Among the many triple crown climbing 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 attainable 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 unending ridgelines, and expansive views at excessive altitudes, the CDT is a bucket-list long-distance hike that’s actually unmatched wherever else on the globe.
What Is the Continental Divide?
Far Out App
Additionally referred to 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 function as intently as attainable inside its United States boundaries by 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 at present 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 Thirties.
Quick ahead to the Nineteen Sixties, when members of the Rocky Mountain Trails Affiliation have been allegedly the primary to start climbing and plotting a route that will finally turn 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 Pictures
The quantity “3,100” is the commonest mileage quoted for the whole 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 fitted to southbound climbing from Canada to Mexico. Southbound hikers typically begin from late June by mid July, although that varies based mostly on present seasonal climate situations. Anybody climbing it ought to carry on high of Snotel studies on snowpack, together with avalanche situations.
On a CDT south- or northbound hike, you could plan on carrying microspikes and an ice axe for situations in Montana and Colorado. Familiarize your self with these instruments and no less than 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 a whole set of annotated and extremely entertaining printed maps beginning after his personal via hike of the CDT in 2001. He updates the mapset yearly based mostly on hiker suggestions, and produces the maps fully without spending a dime. You possibly can contact him immediately for entry to the maps at johnathan@phlumpf.com for printable PDF information. Customers are welcome to donate to Johnathan for his efforts through PayPal on the identical e mail handle.
Ley’s maps are additionally accessible for obtain through the free Avenza app, which shows your location utilizing your telephone’s GPS.
The opposite app-based possibility that makes use of GPS for navigational support is known as Far Out Guides. The app itself is free to obtain, however then you could buy the CDT information from inside Far Out after obtain. The CDT information prices $49.99 for all the path. Ensure you make all of the maps you want accessible for offline use earlier than leaving WiFi or cell service. Don’t assume the downloads labored, nevertheless; you should definitely 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 accessible to view in full decision.
Water and Water Remedy
My technique of alternative for treating water is utilizing an ultralight water filter and carrying chemical remedy as a backup. Water remedy is predicated 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 preserving on high of. As my filter’s stream fee slows between cities, I’ll catch myself getting too relaxed about staying hydrated. For me, backflushing is crucial to staying protected and performing effectively (aka making miles) within the backcountry.
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I discover chemical remedies helpful for a number of situations particularly:
- I haven’t been in a position to backflush my filter in fairly some time, both attributable to opting out of a city cease, or not accessing potable water on the town. Typically the inevitable occurs and the stream fee turns into too low to justify all that squeezing throughout treasured break or tent time.
- The water supply in entrance of me is visibly filled with matter, and even with a excessive stream fee filter in hand, simply isn’t price pushing by and destroying the stream fee for the remainder of the part.
- There are identified 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 obtained Norovirus that was identified 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 provides a CDT Planning Information PDF obtain that’s accessible for a steered donation of $10. Inside there are six full pages of steered 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 matters)
Your particular person resupply technique will finally be a private alternative, maybe one which might want to preserve a level of adaptability and morph as your wants and wishes change alongside the best way. You probably have allergy symptoms or different dietary restrictions, you might must assume extra deeply about mailing your self resupply containers to accommodate your wants.
In case you err on the facet of getting fewer restrictions, or benefit from the journey of seeing what’s accessible in fuel stations, basic 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 possible be some hybrid of mailing your self resupply containers and shopping for as you go. Wherever you select to mail a field is your accountability to personally name and ensure:
- The situation continues to be accepting hiker resupply containers. Additionally verify how lengthy they may maintain your field, and what data they want written on the skin (comparable to identify, ETA, and so forth.)
- The situation’s handle, and the way it must be formatted to include your identify
- The situation’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 workers.
- Any charges. Most places will maintain a resupply package deal without spending a dime, however some cost a payment. You might wish to inquire about this so as to plan/price range accordingly.
Holding hiker resupply containers is a service to the climbing neighborhood and we’re grateful these institutions are prepared 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 vital path alerts (like closures, reroutes, hearth data) and in addition qualifies you to obtain a CDT grasp tag, which should be picked up at choose places close to the northern and southern terminuses. Registration doesn’t exchange 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 climbing 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 yr of your hike. You may as well get your tenting permits the day earlier than (by telephone or stroll up) for those who 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 might be $3 per particular person per night time. Permits should be obtained not more than 48 hours earlier than your journey and will be obtained at a wide range 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 for those who select to easily hike by. Permits are usually not required for day use in these jurisdictions.
Climate on the CDT
Familiarize your self with summer time situations within the Intermountain West (which incorporates all the states alongside the Continental Divide), which has a climate sample of frequent, if not every day, afternoon thunderstorms. Learn your maps the day earlier than, and put together so that you’re not climbing 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 climbing companions could 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 climbing neighborhood is the precise mileage of the CDT. Why is that this so sophisticated?
As talked about above, the CDT is listed as wherever from 2,700 to three,150 miles, relying on the mix of alternates and official route you tackle this path that totally embraces a “select your individual journey” type of climbing. 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 accumulating information 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
Once I began the CDT, I had a fancy emotional cocktail brewing inside me. Two years earlier, I had kicked off my lengthy distance climbing profession with the PCT, and inadvertently fallen totally 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 yr between the PCT and the CDT, I had skilled a deep, private loss that I used to be sure I’d by no means totally return from. These two formative forces, each completely out of my management and utterly outdoors of what I had envisioned for myself main as much as that time, finally 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. facet 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 virtually every day, even many instances every day in some cases, 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 turn into a circumstantial path household rolled alongside and progressively picked up different hikers: Quickham, Smokey, and eventually Recon. The early days within the northern Rockies stretched out lengthy earlier than us following the summer time solstice, and it wasn’t totally darkish till 11pm. We took benefit, rising our path legs progressively, 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 rapidly turned our personal, and as we walked by the Bob Marshall Wilderness, we’d 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 health club of tree limbs throughout The Bob, it had received us over a lot we spent the remainder of the path proclaiming: “I’d somewhat be straddling a blowdown,” as we zigzagged alongside the CDT.
Via-hiking is a protracted sport, and an endurance sport. I say that when I’ve reached my peak bodily health once more, or gotten my “path legs” again, the miles maintain themselves. Perhaps it’s not fairly that straightforward — you’ll nonetheless must 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 stream. I name it robotic legs. On the CDT, I present up in my thoughts, a floating head carried by a pair of legs that appear to maneuver themselves, terrain flying by underfoot, earth, bushes and sky all blended collectively in a single seamless blur, myself a visitor and one with it, suddenly.
My thoughts will also be my best downfall within the frontcountry and backcountry worlds. Like different endurance sports activities, thru-hiking is a psychological sport. Health comes and the legs comply with and the miles stream … generally. Different instances, it’s like my thoughts needs to plant itself on a rock and pull my physique slowly backward down the mountain. Essentially the most attractive sundown can land with totally 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, however it’s simple to slide once you’re counting miles and digging cat holes day-after-day. Once I hear that inner monolog twist to self doubt, I flip to my interior nurturer somewhat than my inner whip cracker. Suppose extra like a sort aunt baking cookies and fewer like a crazed circus coach. My purpose shouldn’t be a demise march; it’s a life dance.
I’ve taken effectively to climbing routes somewhat than established trails, and I experience strolling the path reverse of most so as to take in extra solitude. However even I subscribe to the previous adage: “It’s in regards to the folks.”
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My ironic fact is that whereas I’m going to the paths to get away (from frontcountry distractions, day-after-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 folks of the CDT who will turn 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 mates. They’re the folks I will be my most uncooked and trustworthy with. They’re the folks I’ve had the glory of laughing with, crying with, climbing with, and straddling numerous blowdowns alongside.
