Segment 12 conditions

imported
#1

FYI to everyone hiking this year. CTF just posted this updated about bad trail conditions in Segment 12 on their Facebook page:

SEG 12 IMPASSIBLE BLOWDOWN. ‘Heads up,’ please inform others, thanks. Inside Wilderness where chainsaws are prohibited (may take years to clear the CT) the Seg 12 blowdown is so extensive that it is impassible. PLAN YOUR DETOUR AROUND SEG 12. CT Guidebook is helpful as is MountainMaps “Sawatch Range,” both available via the CT Store and elsewhere. As best detour routes become evident, the CTF will post more detour info on website and here.

Apparently it’s worse south of Pine Creek and north of Harvard Lakes.

Safe hiking everyone, and hope to see you on the trail!

Nancy

#2

That section is hard enough without the blow down. I seem to recall huffing and puffing all day long as I struggled up the seemingly endless climbs in Section 12.

Loup

#3

With Segment 12 impassible, CTF is drafting Seg 12 Detours and will soon post them to ColoradoTrail.org.

On Track

#4

posted to the CTF Facebook page May 29:

“CT SEG 12 MASSIVE BLOWDOWN NOT CLEARED YET - This report thanks to Becky & Dave Covill. There is a major blowdown around Frenchman Creek on Segment 12. It lasts from about the 11,800’ crest by Rainbow Lake to near the old mine in section 20, a distance of maybe 3-4 trail miles. It is worst right in Frenchman Creek drainage, down past the Harvard Trail junction a half mile or so. There was only 1 other person the CT on Sat/Sun/Mon of Mem Day weekend, and for good reason; perhaps people know about this. It took us about 5 hours to go the 3-4 miles, and the trail is level to downhill much of that stretch. Thousands of large trees, mostly fir but some alpine pine and some lodgepole and aspen too are down. The trail is basically impassable through that area. There is minor blowdown right on top of E Harvard ridge crest around 11,600’, and again minor blowdown most of the way S to Harvard Lakes. It took us from 8AM to 7PM to go from the headwaters of Columbia Creek at about 11,200’ (~ mile 4.5) to Harvard Lakes (mile 15.2) to our camp.”

wandering bob

#5

my cousin and I are starting our CT thru-hike on the 15th, and are keeping our eyes on this for a detour. don’t wanna spend two days going 8 miles…but no matter what, we’ll get through it. did the AT last year with a “nothing can stop me” attitude, feeling the same way this summer!

SierraBoy

#6

Something big must have happened. Microburst? tornado? meteor? avalanche? I think it is time to get out the cross-cut saws. I wonder if they are laying in a pattern.

Apple

#7

It was caused by 112 MPH winds according to USFS. People who have seen it say it looks like an explosion, with thousands of trees down and hopelessly tangled. It is dangerous as it is and this year’s thru-hikers need to start planning an alternate.

Keep an eye on the Colorado Trail Foundation website for detour information. It will be posted on there in the next few days.

bearcreek

#8

With Segment 12 impassible, detour options have been posted to

http://www.ColoradoTrail.org/BlowdownDetoursCTSegment12.pdf

On Track

#9

Per Apple above about the blow-down, “I wonder if they are laying in a pattern.” Trail scouts who’ve reported say that many of the big, downed trees are parallel to one another. Some, though, are jackstrawed in multiple levels. Each of the longtime, highly experienced trail scouts characterized these areas as worst they’ve ever seen.

On Track

#10

Keep an eye on the CFT’s Facebook page for timely updates and suggestions from others.

CTF just posted on FB a shorter version of the CDT High Line route out of Twin Lakes that gets you back to the CT at the Silver Creek trailhead instead of going all 80 CDT miles to Marshall Pass.

Wandering Bob

#11

Wandering Bob - I can’t seem to find the shorter CDT high line route that joins back at Silver Creek. Would you be able to post a link or copy the details here? Thanks.

Nancy

#12

CDT Partway Detour option is consolidated in a new thread.

On Track