Shelter on the CT

imported
#1

I am toying with shelter ideas. The lightest is to pitch a sil-nylon tarp for shelter using my trekking poles and a tyveck scrap for a ground cloth. Would that be sufficient shelter for rain normally encountered and what about mosquitos. Here is east Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas where I do most of my hiking the bugs would eat up alive in my July/August CT window. I have a Hennessey Hammock but that seems iffy especially in the sections after Salida and in the San Juans. My third choice is to buy a tarptent from Henry Shires. It seems a good compromise between the two and very practical. But it means another purchase. I am not poverty stricken but buying unnecessary is something I like to avoid. I would like to hear anyone’s opinion that wants to speak up. Thanks for your opinons.

PS - One more thing, are trekking poles used on the CT much or at all. Again I use them myself but have found very brushy areas where they can be a pain.

Randy Brown

#2

In my '04 thru-hike of the CT the most common shelter I saw used was the HS tarptent myself included. In my '08 thru-hike I used a Six Moon Designs Wild Oasis, a single trekking pole design with bug netting around the edges. Which is good because this past summer the mosquitos were terrible for at least the first couple of weeks on trail. In '04 I only had a bug problem twice in five weeks. Never really had any long rainy periods on the trail. Only one time were it rained all night. Don’t remember meeting anyone who didn’t have trekking poles. Both my hikes were in July/August. Don’t know if this helps. Great trail, in fact I might do it again this summer :tongue

Mikey

#3

If you can afford a Henry Shires tarptent, they are amazing. With my Contrail, I don’t carry a groundsheet or bug netting or repellant and the total weight is 24 oz including stakes. You’re right about a hammock in CO, you’d freeze. Trekking poles are up to you. I use one pole, that’s enough for me and it holds up the Contrail.

Garlic

#4

Henry Shires (Tarptent.com) has a new sublite silnylon tent that weighs even less than the Contrail. It is very small. I will be using that on the trail this year.

Poles will help with keeping some of the pressure off of your knees. This is a big deal when carrying a backpack. I will be using hiking poles.

Margaret

#5

So… it looks like the winner is poles and tarptent. Thanks everyone for thier input. I felt like that is direction it would go. But, I wanted experience to speak and it has.

Hope to see some of you out there on the CT this summer.

Randy Brown

Randy Brown

#6

So… it looks like the winner is poles and tarptent. Thanks everyone for thier input. I felt like that is direction it would go. But, I wanted experience to speak and it has.

Hope to see some of you out there on the CT this summer.

Randy Brown

Randy Brown

#7

On my last two CT thru-hikes I carried a Hillberg Atko tent. Weighs just under 3 pounds including footprint. It is super effective and has always kept me dry. I also use trekking poles (old skis - old knees) and the tarptent sublite silnylon is going to be my new tent for the CDT this coming season. That weight savings looks really good to me if it will work.

The San Juans can be super wet in July and August. There are many miles above treeline so plan accordingly. I met some thru-hikers last summer on Cataract Ridge who were using Golite umbrellas in lieu of rain gear and single tarps in lieu of tents. They were wet and miserable and had been for several days.

bearcreek

#8

There are no brushy areas on the CT, so don’t worry about your past pole inconveniences. I find the sticks to be a great advantage.

Bugs on the CT are hit and miss. They can be totally absent or insanely ferocious. Given the possibility of the latter circumstance at just about any time and place along the trail, I’ve always stepped away from the idea of carrying a traditional tarp. The tarptent and its netting has always been my shelter of choice in Colorado.

Matt

#9

Bearcreek says “The San Juans can be super wet in July and August” – so when is the best time to do a CT hike, with respect to less rain, fewer bugs, minimal-to-no snow on ground, yet accessible water? (friend and I are looking at 2011 for the CT)

trek-or

#10

From my experience, the best time to hike would have you leaving Denver after July 1. In July you’ll likely hit snow at Georgia Pass, 10 Mile Range, Searle Pass, Mt. Massive Wilderness, and San Juans, but with care you’ll get through ok. The San Juans often get monsoonal rains in mid to late summer, usually ending in early Septemer. They aren’t a deal breaker - you just have to plan for them and follow reasonable lightning precautions. Good shelter and clothing and early morning starts are the
keys.

I’ve never thru-hiked the trail in September but that is usually the driest time with the least snow.

IMO, the buggiest place on the entire CT is right where the trail passes over some hills and begins following Cotchetopa Creek in Seg 19. An eclectic mix of mosquitos and biting flys call that spot home. It’s short - just a couple of miles and it’s over. The other 482 miles of the trail have never been an issue for me - a few mosquitos in the wet areas in the evening but nothing really bad. They generally are most active at dusk and become inactive at night. Take some deet and you’ll be fine - one small bottle should last you the entire hike.

bearcreek

#11

Being a transplant to Colorado, when I first heard of monsoonal rains, I thought people meant days and days of non-stop wet stuff. Far from it. In July and August, it will likely rain somewhere in the mountains every day (but not everywhere as the storms are very scattered). And if you get hit, the storms will likely be hard, accompanied by scary lightning that should not be taken lightly. But the downpours are relatively short-lived (1 hour), and when they-re finished, blue skies return. By late August / September, the afternoon storms decline (although the odds of a snow shower increase). Personally, I think an optimal time for a CT thru given all of the above would be mid August - mid September.

Matt

#12

Hey Matt, I understand the monsoon season there. I have car camped in Colorado during that time of year for many years. However, my thinking changes when I consider 30+ days of exposure. I appreciate the info. To be honest the high altitude lightning scares the bejeebers out of me. But what is life without a little fear. Yeah, I know comfortable, but comfort can be boring.

Randy Brown

#13

After hiking sections 17 - 20 in 2003 with a thruhiker who used a TarpTent Squall, and fighting with a Clip Flashlite, I bought a Squall myself. IMO, it is a super shelter for the CT. Light, easy to pitch and quick drying. While it can rain for longer periods of time, the old expression “if you don’t like the weather, stay 30 minutes” generally applies to Colorado. One additional benefit to hiking poles is water crossings. Also, for those of us with aging eyesight, they are great aids in “catching yourself” when you trip on a a root or rock. Wouldn’t hike w/o them. (plus, they hold up my squall.) Hike on.

TrailGuy