I’ve read Mags comments about getting a hitch into Creede. It seems that FS503/San Louis Pass is viable, but maybe only if it’s a weekend? Just wondering if anyone can comment on their experience.
Spring Creek Pass sounds like its not worth the risk.
Maybe I should just suck it up and push all the way to Silverton.
Len
Len, What is the risk at SCP? Not getting picked up or something more sinister? thanks, APPLE
APPLE
It’s getting picked up.
Paul M’s CT end-to-end guide characterizes SCP as a ‘notoriously hard hitch’ and offers this journal entry as an example:
I’m not clear if the other option at San Louis Pass is that much more reliable.
Len
I had resupplies mailed to Garfield and Silverton. I didn’t go to Creede or Lake City. However, when I was at Spring Creek Pass, a CDT hiker got a ride instantly by talking to tourists at the trailhead sign by the parking area. I don’t see why hitching from Spring Creek Pass should be difficult. It’s a state highway in a touristy area. I would expect it to be harder to hitch from San Luis Pass, unless it’s a weekend afternoon (going down) or morning (going up) when there will be fourteener peakbaggers jeeping up there.
Thought Criminal
I was fortunate enough to meet a gentleman a few days before getting to Spring Creek Pass. He offered myself and my buddy a ride into Creede.
That being said, I can’t understand why people consider this a hard hitch. Seemed like there was a fair amount of traffic on the road.
When we needed a ride back to the trail the following day (after a night in Creede) we talked to a few locals… and one of them offered us a ride pretty quickly.
If I were to rehike the CT - I probably wouldn’t hesitate to try to get back into Creede via SCP.
That’s just my two cents.
Low
I had to hike down several miles from San Luis Pass before a tourist stopped and offered me a ride into town clinging for dear life on his back bumper! I’ve since been back and still find rides available, but few and far in between. Plan on hiking the vast majority of the 11-mile stretch and hope to be surprised. You’ll find a lot of tourists near the mines, but unfortunately they are not too far from your ultimate destination, downtown.
Once you get into town, getting back is not as hard. Ask at the outfitter about rides for hire. They hooked me up with a local in no time for a reasonable fee.
Matt
we had a fast hitch into lake city… basically the first car. I also some of the best town food there… yummy cheese and chips and buff burgers… also a terrific cooffee house there
yappy
Would I be better off leaving the CT at 13S 326766E 4204497N and simply walking down the ‘blueblaze’ trail, then the FS road, and finally past the mine to Creede? I’m not keen on going down 3,000 feet and then climbing back up to the trail, but… Advice?
tbrucia
Hi all…
It shouldn’t be a hard hitch from Spring Creek Pass because there is indeed a lot of traffic there. But, I’ve heard too many stories (myself included) personally from people who had dozens of car pass them by before they finally rec’d a hitch. It is mainly out-of-state tourists who seem to go by in hiking season. Yeah…some people are lucky. I’ve known more people who weren’t. I put that in as a “Don’t expect an instant hitch” warning. 
I also mentioned that the Equity Mine area can be (not always) an easy hitch on weekends and during hunting season.
Due to Mountain Man Rafting based in Creede (mentioned in my doc) getting back Spring Creek Pass or Equity Mine is significantly easier.
Or to sum it up: Into Creede requires some finagling…getting out? Not so much.
Paul Mags
The worse case is that you’ll wait two hours for a hitch. Don’t sweat it. Just don’t expect it to be like the AT where you can hitch in and out of town quickly. Creede/Lake City is an almost mandatory resupply due to the distance between resupply spots.
All part of the journey.
I was told the hitch into Leadore, ID took forever. It took me five minutes. Does not mean it is an easy hitch, though. Same thing SCP. It can be an easy hitch…more than likely it may not be as quick as you hope.
Paul Mags
I’ve read and printed out your doc (very helpful to say the least). What towns would you use for a resupply if you were doing it again?
Karl
karlg
All depends on my pace/time. 
If I did a three week hike again, I suspect I’d resupply at:
Frisco via Copper Mtn
Twin Lakes
Princeton Hot Springs
Creede
Molas Pass CG
The Molas Pass CG and Princeton Hot Springs are (more or less) right on the trail so it is an easy resupply. If I asked nicely, the little general store at PHS may hold a package for me. I did not use these two places on my thru-hike; looking back it is an easy and quick way to break up my resupplies.
Paul Mags
thanks for your wonderful doc it has helped me plan my trip so much…
How is the resupply at Molas Pass CG and Princeton Hot Springs.
I know what your doc says but what exactly can you get there. Can you get basic foods like Roman, tuna or other deleciouses. Can you get gas in these places.
I’m not the most comfortable person with hitching. I’ve only done it a few times and prefer to get my resupplies as close to the trail as possible just in case I have to walk it in.
I was only planning on getting resupplies in Breck, Buena vista, and Silverton because of there closeness to the trail. But I would love to know that Molas Pass and Princeton Hot Springs have good enough resupply to avoid carrying a tremendous load.
thanks for any help you can give.
Swofford11
Our band of angels plan to have a nice stock of freeze-dried and other food at Lujan Pass (mile 300 from Denver). We will be set up in July and August. Or, you are welcome to go to Gunnison with us for Dinner. It is best if you can call ahead and let us know you are coming. There is no charge for our services. ANGEL APPLE
APPLE
Maybe I’m not very smart, Apple, but I really have no way of knowing when I’ll be in your neighborhood, (My plans almost never coincide with what happens…). 
I’d love to let you know when I’ll be in the Lujan Pass area, but how? … Can I rely on cellphone service?
tbrucia
In the summer of 2009 there was a For Sale sign in the Twin Lakes store. The Mt. Princeton Hot Springs General Store looks to be stable and is right on the trail.
If a business is important to your hike you should verify it before you leave.
Apples angeling is a game changer. Resupply at Copper Mountain, then Mt. Princeton General Store, then Apple, then Spring Creek Pass.
food
Molas Pass has a tiny store. It has some stuff, but not a lot. Mt Princeton has more, but again not much. Ditto for Jefferson, Copper Mountain, and Twin Lakes. Breckenridge, Leadville, Buena Vista, Salida, Gunnison, Creede, and Silverton all have larger stores, restaraunts, and mountaineering oriented stores with prepared foods for backpacking and other items such as stove gas. Copper has some restaraunts, but they are pricey. Jefferson has a great Texas style BBQ joint. The trail crosses a bus line near Breckenridge and Copper, and the busses are free so it’s really easy to go into Breck for a shower and re-supply.
Being able to re-supply with Apple would knock out a trip to either Salida or Gunnison. (I’d jump on the dinner in Gunnison if I were going…)
bearcreek
We have internet and Verizon cell phone at Lujan pass. Verizon is full strength all around the Razor Creek area so for sure give us a jingle. Not sure about other providers. We will be there July and August. If you need our cell let me know offline. Razor Creek (mm 292) went dry last year but we have plenty of water at mm 300. APPLE
APPLE
As mentioned, PHS is very limited. Think chips and candy bars andd perhaps a little more. Molas Pass no longer has a real store as of last year (as mentioned in my doc)
I’d do maildrops there and Twin Lakes (which is more or less on the trail, esp if you take alt routes). Molas Psss CG doe take maildrops via ups, Twinlakes (currently) has a small po. Call PHS and ask nicely.
Paul Mags