Forest fires often result in parts of the trail being closed and the hiker must take alternative routes. The rest is on land managed by the Bureau of Land (12% or 372 miles), National Parks (10% or 310 miles), and state and private lands (8% or 248 miles). The ride starts on the border with Canada and finishes at the border with Baja Mexico. [8] In 2007, Francis Tapon became the first person to do a round backpacking trip "yo-yo" on the Continental Divide Trail when he through-hiked from Mexico to Canada and back to Mexico on the CDT. People usually hike from south to north. Thats why we treated the divide route like the trunk of a tree, with branches out both sides, but always returning to the basic route root. This spectacular trail is the direct result of a tremendous amount of effort by Kevin Glassett (aka GPSKevin; www.gpskevinadventurerides.com). . The CDT loop combines two longer park trailsthe Tonahutu Creek Trail and the North Inlet Trail. Continental Divide Trail. Into the zone of death: 4 days spent deep in Idaho's remote Yellowstone backcountry. WARNING! A, Realized that calcaneus fasciitis was going to require the. Fifteen miles (24 km) from the Southern Terminus, the trail was ill-defined and rocks were making me roll my ankle every other step. "I have to come to terms with the fact that I may never know," said his father, Tom Cahoy of Minneapolis. They may also encounter adverse weather conditions. If you are worried about a loved one hiking the Continental Divide Trail or you have doubts about whether you want to undertake this journey yourself, you should probably stop reading now (or maybe you should definitely read this). Hiker Kiana Van Zanten met Alex on the trail and admired the way he approached hiking "really taking the time to enjoy nature and the trail, leaving no trace, taking the time to befriend other hikers even if you're not sure you'll see them again, willing to go on fun side adventures and not just be so focused on staying the line.". The lowest elevation of the trail in Wyoming is 6,522 feet (1,988m) about 12 miles (19km) north of Rawlins. Cougar encounter in the Gila (New Mexico). Starting the Cirque of the Towers alternate in the Wind River Range in Wyoming. 70% (2,170 miles) of the trail is along land managed by the U.S. Forest Service. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene (source), FALL | Wayne Paul Pferdehirt | August 26, 2019 | Wayne Paul Pferdehirt (67), died in a fall near Mather Pass (Sierra). According to a Google search, The Great Continental Divide Adventure Route is a motorized route that follows closely along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. The Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail both stretch from Mexico to Canada, but the CDT offers up a far more diverse landscape than the PCT. On a path as long, high, and remote as the Continental Divide Trail, there is little room for gear errors. [22] and the highest elevation in Wyoming is 11,115 feet (3,388m) at Lester Pass in the Bridger Wilderness of the Wind River Range. The Continental Divide Trail explores this iconic crown jewel of America's trails with more than 250 spectacular contemporary images, historical photos and documents from the Continental Divide Trail Coalition archives, and detailed maps. The Senator introduced The Continental Divide Trail Completion Act with Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.). We want to hear from you about your journey. The CDT drops 3,000 feet (910m) from the Continental Divide to the lowest point on the Idaho/Montana trail, 5,764 feet (1,757m). Glacier National Park. Officially . 00:59 Alone/Remote04:49 The Trail Is Not Complete07:15 Exposure09:48 Lightning15:10 Dehydration17:41 Wildlife19:20 Snow Traverses (San Juans)22:40 Hypothermi. [2] The CDT follows the Continental Divide of the Americas along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. The trail then moves along the forested mountains of Idaho and Montana before ascending the tall, sharp, rocky peaks of Glacier National Park, with the Canadian border on the horizon. Tent stakes didnt go in very well, but it stood up okay. Readers can experience the trail as if their boots were on the 3,100-mile path. Several additional mountains with elevations of more than 14,000 feet (4,300m) are near the trail, The CDT traverses many of the highest and wildest mountain ranges of Colorado, frequently at elevations near or above timberline which is about 12,000 feet (3,700m) in southern Colorado and 11,000 feet (3,400m) in northern Colorado. Later that night, she got a call from the coroner. [22] Timberline along this section of the trail is 8,500 feet (2,600m) to 9,000 feet (2,700m) in elevation. He was 32, fit and seemingly healthy, an experienced hiker. [8][9] Permits are required to hike or camp along some sections of the trail and a passport is needed to cross the Canadian border. Hitching into Santa Fe, New Mexico in the bed of a pickup doing 85 mph / 137 km/h and passing everyone was pretty scary. Though the Internet is now an invaluable resource for hikers, and a number of other authors have created their own guide books, Yogi's Continental Divide Trail Handbook still stands as one of the best resources for CDT thru-hikers. All hikers must replenish their food every few days, often hitchhiking from a road crossing of the trail into a town to buy food and supplies. In other words, rain falling on the western-facing slopes eventually finds its way to the Pacific Ocean; while the eastern watershed drains into the Atlantic Ocean. The Great Continental Divide Adventure Route is a scenic route that slices through several national parks, four or five states (depending on which route is chosen), crisscrosses the divide several times, and consists of pavement, gravel, dirt, and rocky roads. The lowest elevation of the trail on the Idaho/Montana border is 5,764 feet (1,757m) along the North Fork of Sheep Creek in Idaho and the highest elevation is 10,091 feet (3,076m) at the summit of Elk Mountain. We had inadvertently passed them, but spent the whole day trying to catch up. The first section of the proposed trail was laid out in Colorado in 1962 by the Rocky Mountain Trails Association. The average time to thru-hike the CDT is about six months and most people hike south to north. Leaving Grand Lake and hiking through thunder from 11 am to 7 pm, hiking through the rain for hours in a rutted burn area. "Money wasn't important to him," Tom said. Only about 150 people per year are thought to complete the thru-hike, compared to about 750 on the Appalachian Trail. His body was not recovered until more than a year later. One evening as they sat by the fire it started raining, "like, buckets and buckets.". This scenic trail runs from the USA/Mexico border into Canada and covers 2,767 miles of spectacular remote wilderness. [Authors note: About 2,700 miles of the trail is within the U.S. "I have to come to terms . The road walk into Rawlins (Wyoming) after the Basin. This beautifully produced volume makes accessible the highest and most remote . Rocky Mountain National Park has the highest paved roads in any National Park in the United States. Why? At the time this post is being updated (as I update it whenever news comes in), the number stands at 15. Her body was found on rocks at the base of a waterfall about 6 mi / 9.6 km northwest of Timberline Lodge (source), FALL | Emma Place | August 12, 2017 | Emma Place (19), died in a fall along the PCT near Mount Hood (Oregon). Some road walking is required. The vehicles ran the gamut from a 5-year-old Jeep to a 45-year-old Toyota FJ40, with two more Jeeps (a Cherokee and a Wrangler) in betweenquite an eclectic selection of four wheelersand four camping trailers. With our group it was easy; wed all four wheeled together for years and had traveled with each other on a camping trip or two. A few hikers, especially those attempting to set speed records, are "supported," meaning they have helpers who meet or accompany them along the trail and perform non-hiking tasks, such as food preparation. Added to that, the thru-hiker carries up to a one week supply of food weighing about 2lb (0.91kg) per day and, in drier areas especially New Mexico, up to five liters of water. Extra equipment carried might include an ice ax and bear spray. One of the friendly small towns through which we drove was our third gas stop; Datil, New Mexico (on an alternate green route). Grizzly encounter on day four in Glacier National Park (Montana). He didnt understand that the only thing I was afraid of at that moment was. (March 2008) "There & Back Again", Bastone, Kelly (August 2008) "Taking the High Way: Thru-hiking the Continental Divide Trail,", Last edited on 10 February 2023, at 23:37, "A Quick and Dirty Guide to the Continental Divide Trail", "The Continental Divide Trail Thru-Hiker Survey (2019)", "Cheating their Way to Fame: The Top 9 Adventure Travel Hoaxes", "The Onion vs. Mr. Magoo - On your mark, get set hike. Open full screen to view more. The trail was created by Congress in 1978 and is considered by many to be the best long-distance trail hiking in the world. [35] The Montana Wilderness Association is the leading non-profit partner for the northern section of the CDT. ago. "The Continental Divide Trail provides an unmatched outdoor experience for Montanans and visitors alike," Daines said. If you know of any sources for the below deaths or have any that may need to be added to the list, please let me know in the comments. Kathryn Miles Jun 5, 2019 The Tour Divide has been raced and completed on both single speed . [25], Notable points on the CDT from south to north along the Idaho/Montana border include:[25][1], Leaving the Idaho/Montana border, the Montana portion of the CDT is 627 miles (1,009km) in length although several alternate routes shorten or lengthen that distance. Yogi is the OG of thru-hiking guidebooks, at least for the Triple Crown trails. At any point on the loop, you'll be on one of those two trails. Homer Young's Peak. But even with a chip from Kevin, our expedition still took us almost a year of planning, which included assembling a cast of characters, their vehicles, and a sponsor. Each drainage basin contributes its water to river systems, which in turn flow into distinct larger bodies of water, such as oceans. Overnight it started sleeting. (GPSKevin also offers two-week adventure tours for dual-sport motorcycle riders, and is considering adding adventure tours for four wheelers.) With the trails growing popularity, its important that people realize that a PCT thru-hike does not take place in a controlled environment and that death on the PCT is an entirely realistic possibility for the ill-prepared (or even the well-prepared). Wolf envisioned a similar trail running along the Continental Divide, and in 1978, he organized the Continental Divide Trail Society, which advocated for the newly designated National Scenic Trail and published several early guidebooks.[4]. Camping alone when Id flipped up to Idaho/Southern Montana away from the bubble because I was trying to finish to go back to school. As this trail follows the Continental Divide, there are parts that are very high in elevation and challenging. Most of the CDT is located on National Forest System lands-, traveling 2,140 miles through 20 National Forests and 4 forest service regions. The International Continental Divide Adventure Route is designed to be a self-guided adventure.This route can be navigated entirely by GPS. To ensure they had an adequate supply of food, Miller and . New Mexico; Continental Divide; I-40; . Continental Divide Trail. [11] In 1978 three women hiked the entire trail: Nancy Andujar and the team of Jean Ella and Lynne Wisegart. It turns out that the Pacific Crest Trail is a safe place to be (and when the zombies, robots, or aliens finally decide to make their move, Ill bet itll be even safer). Hopefully, none of this happens during your (or your loved ones) hike, but its possible. He cross-country skied as a small child, joining the Minnesota Youth Ski League when he was 6 or 7. Portions of the trail already existed and a few hikers claimed to have walked from Mexico to Canada on the informal trail,[3] among them Jim Wolf, A Baltimore lawyer who had hiked the Appalachian Trail in 1971, and whose account of that journey appears in the two-volume book, Hiking the Appalachian Trail. As you can see on Kevins website, Kevin provides one main route (the blue line), some more difficult alternative routes along the way (the red lines), and several easier routes as well (the green lines). Continental Divide. Keep in mind, that when looking at the map, only 70% of the actual trail routing is . People used to describe Leadvilles climate as ten months of winter with two months of late, late fall. Having thru-hiked the CDT twice herself, as well as numerous other long-distance . Soon after, she hiked 800 miles of the Continental Divide trail along the Montana and Idaho borders. At various spots along the blue route, Kevin has added alternative green and red tracks. On April 1, 2014, Lisanne and Kris, along with their host family's dog, Azul, embarked on a hike along the Pianista Trail. [15] Tapon took the most circuitous, scenic, high, difficult route north and while returning south, took the more expedient route. So if you have some mental block about hiking the PCT because of all the scary things that are waiting for you out there, then know that despite those things actually existing, they are unlikely to kill you. Bridger Peak. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) is the 501(c)(3) national non-profit working in partnership with the US Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. Trying to get off the ridge was a mix of hiding under trees and running for cover when the lightning would start again. November 28, 2017. When I finally set up camp and went to sleep, someone (a hiker?) According to a Google search, "The Great Continental Divide Adventure Route is a motorized route that follows closely along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. These are from the non-parks within the NPS. There are relatively few deaths on PCT thru-hikes, considering the number of hikers, and the main causes of death are heat exhaustion, falls . The Continental Divide Trail blazes a path through some of the nation's most treasured scenic terrain. You being in the desert - not this high-altitude chaparral crap on the PCT - you're hiking for nearly 100 mi / 160 km through shadeless and waterless desert. The grand finale of the CDT in Wyoming is Yellowstone National Park. Lester Pass. Search and rescue teams on Sept. 7 recovered the body of . I was also behind most of the other hikers going south, I often felt like the last one. Self Guided Adventure. David Odell was the first person to thru-hike the (still undefined) CDT in 1977, although there was an earlier claim. Alex always loved being outdoors, his parents said. Learn how to create your own. Obviously, we had neither the time nor the funds to explore every alternative route along the divide, but we did sample several of them. Stephen Olshansky was found in a campground building in the Carson National Forest in New . Remember that between altitudes of 10,500 feet (3,200 km) and 13,000 feet (3,962 km) the air is thin, and some hikers may experience difficulty. The 2017 hiking season was plagued by many dangerous river crossings because of the unusually high snowpack from the previous winter (source), HEATSTROKE (SUSPECTED) | Marvin Novo | May 29, 2017 | In the Mission Creek Preserve (California), Marvin Novos body was discovered along the West Fork Trail. Beginning of the hike my shoes were too small and I had mad tendinitis and was afraid of having a, I packed out baby carrots from Ennis, Montana, and got. 22 hours and 51 minutes and was set in 2016 by Mike Hall (see Trail Notes for a full list of records). The CDT achieves an elevation of 10,091 feet (3,076m), the most northerly place on the trail to reach an elevation of more than 10,000 feet (3,000m). In 2012, the Continental Divide Trail Coalition replaced the CDTA to coordinate the efforts of several regional partners engaged in constructing and maintaining the trail. Nobody knows why Alexander Cahoy died suddenly while hiking the Continental Divide Trail. Yokohama, thinking that 2,700 miles of all types of trails, roads, and highways would prove to be an excellent test, provided us with tires and fuel for all four vehicles; a set each of G003 for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler and 1999 Jeep Cherokee and a set each of the X-MT design for the 1974 Toyota and 2005 Jeep Wrangler. ", Alex's sister, Hannah Benson-Cahoy, traversed the Superior Hiking Trail with him. The peak is near the CDT and has an elevation of 10,300 feet (3,100m). It was just going to keep getting colder and colder and I still had a long way to go. Most deaths from disease occurred east of Fort Laramie. In 2021, the CDT was about 70 percent complete, with a combination of dedicated trails and dirt and paved roads. So you are interested in hiking the Pacific Crest Trail but you dont know if youre quite ready to drag yourself across a continent for five months and probably die? For those who decide to hike the Continental Divide Trail from North to South, then the best time to start is late April, generally finishing in September. At one point in the Winds I had lost my tent, my wallet, and my flashlight and my phone was dying and I had to bushwack over 10 mi / 16 km of wet blowdowns just to get to a spot where I had a chance of hitching into Pinedale to buy a new tent, flashlight, and phone, and I only had $50 in my pocket. Well, the day we drove through it was like early fall with a sunny day in the mid-70s. Considerations When Planning A Hike: Continental Divide Trail Survey Collection, Pacific Crest Trail Horror Stories (Class of 2022), Pacific Crest Trail Hiking Advice for 2023 (& Beyond), Hikers Lowest Moments on the Pacific Crest Trail (Class of 2022), All my gear was totally soaked through at 11,000 ft / 3,353 m in driving sleet after Hope Pass, set up, and wound up. In 2021, he cared for his 94-year-old grandmother five days a week until she died in December. What's the story behind Minneapolis' smaller houses with huge front yards? The purists hike a "continuous and unbroken footpath between Mexico and Canada," but about 50 percent of the thru-hikers admit to having skipped small sections of road-walking or because the trail was closed, mostly due to forest fires or snow. This is the legendary Continental Divide, also known as the Great Divide. It is concurrent with the Colorado Trail for approximately 200 miles (320km). The Continental Divide in Southwest Montana. A series of cold days in Colorado in October, especially the cold during the mornings. The CDT is considered the most challenging of all the Scenic Trails in the US. One of our side trips was Leadville, Colorado. The hiker from Minneapolis had been out of contact for a few days when a search team found him June 9 at his campsite in the Colorado mountains. The peak, near the CDT, is the highest along this section of the CDT with an elevation of 10,621 feet (3,237m). There was a lot of snow. State Land Office, BLM New Mexico Announce Partnership To Improve Continental Divide Trail Access; Scammers Posing As BeWellnm Representatives; Latest e-Edition They meet at the actual continental divide at Flattop Mountain, an elevation of 12,324 feet (according to the National Park Service's website). The Triple Crown Hiking Trails are the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail and the Appalachian Trail. Sign in. These people are in the . Eureka acknowledged it's been a tough winter. The Pacific Crest Trail is a test of mental, physical, and emotional endurance. With strong winds, I could not set up my tarp and had to retrieve my sleeping pad which blew away 0.25 mile / 400 m. The only way to keep warm was to, I spent most of Colorado trying to keep up with a group, including a friend I started the trail with, who was faster than me, and I burned myself out badly. This 13,916-foot peak sits just to the southeast of Longs Peak and can be prominently viewed along Colorado Highway 7. Leave a comment below and warn future CDT classes of the awfulness that awaits them on their thru-hikes. In 1978, the Continental Divide Trail was formally established with the responsibility for management given to the U.S. Forest Service. So remote and inspiring is the route that Land Rover chose it as a challenge for the North American introduction of the Range Rover in 1989, when six Range Rovers became the first vehicles to complete the entire journey. We give equal recognition to thruhikers/equestrians and sectionhikers/equestrians. The trail represents a monumental conservation effort, stretching 3,100 miles across the United States, from Canada to Mexico. The name "Trail Ridge Road" derives from its proximity to historic pathways used by native peoples to cross the Rocky Mountains. Sleeping Bag or Quilt. The road is open to traffic and is extremely narrow in some sections. There was one point I was going to start early in Northern Montana (before sunrise), started hiking, then just pitched camp again because of all the. Leaving the Basin, the CDT traverses the remote and rugged 'bench' of the Wind River Range, climbing to above timberline which is about 10,000 feet (3,000m) in this area, and then through the Absaroka Range in the northwest portion of the state. Interstate 15. The alternate was probably fine for a northbound hiker, but going down this field of scree and causing small landslides while jumping from boulder to boulder and, I slipped climbing over the 100th downed tree coming out of the Scapegoat Wilderness. The main continental divide in Canada follows the ridge of the Rocky . Youll get access to exclusive posts, discount codes, live streams, and super extra cool stickers so that everyone will know how cool you are. He succame to his injuries (which included internal bleeding and head trauma) before being found in his sleeping bag by hikers the day after his fall (source), HIT BY CAR | Flicka Rodman | Nov. 19, 1995 | While taking a road walk detour down Highway 138 in Southern California, both he and Jane Rodman were struck and killed by a motorist who lost control of his vehicle after falling asleep at the wheel (he received a five-day jail sentence) (source), HIT BY CAR | Jane Rodman | Nov. 19, 1995 | While taking a road walk detour down Highway 138 in Southern California, both she and Flicka Rodman were struck and killed by a motorist who lost control of his vehicle after falling asleep at the wheel (he received a five-day jail sentence) (source), FALL | Jodi Zatchick | Winter 1983 | During a winter thru-hike attempt, Jodi Zatchick and her hiking partner Gerald Duran fell off a cliff face near Wrightwood, California after losing the trail and slipping on an icy slope (source), FALL | Gerald Duran | Winter 1983 | During a winter thru-hike attempt, Gerald Duran and his hiking partner Jodi Zatchick fell off a cliff face near Wrightwood, California after losing the trail and slipping on an icy slope (source). It's also the most remote, and the highest - the lowest point on the entire trail is in New Mexico at 4,189ft above sea level. He put me in a position where I either had to tell the truth and admit that I had no way of protecting myself while I was completely alone or lie and say yes so that he would leave me alone. A continental divide is a naturally occurring boundary or ridge separating a continent 's river systems.Each river system feeds into a distinct ocean basin, bay, or sea.. Continental divides are broad, continent-wide example of drainage divides, sometimes just called divides. I experienced vertigo for six weeks from a dislodged crystal in my ear (BPPV) while postholing through snow and low temperatures in Colorado (October and November). From Aspen to the peak of the pass is about . And thats it! Original Thumbnail Medium. Either way, best to sign up for my newsletter, yeah? It was called the Eagle Guest Ranch, and when we found that they raised and served their own beef, we decided to eat, shower, and sleep at the Eagle Guest Ranch. By 1995, only 15 people were recorded as having hiked the whole trail, still largely unfinished. [6][7], Successfully thru-hiking the entire Continental Divide Trail takes an average of five months. Not interested in any of this and dont know why youre still reading? A broken branch on that tree gave me a, Camped by a road in New Mexico and someone parked their car by me and ended up. This scenic trail runs from the USA/Mexico border into Canada and covers 2,767 miles of spectacular remote wilderness. Accidents were the second most frequent cause of death on the trail . With the card in your GPS unit, youll see the route plainly delineated with a blue track (with arrows pointing southward). Frequent route changes and a large number of alternate routes result in an actual hiking . Much of the CDT follows high, grassy ridges with some walking on dirt roads required. T he Triple Crown trails (the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail) offer nearly 8,000 miles of some of the best hiking in the world. ", "Good time to take inventory on gear - and yourself", "Francis Tapon: The first person to yo-yo Americas wildest trail talks heating, eating and the philosophy of lightweight", "2007 Adventurer of the Year: The Walking Man", "Salem 13-Year-Old Youngest to Hike Triple Crown", "Ore. I mentioned a couple of our favorite eateries early on but I would be sorely remiss if I didnt also mention the Caf Jax in Eureka, Montana (very near the Canadian border). This blue track begins at the Mexican border where New Mexico SR 81 crosses it, and then flows northward through New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana (a green line bypasses Idaho and takes you through Yellowstone National Park, which is the route we chose). About halfway through my last state, New Mexico, I just wanted to quit. The cause of death is unknown, but hypothermia is suspected (source), FALL | John Lowder | June 1999 | Its thought John Lowder (69), a doctor from San Diego, slipped on some ice crossing New Army Pass in the Sierra and fell approximately 60 ft / 18 m off into a canyon in the Sierra Nevada. Rather than cooking over campfires, we used Coleman stoves; rather than reading by candlelight, we used electric lanterns; and rather than sleeping wrapped in buffalo robes, we snuggled into sleeping bags. [], CDTC, New Mexico Land Office, BLM Announce Partnership to Improve & Protect CDT Access, CDTC Applauds Important Milestone for the Bipartisan CDT Completion Act.