My wife and I are interested in hiking a section of the northern CDT, perhaps starting at the southern end of the Wind River Range and going north. We would start about June 15. I’m concerned about snow levels at that time, however.
Can anyone shed any light on the conditions we might encounter? Are there decent “low country” routes we could take if necessary?
Eric
That is a nice section! You are right though, you will likely run into snow that early. We had snow at one pass in the Winds in August (Cube Rock) and there are a few other 10,000’ passes you would be crossing. Doable, if you are comfortable with snow, but that country is really beautiful in July and early August when the flowers are blooming. Can you go the other direction? If you start at Yellowstone and go south, you would have less snow to start and what there is would be in flatter country. How long will you be hiking? If you plan to do the whole stretch to Canada, then you really have a six of one, half dozen of the other situation, as there will also still be snow in Glacier at the start and for the first two weeks or so.
Ginny
Thank you for the reply, Ginny. We’ll be hiking for about six weeks at a leisurely pace-- in the ballpark of 500 miles, if the terrain is reasonable. I like the idea of staying low for the first couple weeks while snow melts out in the passes. So maybe going south from Yellowstone would be good. 500 miles would take us into the arid southern parts of Wyoming, though, wouldn’t it? (Okay, I guess I gotta get the guidebooks now…) Maybe we could flop back up to Yellowstone at the end of the Winds and head north or something.
Eric
Can you start later? Say July 1? Two weeks can make a difference. Of course, you can also just figure snow/ice axes for the first two weeks, and then - better, if not completely snow free.
Ginny
I guess we’ll watch snow levels and do some combination of sliding the trip back (we have about a week of flexibility), starting in lower country, and carrying ice axes. Thank you again for your help!
Eric
For those who are really interested in the weather in Glacier NP, try this - http://www.nps.gov/glac/whatsnew.htm
For teh CDT, the ones you’d really be interested in would be Two Medicine and St Mary. The others are on the west side of the Park, not on the CDT.
Jim
Actually, I’ve got Two Medicine on the brain today - you might be interested in the weather at Two Medicine, but it ain’t there. :oh
But Many Glacier is. And that’s on the CDT too.
Jim
Eric,
Starting in the Southern Winds and heading north is an excellent choice for a 500 mile hike. I did it last year, starting at Big Sandy and heading North to Red Lodge, Montana. I called it my “Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem traverse” and would be happy to share my experiences further if you wish. My email is hansberg@msn.com.
Traversing the Winds, dropping into the wilds of Yellowstone, and finishing with a return to lake filled granite mountains in the Beartooths was a tremendous experience.
My primary recommendation: Create your own hike. DO NOT blindly follow the CDT because it is the CDT. There are many examples in the area where the CDT bypasses some of the most inspiring places. Cirque of the Towers and the Thorofare region of Yellowstone come immediately to mind. There are many others. Ponder the topo’s. Imagine what the most beautiful areas are from them. Then, go immerse yourself in all your wise planning.
Enjoy.
Hans