CT Planning Questions

imported
#1

I recieved an e-mail with the following quesions. If anyone wants to help answer them, that would be great!

Hello,
My wife and I are planning to thru hike the CT this summer beginning the first week in July at Denver. Some vital statistics about us:

  • Tom, age 58, Teresa, age 53
  • moderate-good physical condition
  • have hiked the AT in three sections
  • plan to go light weight - 25-30 lb per pack

We have several questions, if you would be so kind to respond:

  1. We have the CT Official Guidebook and the new Trail Companion book. Do we need a full set of maps? How confusing are trail intersections, etc.?

  2. How many miles per day should we consider for a “typical” day? For the north end? For the south end?

  3. If it stays dry this winter and spring, will water be a serious problem?

  4. How hard is it to hitch into towns from the trail?

  5. When would you recommend starting from the north end to balance heat, cold, bugs, water, etc.

Posted By (Leif)

#2

  1. I did not need the maps when I hiked I used the databook and the CT guidebook. I also had a GPS which I only used a couple of times, but I brought it for emergencies. Some of the trail intersections are confusing, but may have been remarked since I was on the trail in '01. The trail is not marked as often as the AT.

  2. Your miles per day should depend on how much time you have to hike - how much food you want to carry and how fast you walk. You also want to look at where you may be camping too, if the weather isn’t good you will want to be below treeline.

  3. Water can be a problem in sections. Bring enough watter containers so you can carry extra water at times.

  4. The longest wait I ever had was 3 hours going in to Lake City. (So it was hard at times)

  5. Start from the North, the San Juans are a great place to finish.

Leif

#3

Leif is right on.

1.) you definitely can get by without maps if you have the guidebook and data book, BUT they are nice to get if you plan on straying from the trail at any point. I purchased several Trails Illustrated maps of the regions where I planned to take side trips and that worked out great.

2.) Leif advised me before my hike to if possible spend 7 weeks out there to enjoy it. The trail can be hiked in 4 weeks or less, but there is so much out there that if you can afford 50 days, definitely go with that, which averages out to about 10 miles per day. Of course, I hiked much longer than 10 miles on some stretches, like the Cochetopa hills region ,which did not offer as many side trips and resupply towns were spread out. In places like the san juans, the mileage averaged out b/c I took several zero days to explore.

3.) 2002 was a VERY dry year, but I survived by starting earlier in the season. I got by usually by carrying only up to 2 liters between water stops and planning ahead to camp near a definite water source. The only exception I remember was thru section 2 where I humped a gallon. I carried a 4 liter dromedary for camp, so had 6 liter total capacity and that gave peace of mind. From what I have heard, this year sounds like it will be better than last.

4.) I’ve never been particularly talented at getting lifts, but my experience is that it was not too bad. You’ll get to where you wanna go eventually.

5.) Definitely start in Denver. I started late may. Given a typical snow year this is very early and extra gear for snow should be considered. early to mid-June is more reasonable starting date. Bugs were not too bad for me, but then again this might have had something to do with the dryness. The earlier you start in the season, the more water (or snow) will be available.

Sweeper