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Post by Darcy Piceu Africa on Jan 31, 2011 15:55:32 GMT -5
Out of curiosity, what info is out there about running the Continental Divide, if any? Have there been any record attempts (either for the entire length, or just in Colorado)? Also wondering if you have info about just running the Colorado section. Is there a trail for all 800 miles? I was on the CDT website, but not sure if all of the trail is in.
Thanks Peter!
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Post by Flyin' Brian Robinson on Mar 2, 2011 17:00:00 GMT -5
Hi Darcy,
My personal experience with the CDT is now 10 years old, so take this all with a grain of salt.
The CDT tends to follow the Colorado Trail, the best defined long trail in the vicinity. This is because the CDT is not well defined on the ground. For instance, in many parts of New Mexico, there is no trail at all. The choices for a CDT hiker are to road-walk or bushwhack.
Colorado has plenty of trails along the "CDT route," but it's still not well defined. There is disagreement about which of the existing trails to use. Authorities disagree.
This makes it difficult to establish a meaningful speed record. On the other hand, it makes trip planning more interesting. Ultimately you get to choose!
Flyin' Brian
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Post by siriusultrarunner on Feb 4, 2013 15:06:47 GMT -5
I was considering a trans glacier via the CDT for this summer as a short fast pack due to limited vacation. The CDT though there follows many different trails and is not exactly a direct route. Whatever I dig up for research I will let you know.
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Post by coolrunner722 on Feb 18, 2013 1:24:18 GMT -5
I have hiked portions of the trail with my dad (in CO, NM, and WY). Often, there is a trail (or 2-track, dirt road, etc). Trail markers are few and far between so don't rely on them! You should use Jonathon Ley's maps, Wolf's guidebook, and have good map and compass skill. Hope this helps!
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Post by Craig Lloyd on Mar 1, 2013 21:44:30 GMT -5
Andrew Skurka has done the CDT as part of the Great Western Loop and the Colorado Trail. I'm sure if you email him he'd have plenty of info for you. Not much on his site though. If you do go to his site you can see pictures and updates from his whole trip, broken out by trail section. old.andrewskurka.com/GWL/pictures/index.php |
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Post by anishnabe on Apr 30, 2013 10:21:01 GMT -5
As Brian said, there isn't a single established trail on the ground for the entire CDT. There are various routes in many areas (ie. an equestrian route, a standard hiker route, and a "tru-to-the-divide" x-country route). Most of Colorado is established. However, most thru-hikers do not take the "official" route in several places (the lollipop in RCMNP, the 50 mile waterless ridge walk near Silverton, etc). Therefore, even though there is an official, established route, most users use another, more practical route (thereby invoking the question of what makes a route official...)
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Post by Jesse M on Sept 21, 2016 16:50:14 GMT -5
I did CDT section from Wolf Creek Pass to Silverton (Cunningham Gulch TH) in 42 hours unsupported solo 28 August 2015. I only know of two other teams that have tried this for speed but guess there have been other folks who have done it as well. Of the two groups I know of, one was definitely unsupported and I believe the other one was too. One did it in 2.5 days and Im uncertain of the actual time of the third group.
This section is well established, for the most part has frequent water opportunities, and a tread that goes from fantastic in the beginning to a lot of intermittent gnarly stuff (like too rough to run down hill) to finally really nice again. For the most part the ascents are pretty moderate except the ascent from the Pine River to Rio Grand Pyramid which is a real slog.
It is an 84 mile section with modest elevation gain (18k I think but could be wrong). It is remote so resupply would be difficult but not out of the question. I think there is PLENTY of room to improve on this time.
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