Back from the Colorado Trail

imported
#1

Earlier this summer, posted my planned three week thru-hike of the CT. Well, back from it. Was able to do the 480 mile route (took some alternate routes that made the trail slightly longer) in 21 days. That, and a buck, gets me some coffee at a few places. :slight_smile:

Anyway, was a great experience. Heard elks bugling, saw aspen leaves golden, heard coyotes yipping, and was in a snow storm at 12500’ near San Luis pass. (Looking at the CDT journals, lots of people caught in the same storm!)

Will be posting my photos/journal soon if anyone cares to see it. Will post the link.

Mags

Mags

#2

Please do post the link. I am thinking about hiking the CT next summer. Thanks!

pancho

#3

Hey Mags,
I’m in leadville CO. Just had my first day on the Colorado Trail. Its funny, my trail has been forest road most of the way and today I had single track along a road. Something different. Any how I’m staying at the Leadville Hostel and so should ever hiker both CDT and CT, hell any one comeing through CO should check this place out. Wild Bill is super nice! This place is great. very nice home and, (specials for hikers, shhhhh!)

Goof

#4

Yep, stopped by before a few years ago to check it out. Nice place! Glad to see you are doing OK.

Also, at Georgia Pass you were on the CT as well (Copper Mountain Area), unless you took a lower alternate route. Been cold out, so that ain’t a bad idea! :slight_smile: You’ll split off from the CT at Hope Pass and re-join it again near Marshall Pass.

Wish I had a car…be easier to meet up with you guys!!!

Mags

#5

Hey, what month did you thru hike, and how cold did it get?
I have a few books on the way to plan for my May thru hike, but i’m impatient.

Thanks
Grizz

Grizzly

#6

Duh, i realize you just got back… was wondering if you had been there other times of the year.

Grizzly

#7

480 miles in 21 days = almost 23 miles per day. That’s quite a pace, especially at altitude.

steve hiker

#8

Grizzly - are you really planning a CT hike in May? That’s really early to be hiking at 10,000 - 12,000’. There will be snow on the trail until mid June.

Spirit Walker

#9

First, well it was just one step at a time, honest :slight_smile:

Just good endurance I guess. Would be on the trail by 7AM (it was not light out until 6:30) and stop at 7PM. I also live in Boulder, CO and often visit altitude on weekends .As I mentioned in an earlier thread many hikes just in-town are around 7-8k. I will often be at the 10k-13k range when I play on weekends. That is the elevation the CT/CDT in Colorado tends to be on. SHRUG. Who knows…just had three weeks to do the trail so it is the pace I had to do.

As for a May thru-hike. Aye Carumba! Maybe in the lower elevations near Denver you can hike a little, but consider this fact: My friends hiked the Lost Creek Wilderness in early-mid June. This area, on the CT, is one of the first areas to open up in the high country in Colorado. There was still lots of snow! And that area is not far from the start of the trail. Mid-late June is the earliest you probably want to hike the CT.

Also, check out these links…notice th dates on the photos.
Deer Mtn (10k feet), April 24th:
http://gallery.backcountry.net/co04?&page=2

June 5th, Rocky Mtn NP, at, again 10k feet. Still very snowy!:
http://gallery.backcountry.net/co04/acc

Two weeks later I led a backpacking trip to 12200’. The snow rapidly melted:
http://gallery.backcountry.net/co04?&page=10

Typical Colorado snow conditions in early spring.

Just my .02 worth. Best of luck in whatever choice you make!

Mags

#10

Well hell… I don’t mind the adversity, but with that kind of snow left, i doubt i can put the miles needed to do it in 30 days. Which means i either section hike the Virginia AT… again, or just decide to do the whole thing and put off work until i get back. I don’t really enjoy that 1/4 of the AT though, living 20 min from a couple of trailheads at the bottom of VA.

Well, thanks for the tip, perhaps an end of summer trip would be nice. I’ll post another question if i think of something.

:cheers Grizz

Grizzly