Well, seems the trail is calling us again (Carbo & JellyBean AT 02, PCT 08). We, too, will be starting the CDT this year. Heading SOBO starting late June. After perusing the forums have discovered a few others who also are heading out. Although, we have seen lots of NOBOs, who else is planning SOBO (saw Joker’s Trail Journal and know he is heading south)?
Carbo & JellyBean
Hey Jellybean,
heard lots of good stuff bout u from reddy and raffiki last year, we hiked the end of or and most of wa with them two last year on the PCT. We are SOBO on CDT this year. We hiked most of the PCT just the two of us (Dan and Anna -DnA), and though we enjoyed the solitude on the trail (started super early), we had an awesome time with other hikers as we got further North. We are excited to meet people right from the start this year. from what i gather i think june 15th seems like the avg start at the north border. We want to book tickets, but are waiting to see if this start date is what other SOBOs are thinking too. so i’m glad to see u’ve asked this…
looking forward to meeting u and hopefully walking together some!
DnA Pizzo
One thing to remember: Glacier requires campsite reservations. If you want to start at the same time as other hikers, not all of you will be able to get reservations for the campsites. Especially if there is still snow on the ground. Some of you can go north through the park and some south, but you won’t all be able to start the same day and expect to camp in a large group. It’s a good idea to stagger start times. Maybe meet up in East Glacier before or after you hike through the park.
Ginny
Glad to get a response…don’t recognize the names you mentioned. Two things, seems the number of our PCT year has a smiley face, was supposed to read 2008. Second, should have clarified which JellyBean…I am the other one…Licorice. Jellybean (lime green) is also hiking this year, NOBO with Irish and the Brit. We tend to cause confusion when we hike in the same year.
Carbo & JellyBean
If you are Carbo & JellyBean AT '02, it will be fun to run into you again. I started the CDT last year and got to CO from the Mexican border. This year I plan on finishing the rest of the CDT, so we should run into each other out there. 
Stumpknocker
This thru-hike, try not to deface anything. No marker-grafitti on the rocks, signing your names, etc.
Muir Hut
Just for clarification for the trail community…we did NOT write on the hut structure, nor carve anything into the wood. Yes, a rock was taken from outside, written on, and left in the hut…meant as a message for hikers who were meeting us later on…so they would know when we passed through. And since the hut did not have a register, nor did we have paper to spare, we wrote on a rock with washable ink.
Carbo & JellyBean
Leave No Trace Principle #4:
Leave What You Find
Preserve the past: examine, but do not touch, cultural or historic structures and artifacts.
Leave rocks, plants and other natural objects as you find them.
Avoid introducing or transporting non-native species.
Do not build structures, furniture, or dig trenches.
That means dont leave notes on rocks.
Ridgerunner
I imagine whatever hikers may have been looking for you had no problems finding you, since those of us behind you found your notes, rocks, papers, etc. every day or two on the trail. The suggestion remains: don’t leave your signatures all over nature on the CDT. Please.
While i’m at it, i’ll suggest another courtesy that might be worth extending on the CDT: when you are on a steep snow slope and see tracks, don’t glissade over them. You ruined those steps for everyone (going either direction) who wanted to use them. Make your glissade tracks next to, but not over, the steps.
Or you could just stay at home and not harm others’ experiences again.
Muir Hut
I’m going South, probably starting June 15th-20th. It would be nice to start with others but I don’t mind.
DnA, I finished two days behind you last year. Hope to meet you this year.
Heaps
I’m still going southbound as of now. Starting as early as possible, looking like June 15th. We’ll see what the campsite situation is like by the time I get to Glacier, too, though. Trying to go fast and cheap, too, so I don’t know who’s going to have a plan like that but I’ll see you guys out there.
Joker
My husband, Macon Tracks, and I plan to be at Glacier NP on the 13th or 14th to nail down details and find out when and where the rangers will let us start. We hope to start hiking on or close to the 15th, and we’d like to do the Waterton route…but we’ll see. If anyone wants to meet in East Glacier in order to start with a small group email us. Sounds like there might be quite a few people out there this year.
Not Yet
Sounds good. look forward to meetin you heaps. Joker- will be good to see u again too. At this rate the 15th looks like a good date. I’m sure the herd is nothing like the other two, and if there ends up being too many for camping spots- we’ll leave later or summet. we’ll figure it out- keep the trail chill, fun and maximise the wilderness experience! Carbo and jelly bean, sounds like a name mmix up on my part- but see you out there! ridgerunner-PCT? '09-if so we met
DnA
70% chance I’m doing the CDT this year, at least half, starting late June, as late as possible for money reasons.
It’ll be nice to see lots of you PCT 08’ers out there! (Carbo and Jelly Bean, I met you in Stehekin)
Fugitif (PCT class of 2008)
I too am heading SOBO it looks like. I want to hike in a loose congregation, so I might be there around June 15th!
Cheers,
Jack (pct 06)
JackH
Glad to see all these people going southbound. Many of the people I had originally planned to hike with ended up choosing northbound or changing their minds, so I was a bit worried. Things are looking good now, though! I’m buying my train tickets in about a month, going to try and arrive in Glacier June 13th or possibly the 14th, depending on what time the train leaves Seattle.
Can’t wait to meet everyone I haven’t yet met!
Joker
I just decided to attempt a SOBO thru-hike as well. I have read that early June departures are sometimes possible. I may head out a little earlier than some of you, but I would love to start with someone. I realize a lot of this depends on weather conditions in the San Juans, but please let me know if anyone is interested in heading south the first week of June. I am so excited to meet new people. I thru-hiked the AT last year, and I am looking forward to a real wilderness experience this time around. This will be my first time in the west.
I have a MSR Hubba, which I don’t think will cut it above treeline. Do you have any tent recommendations (lightweight/highly durable)? Thanks!
Hellbender
I think you’d have to add a lot of weight to get anything much more durable than a Hubba. I’d think you’d be just fine with it. A climbing partner i had used one in rough conditions above treeline in the Winds (WY) and it did fine.
markv