afternoon hours. Proceed to make use of your greatest judgment about your particular talent set and kit. Do not forget that mountaineering companions might have differing expertise and luxury ranges. Don’t be afraid to assume independently and advocate for your self in your journey.
Extra on Alternates and Precise Mileage
A subject of debate within the mountaineering neighborhood is the precise mileage of the CDT. Why is that this so difficult?
As talked about above, the CDT is listed as anyplace from 2,700 to three,150 miles, relying on the mix of alternates and official route you tackle this path that absolutely embraces a “select your personal journey” fashion of mountaineering. The Continental Divide Path Coalition itself says the path totals 3,028 miles. The Far Out app, probably the most generally used navigational app on the CDT, calls the path 3,050 miles. My thru-hiking engineer pal, who’s as giddy about amassing knowledge as he’s about strolling, has conveyed his totals as 2,700 and a pair of,970 miles.
What It’s Prefer to Hike the Continental Divide Path
Picture by Jac Mitchell
After I began the CDT, I had a fancy emotional cocktail brewing inside me. Two years earlier, I had kicked off my lengthy distance mountaineering profession with the PCT, and inadvertently fallen absolutely in love with the path itself, and the thriving neighborhood of individuals and locations the path fosters. Going into it, I had no concept that neighborhood even existed. The 12 months between the PCT and the CDT, I had skilled a deep, private loss that I used to be sure I’d by no means absolutely return from. These two formative forces, each completely out of my management and utterly exterior of what I had envisioned for myself main as much as that time, in the end put me on the trail of selecting to hike the CDT, a re-working of my authentic plan to hike the Triple Crown of lengthy distance trails in three consecutive years.
I began the CDT on the Chief Mountain Port of Entry on the U.S. aspect of the road. I had — completely coincidentally — run into three hikers I knew from the PCT two years earlier who all occurred to be beginning the identical day as I used to be, all independently of one another. If it appears too unbelievable to be true, you haven’t but ripped the packaging off a protracted path and seen its sparkly underside. Coincidences like this occur nearly day by day, even many instances every day in some situations, and this serendipity was kicking off a protracted line of “the path offering,” as we lengthy distance hikers say.
In Montana the group of us that had develop into a circumstantial path household rolled alongside and regularly picked up different hikers: Quickham, Smokey, and at last Recon. The early days within the northern Rockies stretched out lengthy earlier than us following the summer season solstice, and it wasn’t absolutely darkish till 11pm. We took benefit, rising our path legs regularly, having fun with lengthy hours to finish our allotted mileage for the day. Lunch breaks lingered, fires at camp (usually a uncommon, if ever, occasion on a protracted path) and our nightly group read-alouds of Louie L’Amour westerns went till midnight.
The banter between L’Amour characters shortly turned our personal, and as we walked by means of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, we might curse the blowdowns with shouts of “yellow-bellied” or an much more gratifying, “Rattling it, Bobby.” (A reference to Bob Marshall; no offense, Bobby.)
By the point we had climbed the jungle fitness center of tree limbs throughout The Bob, it had received us over a lot we spent the remainder of the path proclaiming: “I’d slightly be straddling a blowdown,” as we zigzagged alongside the CDT.
Through-hiking is a protracted recreation, and an endurance sport. I say that after I’ve reached my peak bodily health once more, or gotten my “path legs” again, the miles care for themselves. Perhaps it’s not fairly that straightforward — you’ll nonetheless have to mine for self-discipline and stamina every morning. The tent received’t break down itself, and sadly they nonetheless haven’t invented a pack that carries you. However the miles … they movement. I name it robotic legs. On the CDT, I current up in my thoughts, a floating head carried by a pair of legs that appear to maneuver themselves, terrain flying by underfoot, earth, timber and sky all blended collectively in a single seamless blur, myself a visitor and one with it, unexpectedly.
My thoughts will also be my biggest downfall within the frontcountry and backcountry worlds. Like different endurance sports activities, thru-hiking is a psychological recreation. Health comes and the legs comply with and the miles movement … generally. Different instances, it’s like my thoughts desires to plant itself on a rock and pull my physique slowly backward down the mountain. Essentially the most beautiful sundown can land with completely flat have an effect on to the thoughts that’s gone rogue.
I attempt to be on my whole-body (bodily, psychological, emotional) A-game, nevertheless it’s straightforward to slide whenever you’re counting miles and digging cat holes each day. After I hear that inner monolog twist to self doubt, I flip to my inside nurturer slightly than my inner whip cracker. Suppose extra like a sort aunt baking cookies and fewer like a crazed circus coach. My objective shouldn’t be a demise march; it’s a life dance.
I’ve taken properly to mountaineering routes slightly than established trails, and I experience strolling the path reverse of most with a view to take up extra solitude. However even I subscribe to the previous adage: “It’s in regards to the individuals.”
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My ironic fact is that whereas I’m going to the paths to get away (from frontcountry distractions, each day stressors, the drama of the world), what I discover is a deeper realizing of myself and people I do encounter within the backcountry.
It’s the individuals of the CDT who will develop into your fondest reminiscences, your highest highs, and your tribe for all times.
To today, the southbound CDT hikers of 2016 are a few of my absolute dearest pals. They’re the individuals I could be my most uncooked and sincere with. They’re the individuals I’ve had the respect of laughing with, crying with, climbing with, and straddling numerous blowdowns alongside.