Approx. how many people thruhike the CDT each year?
Allison
How many? - Continental Divide Trail
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#2
Here are two good web sites.
http://www.trailquest.net/CDThikers.html
http://www.bobmassefan.com/cdt2005/default.html
The first lists the folks that hiked the past three years. The second gives more complete information about last years class.
Tin Cup
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#3
The last couple of years there have been between 30-40 thruhikers on the CDT. I’ve counted about 36 so far who are heading out this year. That is way up from years past. When we hiked in 1999 there were only 13 thruhikers who finished the trail - maybe 20 or so who started it.
Ginny
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#4
Thank You Ginny for setting the record straight on the many uses of the CDT. How do I get in touch with Jim Wolf? I am Still looking for a riding partner for at least a section of the CDT. I am planning to ride North from Northern Colorado to Canada. I am mostly wanting company for safety in numbers from the Grizzlies. Grizlies are my only concern for worry. Seeing Grizzyman documentary did not help. Is anyone else even going out on horseback this year.
Thank You Pinetree
Pinetree
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#5
Jim Wolf can be contacted through his website at the Continental Divide Trail Society.
Don’t worry about grizzlies. If you read Steve Herrera’s book, I think I remember him saying that noone on horseback has been killed by a grizzly. You are simply too big and threatening. On the ground is something else. But the big danger with bears is surprising them - and horses make a lot of noise.
Your problem will be bad trail, blowdowns, talus, roads and fences. I know Joanne had to do a lot of detours because of the fence/road issues. (i.e. you cross a lot of cattle guards). There were many places that I wondered how anyone could bring a horse through - i.e. James Peak in Colorado was all talus.
Ginny
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#6
Dear Pinetree, i plan on going on horseback leaving from about Chama,NM,depending on the snowpack, around the 1st of June and not sure who, if anyone is coming with me.
what’s your situation? jack
jacklehmanlpcc@direcway.com
jack lehaman
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#7
Ginny you know all of the trail. Is the trail set up for horseback riding. I understnad blowdowns but fences? What does one do? I am an At thru-hiker but I don’t know what a talus is? What about town stays? are horse stables available for overnight stay? Fenced in area ? something? is horseback riding really a realistic idea?
Pinetree
Pinetree
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#8
Talus is big rocks - like the Whites but not quite as big. Mt. James in Colorado was covered with talus. Bring a saw/axe to take care of blowdowns. There was a section of trail in Colorado that was ‘closed’ to jeeps/atvs by dropping trees across the trail at about knee height. I’m not sure what they expect horses to do there. A lot of the trail follows old jeep roads/tracks with fences and cow guards that horses can’t cross. Usually there is a gate. Getting it open may be a problem. Getting it closed can be even harder (but absolutely necessary if the trail is to remain open for all.) In Montana/Idaho we followed the border fence, sometimes on one side of the fence, sometimes on the other. As hikers we would go under/through the fence. Horses can’t do that. You will spend some time looking for gates.
As I said earlier, contact CDTS and CDTA for the names of people who have done it before so they can tell you how they handled horse issues.
In theory, the trail has been built for both hikers and horses. But this isn’t the PCT. It’s more of a route than a trail and it gets very little maintenance. I know people have gone from Mexico to Canada on horseback - but it isn’t easy.
As to towns - since many of the towns are off trail you will have to create alternate routes to get you in and out. There aren’t corrals or campgrounds that I know about. I would suggest contacting Backcountry Horsemen and asking for their assistance in finding places where you can keep your horse during town visits. Best is if you have trail support - someone to meet you with a horse trailer at road crossings. Joanne tried to do that on her trek, but her driver went home so she ended up doing her own driving. (i.e. ride the horse through a section, tie it up, hitch back to the vehicle and drive back to the horse - then go to town.) When Cindy Ross and her husband Todd did their llama treks with the kids, locals who were involved in llama trekking helped them with the logistics.
Truthfully, I’d much rather hike. But it can be done.
Pinetree