CT Sept weather

imported
#1

Hi all, first post here. I guess this is a question for those who have hiked the CT or live around the trail. I will be graduating college and doing an internship in the springs area this summer. My hopes are to thru-hike the CT once my internship is complete. My one worry is the weather. It looks as if I would be able to start from Denver around the 27 or 28th of August. I am intending on taking no more than four weeks to complete this, putting me at the end of Sept…So my question to you is, is it feasible to start this late??? I am full aware that the prime months are June, July and August. My worries are that as I hike south towards the San Juans, I will encounter a snow (the snow that ends up staying). I don’t think that I am quite up for battling cold temps and inches of snow for the final few weeks. So if anyone has any input on typical weather (relatively speaking) conditions for that time of year and could give me an idea of what to expect, that would be awesome! Thanks

wotah

#2

If you are concerned about the time have you thought about starting in Durango and hiking to Denver?

If bad weather hits (which can happen in late Sept/early October), you will be in the lower elevations and less likely to get huge amounts of snow. Most people take 5 wks to finish the CT, so ending up in the San Juans in late september may put you on the cusp of what could be weather too cold for you.

Ending in Denver is not as scenic, but may be safer in terms of weather. Again, all depends on your tolerance of cold. Hiking to Denver from Durango may be a better option.

FWIW, I finished in mid-Sept and had gorgeous weather. Two days later, it snowed terribly. Friends of mine on the CDT had to bail out of the San Juans a week later due to heavy amounts of snow.

YMMV.

Mags

#3

Thanks and yes I have thought about starting in Durango. My one hesitation like you mentioned is the lack of scenery at the finish. It sounds as though if I am planning on starting that late it would really be my best option.

One more quick question, this one in regards to temperatures. I’ve camped along the trail near Mt. Elbert in June and July seeing the temps dip down to the high 20’s low 30’s. Off the top of your head, what would you imagine the lows getting down to on the trail in mid-late Sept? Also mags, what was your coldest night on the trail? Thanks a bunch, just soaking all this info up :slight_smile:

wotah

#4

Hey…it ain’t that bad. :slight_smile: Espicially in the fall the weather will be nice at the lower elevations (more than likely), the Platte River will frame the yellow cottonwoods quite nicely. Should be a pretty time to see Waterton Canyon . Plus the foothills outside of Denver will also be nice, too.

It it is a more sutbtle finish, but still nice.

As for weather, if you are finishing in Denver at that time of the year, would expect high 20’s to mid 30s at the lowest. A Colorado Fall, esp. in the Denver area, can often have an Indian Summer aspect…it can also be cold and snowy too. :slight_smile:

Prepare for late three seaon hiking would be my best advice (i.e. bring a 20F bag…)

Mags