Continental Divide Trail 2009

A Precarious Hike Up Lava Mountain, Wyoming

2011-03-08T15:05:00.000-08:00

I was asked to write an article for the Continental Divide Trail Alliance about some event that happened on the trail. The article will appear on Backpackinglight.com in the next week or so. In conjunction with the release of the article, I thought I'd go ahead and upload a video from that day, and here it is:

If there was ever a time where I thought I might die, it was on the CDT on August 14, 2009. I am thankful to be alive.

Hiking the Appalachian Trail Confirmed

2011-02-15T13:13:00.001-08:00

I have booked my travel to Georgia on March 9th, and I just ordered the AT Guide, written by David "Awol" Miller. Yep, I am hiking north on the Appalachian Trail for a few weeks! I still have maps from my 2000 southbound hike that I will bring with me (not that I necessarily need them!) so that I might plot out some possible blue blaze routes. My goal is to get up to central Virginia, and then head back to California to be the Presentation Coordinator for Annual Day Zero Pacific Crest Trail Kickoff (ADZPCTKO). More to come later on!

Freefall and Patch (CDT 2009) at Newfound Gap on the
Appalachian Trail in September 2010.

Memories of the CDT and Hiking on the AT

2011-01-29T23:04:00.000-08:00

I was going through some pictures, and I found this shot taken from near the top of Parkview Mountain in northern Colorado. I miss the CDT. Tomorrow, I am hoping to meet up with Luna, who just moved up to the Bay Area. He is looking at hiking the Appalachian Trail starting in June, and he's hoping to do it in just 2 1/2 months!

View of the Divide from Parkview Mountain

I am also looking at a hike on the AT starting in March. I am thinking about starting in Georgia with the rest of the pack, and walking north to Damascus, Virginia, but I am still open to doing something different. My interest in the Appalachian Trail has been rekindled following a 70-mile hike back in September 2010, and I am eager to do some hiking before getting serious with an upcoming career opportunity. Happy Trails!

One Year Later...

2010-11-18T00:08:00.000-08:00

Are you kidding me? I just realized that today is the one year anniversary of my completion of the Continental Divide Trail. I guess I am now a 'has been' in the thru-hiker world of the CDT. Ugh! Nonetheless, I have been reflecting on my life over the last year, and mulling the post-trail dreams that have come to fruition, or have yet to be accomplished. Here are a few of them:

My CDT video. I have 26 hours of footage that I have uploaded to a hard drive, so where's the movie that I am supposed to produce? Well, ummmm... it's not done... Heck, I have not even stitched on clip together. I did get some footage from So Far three weeks ago, so I guess that I can say it is in progress. That said, I need to get my butt in gear, and produce the video. It will be a long, dark winter up here in Portland, and I will have a lot of evening time to work on it. Until then everyone has to entertain themselves with my collection of videos here.
Trail maintenance. When I was on the trail, I expressed interest in doing trail work when I finished, since I felt that I needed to give back to the trail, and maintained I did! During the month of July, I joined up with a Northwest Sevice Academy crew at McArthur-Burney Falls State Park in Northern California, where I helped maintain a 3-mile stretch from Peavine Creek to Red Mountain. I had a great time, and one can read about my adventure here.
Print, mount, and display pictures of the CDT. Since I have little to no expendable income, I have not done that. However, I sent my best pictures to the Continental Divide Trail Alliance (CDTA) for their photo contest. I am keeping my fingers crossed that I win.
Renew my commitments with the Continental Divide Trail Society and the CDTA. I will renew memberships in December.
See my friends from my hike. After the hike, I got to spend time with George and Luna in California, and I saw Luna again at ADZPCTKO. Also at the Kickoff, I spent some time with Toothfairy, and later saw her up at McArthury-Burney Falls State Park when I was doing trail work. I also spent time with So Far when he visited California, and now I get to see him weekly as I moved here to Portland. Panda also lives up here in PDX, and I have yet to visit with him now that I am here. Finally, I got to see Patch down in Tennessee-North Carolina when I did a 70-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail. I'd say I have done a good job in this category!
Build a hikethecdt.com website. I just bought the domain last week, and I have started to put the site together. I look to publish the site in the next week, so be on the lookout for it!
Hike. I'd like to get back on the CDT next year. Where? I don't know. It sure would be fun to do a northbound hike starting in southern New Mexico, as I would love to see that state in blossom in the spring, especially the Gila River Wilderness. However, I did manage to hike several chunks on the PCT this year... about 150-miles. I also did a 70-mile Sierras loop hike with my friend Wes, a 20-mile hike at Point Reyes National Seashore with my mom, and a 70-mile hike on the Appalachian Trail. Not bad for an off year.
Get more involved. I continue my service as the Presentation Coordinator for ADZPCTKO, and since I moved to Portland, I am now involved with the Mt. Hood Chapter of the PCTA as a trail volunteer, and as the chapter secretary. I am also in the works of applying for a job with a certain trail organization that must remain nameless at this time. Again, keeping my fingers crossed!

There you have it - my post-CDT trail recap of the year. Here's to another year of living off the trial... Ugh! Until next time, enjoy this little video from the bone cave in Montana.

What Do You Think of Warren Lake?

2010-06-14T00:00:00.000-07:00

I just did a presentation on the Continental Divide Trail with friends here in San Francisco. I found this video clip, and I just had to share it here on the blog as a token of the absurd conversations that I had out there with my companions. Enjoy.

Still in Withdrawal

2010-05-05T21:36:00.000-07:00

It has been five months since I have finished my hike on the CDT - God I miss the trail. Like some haggard war veteran, I daily experience flashbacks from the trail, but these flashbacks are pleasant. My mundane work is offset by memories of 360-degree views from a high peak in Colorado, supper around a camp with George, Chance, Luna, and So Far in Montana, and beautiful sunsets in Piedre Lumbre section in New Mexico.

It's these visions, however, that are haunting me. So often I wish I could just throw everything in a storage unit and go running off to the mountains for the summer to re-live all those pleasant memories from the trail. Reality is that I cannot. I need to find a vocation that will bring me inner-peace, happiness, and a sense of purpose, and running off to the trail is a bit of escapism. Nonetheless, the trail calls me.

This summer I am going to explore a vocation that has to do with the trail, as I dedicate a few weeks of my life to trail building and maintenance. Today, I got in touch with a volunteer coordinator with the Pacific Crest Trail Association, and we talked about me helping out a trail crew near Burney Falls State Park.

If there is one thing I lack in my trail experience, it is serious trail work, so I think I will go for it. Perhaps through the experience, my relationship with the trail will be transformed to a whole new level. Until that time, I will continue to daydream about windswept vistas, roaring creeks, and living in a tent.

Tooth Fairy Makes the News

2010-01-13T22:07:00.000-08:00

An article appeared on the web about Tooth Fairy about her hike on the Continental Divide Trail. Check it out. Go Tooth Fairy!

Cool Possible Re-Route in Colorado

2009-12-25T00:15:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas CDT! I just got word from the Summit Daily News of a 300-acre acquisition of land near the Grays-Torreys peaks area in Summit County. The land acquisition includes Revenue Mountain, which means that the Continental Divide Trail can now take a true divide route from Grays Peak to Argentine Peak to Santa Fe Peak. Currently, the trail drops down next to the zinc-polluted Peru Creek, and takes a long, dirt road walk to Montezuma only to have to climb up 2,500-feet to get back up to the Divide again. Jonathan Ley has included an alternate cross-country route as far as Argentine Pass, and now he can complete his dashed route on the divide until a trail crew gets up there and blazes a more permanent path.

This past year, I made the hike over Santa Fe Peak, Sullivan Mountain, and Geneva Peak, and the experience was incredible, as the trail hovered over 13,000-feet through this area. There were spectacular views of the Snake River Valley, Grays and Torreys Peaks, and Mount Evans and Bierstadt. Hiking the Divide on this new route from Grays Peak down to Glacier Peak will provide yet another incredible high-altitude highlight in Colorado. Enjoy!

Salida, Colorado Is Top Trail Town for 2009

2009-12-07T01:25:00.001-08:00

Salida, Colorado tops the list as the top trail town along the Continental Divide Trail, according 2009 southbounders. Salida, which garnered five first place votes, narrowly edged Steamboat Springs, Colorado (four first place votes) and Pie Town, New Mexico (also five first place votes).

Salida, a town of about 5,600 residents, is located about 30-miles east of Monarch Pass, and it is the new home of The Simple Lodge and Hostel, which is nestled near the center of the artsy town. The hostel opened in early 2009, and it has welcomed hikers with open arms, offering a warm, homely refuge from the cold environs of the rugged Sawatch Range.

One respondent remarked, “The Simple Hostel and its owners were incredibly helpful and concerned with hikers comfort. The town itself had personality, decent gear shops, good food, a theater, a cool place to watch a football game, and all of it was located within a mile. Great town!”

Another said, ““The hostel (Simple Hostel) was great. I love that you could borrow a bike and cruise around. The little shops in town were fun, and Moonlight Pizza was very good.”

Jon Fritz, co-owner of Simple Lodge and Hostel, said, “Most of the folks I know in Salida live vicariously through thru-hikers and love to hear their adventures. People don't have a lot in this town, so they really appreciate people and nature. I give credit to the business owners, who have gone out of their way to create welcoming shops and cafes that serve our tourists and locals alike.”

Hikers remarked that Salida had great beer, a friendly library, fun shops, an awesome place to get a slice of pizza at Moonlight Pizza, and a great place to get a cup of coffee at Café Dawn. The friendliness of the residents in Salida drew high marks, as one hiker noted, “the people had smiles.”

Not to be lost in the shuffle was Steamboat Springs, Colorado and Pie Town, New Mexico, which came in second and third place respectively. Steamboat Springs, a prominent ski resort town in Northern Colorado, provided hikers with wonderful re-supply options with good gear shops, multiple grocery stores, and delightful restaurants. In spite of being spread out, Steamboat Springs provides a free bus service, which “made the town accessible.” Hikers also noted the friendliness of the owners at the Nordic Motel, and the two hot spring resorts (Hot Sulphur Springs and Strawberry Hot Springs).

Pie Town, a small town located in west central New Mexico, scored high marks primarily due to the work of Nita Larronde, the owner of the Toaster House, and Kathy Knapp, the owner of the Pie-O-Neer Café. Nita raised her five children in the Toaster House, and now she welcomes hikers into her now former home (she lives in her own place just outside of town). The home comes equipped with a wood-burning stove, stereo system, five beds, a shower, washer, and a large porch for hikers to spread out their gear.

The Pie-O-Neer Café is conveniently located close to the post office in town. Owner, Kathy Knapp, is well aware of hikers passing through, and went out of her way to help hikers with use of her vehicle, and by simply making great pies.

Pie Town is not well known for hiker services, but what it lacked in re-supply options, it made up in great hospitality. One hiker said, “Although Pie Town actually sucked as far as amenities go, the people there were so warm and inviting that you felt like you just arrived home. That made it very hard to leave.” Another said, “So much love! This town was full of love and kindness.”

There was a four way tie for the worst town on the trail. Rawlins, Wyoming, Old Faithful Village in Yellowstone, Macks Inn, Idaho, and Benchmark Ranch in Montana received the worst scores.

Deming Headlight Article

2009-11-23T09:09:00.000-08:00

Just before I left Deming, the owner of the Grand Motor Inn told me that there was an article in the Deming Headlight about the sixteen of us finishing our hike at the border. The article is short, sweet, and to the point. Panda and Valley Girl did a great job summarizing the experience on the trail, especially in southern Colorado. My only wish was that all sixteen of us could have been interviewed!

I arrived in Olathe, Kansas yesterday around 7:00 am, and I hung out with my sister and her family most of the day. Today, I am meeting with Yogi so I can give her a bunch of updates for her CDT Handbook, and I look forward to sharing more of my experiences with her. Other than that, I still have a lot of typing to do in order to finish my Trail Journal. If you are keeping up with my trip on Trail Journals, please be patient, as I continue to get all the typing done. Later!

Finished!

2009-11-19T21:52:00.000-08:00

On Tuesday, November 17th at 2:45 pm, sixteen (let me repeat that) sixteen thru-hikers arrived at the US-Mexican border to complete their odyssey on the Continental Divide Trail. I was honored to be a part of that group, which included Luna, So Far, George, Tooth Fairy, Mike, Patch, Brett, Bree, Panda, Valley Girl, Chance, Brian, Brenda, Samurai Joe, and Hell Fire.

I did it! My dream of hiking the CDT has been realized, and now I join the ranks of those who have hiked the triple crown: The Appalachian, Pacific Crest, and Continental Divide Trails. All that said, I still have a short, but remote and daunting, 30-mile section to complete on the PCT, so my claim to be a triple crowner will not fully be realized until I hike those last few miles. Trust me, I will make it a high priority to finish the PCT.

Arriving at the Mexican border was somewhat of anti-climactic experience. There were a lot of cars entering and leaving the United States at this seemingly busy port of entry. Also, I was warned about tight security at the border, and that the border patrol was not going to put up with any shenanigans, which of course elevated my anxiety level. Finally, there was a freaking Family Dollar right at the border. It's not often that an long distance adventurer finishes his rugged, scenic hike next to a Family Dollar, but I guess that was the choice I made. If I could have chosen differently, I would have preferred a finish at the more remote Crazy Cook Monument near the Hatchet Mountains. I've been thinking that I might do that section in the future. Who knows?

Regardless, I had a great experience through the Florida Mountains between Deming and the border. On my first night out, Tooth Fairy's aunt and her friend, Chris, drove a vehicle out to camp, and delivered brats, hot dogs, smores, salad, etc., which made for the best on trail food that I have ever had. The second day, So Far and I crossed the rugged Florida Mountains on a precarious cross-country route, where I slipped often on loose rock, and was stabbed in the legs by agave and yucca plants. Although a fitting scenic, adventurous trek, I might hesitate to advocate the route through the Floridas, because it was borderline dangerous. Finally, the third day was a short, relaxed hike to the border to complete the hike.

I am hanging out in Deming, for a couple days, and then I will head up to my sister's place for Thanksgiving. I look forward to going to her place for a few days. I have certainly grown tired of trail food and restaurant meals. It all gets old after a while, and I really miss home-cooked food. I told my sister that I cannot wait to get to her place to eat what she makes.

With all the traveling coming up, I plan to work diligently on updating my trail journals site - look for updates. I have uploaded more pictures to Flickr, and I plan to upload a couple video to my YouTube channel tomorrow, so look for that.

I am also thinking about continuing this blog as a part of a larger project to create a site called hikethecdt.com, which will be the primary on-line resource for helping a prospective hiker get started on planning a CDT hike. Expect changes in the future. Until then, I will continue to post items about my post hike journey and all the fall out from taking five months off of work. Happy trails!

57-Miles to Mexico!

2009-11-14T22:00:00.000-08:00

This hike is just about over. Where did the last 5-months go? Good heavens! I am shocked that I only have 57-miles left on this trail. A part of me wants this journey to end, but a huge part of me wishes that I could continue further. I love this whole being outside thing, but on the other hand, I really look forward to home-cooked food again. Oh well, more about that stuff after I finish.

I just finished a segment that went through the Black Range, which included a climb up Hillsboro Peak, which stands about 10,000-feet above sea level. A fire tower and open cabin sit atop of the peak, and 15 of us hikers camped out at the top. Unfortunately, So Far did not join the rest of the group on top, as he was too bust thrashing around in the woods doing navigation by deduction. However, he found his way on the trail again, and hiked ahead of everyone, managing to hike 100-miles in 2 1/2 days! The guy is a freak.

The hike continued in lower desert areas of southern New Mexico. In two days I saw two small rattlesnakes on the trail. The freaky thing was that I did many cross-country miles through desert and dry brush, which seemed to be prime rattlesnake terrain, but nothing ever happened. I guess the snakes like the flat roads and paths more.

I am currently in Deming, a town of about 20,000-people, which sits about 30 some odd miles north of the Mexico border. Apparently, when the railroad came through here, the town was called the "New Chicago," as it was expected that this town would boom from the rail traffic. Ummmmm... that did not happen. Nonetheless, it is a town that provides a lot of services and cheap motels for the weary hiker.

Anyway, I will be leaving here tomorrow, and I will be hiking over the Florida Mountains, which according to Jim Wolf, presents a formidable challenge, and a fitting ending for a southbound journey. I am looking forward to the hike, and with such little time left out here, I will milk the experience for all it's worth.

Today, I attended a Continental Divide Trail Association event in Hachita that celebrated the completion of the southern terminus at Crazy Cook Monument. It was an awesome event, as I got to meet some of the key players in establishing and protecting the trail here in Mexico. I had a good conversation with the Executive Director of the CDTA, Steve Dudley, and I was able to share some concerns that we thru-hikers have about the trail. He was extremely receptive with what I had to share. Thanks Steve!

I will report about the ending on Tuesday. Until then, happy trails!

Only 150-Miles To Go!

2009-11-09T13:26:00.000-08:00

I arrived in Mimbres, New Mexico last night, and I am taking a well-deserved day off here in town. Ever since Grants, I have been pushing 20 or more miles a day, and that has made me pretty tired and sore, especially on my feet. Despite some of the aches and pains, there have been many rewarding moments.

I just finished hiking through the Gila Wilderness, namely down the Middle Fork of the Gila River, and the scenery was absolutely incredible. Beautiful maroonish-pink rock spires towered over the Gila River, sprouting from the large imposing cliffs that defined the narrow, winding canyon. I could not help but stare up at the rocks overhead, while I hiked through stands of ponderosa pines, cottonwoods, and cedars. Views of the cliffs were abundant as trees and the understory were denuded of their leaves. The Gila River, a shallow river darkened by volcanic rock, slime, and detritus, flowed subtly and calmly through most of the canyon. I forded the cold river over a hundred times! Nonetheless, I felt like I had entered into a lost Eden.

After leaving the Gila River Canyon, I arrived at the Gila Cliff Dwellings National Monument, where I enjoyed a cool, informative tour from a National Parks Service ranger. Although a small cliff dwelling by Mesa Verde standards, this former home to Mogollon Indians between 1270 and 1300 provided a snapshot into the culture and history of the original inhabitants here in New Mexico. I definitely recommend visiting this place.

I have also run into some of the friendliest people out here in New Mexico. Hunters have been generous, sharing their food and water with me and the rest of my companions, which has been a godsend, since water sources are few and far between - I went 39-miles between water sources! Trail angels have also been abundant here, inviting me into their homes, and feeding me home-cooked meals. I cannot say enough about the hospitality of the people here in New Mexico, especially people like John and Anzie north of Pie Town, Kathy and Nita in Pie Town, and Julie here in Mimbres. It's kind folks like them that make this nation truly great.

My shoes are about trashed, which has caused a lot of pain on the pads of my feet. I have had this pain before, and it only comes with shoes which have lost a lot of their cushioning. I figure I have only 8 more days of hiking in them, so I will just man up and deal with the pain.

I continue to hike this trail with 15 other people, and reports from those who keep track of going-ons of the CDT say that a group this size is completely unprecedented. A lot of us hiking in this critical mass wonder if there has ever been another group this large to finish any of the long distance trails like the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails. Anyway, it is pretty cool being with everyone, and I enjoy the variety of my company.

I am behind on my trail journals and flickr photos, and I expect it to be that way until I finish. Southern New Mexico, especially where I traveled, has very limited internet access, not to mention technology. I met a woman here in Mimbres who said that she has never seen an iPhone. Crazy! However, sometimes I wonder if that is not such a bad thing.

I will be stopping briefly in Deming, and then I only have another 50-some-odd miles to the border. It should be fun!

Grants, New Mexico

2009-10-28T16:11:00.000-07:00

I am in Grants, New Mexico, after hiking a solid stretch from Chama to here. I am with a group of 14 other hikers, and we have decided to stick together for the remainder of the trail. Who said that this trail was a solitary experience?

New Mexico has been awesome with its long. easy, mesa walks, warm desert terrain, and stunning, colorful scenery. This has been such a change of pace from the cold, snowy, slopes of Colorado, and a reward of sorts for us southbound hikers. I also just went over Mount Taylor (11,301-feet), and that peak represents the last time I will be above 10,000-feet on this entire trip. Yeah!

My next stretch looks to be pretty easy, as I walk to Pie Town. I understand that there are lava fields in the Malpais National Monument that pose a challenge, but for the most part, it looks like I will remain at 6,000-7,000-feet.

I just updated my trail journals, but I am still behind. If you are reading my journal, please bear with any mistakes in typing, etc. Unfortunately, wi-fi internet is shoddy at hotel rooms, so I have to go to places like the Grants Chamber of Commerce - Mining Museum to get things done. I have also updated my videos, which you will notice on the side the screen here on the blog. I also uploaded all my current pictures on Flickr. Check them out.

Again, I am having the time of my life out here on the trail. I have only 418-miles to go on this journey, and a big part of me does not want it to end. However, there is that part of me that wants to get this trail finished - that is that part of me that wants to sleep in a warm bed, eat healthy meals, not freeze, and not feel pain in my hips and feet at the end of the day. In spite of the visual rewards on this hike, it is sometimes taxing on the body and psyche.

I will probably not be able to update things for a while, as I make a long journey from Grants to Mimbres, NM without internet and other digital services. I hope to make another update in two weeks. See ya!

Short Break at Ghost Ranch

2009-10-19T09:04:00.000-07:00

I walked into Ghost Ranch yesterday around 4:00. The sun was shining, and temperatures were in the low 70's. I got a little sun in this last stretch since Cumbres Pass in Colorado, as the weather over the last four days has been spectacular. I am amazed at how quickly conditions can change over a week. At this time last week, I was trudging through snow, wind, and cold temperatures. Yesterday, I walked through red canyons, warm temperatures, and desert terrain. I was thinking about shedding my warm weather gear in Cuba, but I think that might be a bit too soon.

I will be leaving Ghost Ranch here in about an hour. I am currently at 6,300-feet above sea level, and from the way it looks, I will be ascending back over 10,000-feet in this short 55-mile stretch - I have some climbing to do! I look forward to more of the beautiful terrain here in Northern New Mexico, and I can see how the surrounding landscape inspired Georgia O'Keefe with her art. Pretty cool!

Windy South San Juans

2009-10-14T21:54:00.000-07:00

I arrived at Cumbres Pass on October 13th, and I am staying with Leprechaun (PCT '03) and his wife Laura. It is good to be off the CDT, since it was snowing and quite cold when I got off the trail.

The trail from Wolf Creek Pass to Cumbres Pass was, for the most part, tough and brutal. The first day out of Pagosa Springs was great, although windy. I slept at Elwood Pass, where two former CDT hikers Puff Puff and Snappy (CDT 2007) had parked their truck, and were providing trail magic. It was awesome!

On October 11th, I left camp to hike some of the slowest miles I have ever hiked on any trail. There was so much snow on the the trail, that I could only hike 5.3-miles in four hours. Winds were also terrible, as they gusted to 40 mph, blowing stinging snow in my eyes and face. I was hiking through a beautiful area of the South San Juans, with great views of Montezuma and Summit Peaks. Unfortunately, it was hard to appreciate the views because of the weather.

The group I was hiking with decided to bail on the CDT at Adams Fork in favor of a lower route. I ascended back to the CDT on October 12th at Blue Lake, and thankfully, the winds had died down, and the snow was melting due to warmer temperatures. I hiked to Rio De Los Pinos Creek camp, where I met up with Puff Puff and Snappy, who were waiting with hot dogs, chips, and soda pop. I went to bed that night, and was awakened in the middle of the night by snow, hail, and rain. Will the weather ever let up?

I spent my last night in Colorado, and when I head back up to the trail on October 15th, I have a mere 4-miles to hike before I leave Colorado, and I say "Good riddance!" Ever since Tennessee Pass, the weather in Colorado has been horrible. I am hoping that conditions will be better in New Mexico. The altitude in New Mexico is lower, which means that there should be less snow. I am keeping my fingers crossed.

Weary of the Snow in the San Juans

2009-10-08T23:40:00.000-07:00

Snow has come early in the San Juans, according to a local, and I just got my butt kicked by the weather. I am not the only one. There are 13 southbound CDT hikers here in Pagosa Springs, and all but one (George) were forced off the Continental Divide by 18-24 inches of snow on the Divide. Just today, when I crossed the Divide via the Sawtooth trail, I saw 4-5 inches of powder fall in the 9-hours I hiked. It was brutal.

I attempted to hike through the San Juans last Saturday. I made it from Spring Creek Pass to West Ute Lake before I had to bail on Monday. I hiked the Ute Creek Trail down to Road Canyon Camp, where I endured temperatures in the single digits. On Tuesday, I walked 26-miles on roads (mostly Hwy 149) all the way back to Creede. I stayed there for the night, and I bought a new pair of shoes. On Wednesday morning, I left Creede in a light snow shower, and I hiked the Creede Cutoff to a camp 5-miles below the Continental Divide. This morning, I woke up to snow again, and I hiked up to the Divide. The snow stopped momentarily, but then resumed after I got to Hope Mountian at 12,500-feet. There, the snows really kicked in again. I walked about 12-miles through snow ranging from 6-inches to 24-inches, and now my legs are very sore from the experience.

I will be taking the day off here in Pagosa Springs to rest with all the hikers. A lot of us feel like we have been through a battle, and we are going to decompress and talk about our experiences over the next day. Hopefully, the weather will clear up for my next stretch through the South San Juans from Wolf Creek Pass to Cumbres Pass. I guess that all remains to be seen.

Arrived at Spring Creek Pass - Heart of the San Juans Next

2009-10-03T00:56:00.000-07:00

After a 5-day hike from Monarch Pass, I arrived at Spring Creek Pass, and I am now resting and re-supplying here in Creede, Colorado, which is an old mining town from back in the day. It is hard to believe that this small town used to have 10,000-people living here back in 1892 before the Silver Panic of 1893.

The trail from Monarch Pass to here had variety. I started out hiking through the southern end of the Sawatch Range, passing by Ouray Peak. The trail then went through the Cochetopa Hills, which reminded me of the monotonous hiking on the AT in Virgina. The CDT then dipped down into a low valley, before climbing again into the San Juan Mountains. On October 1st, I climbed my fourth 14,000-foot peak (San Luis Peak) on this CDT hike. It was awesome. The trail continued through some rugged territory here in the San Juans, undulating through the headwaters of Mineral Creek, before traversing a long plateau known at Snow Mesa.

I am leaving for the southern San Juans tomorrow, and I am hoping the weather continues to remain "good" for the San Juans. Lately I have been experiencing temperatures in the teens at night, and the winds have been kicking up. I think there will be some snow in the San Juans over the next six days, but I think it will be manageable... at least I hope. I have good maps in case I need to bail, but I do not anticipate that happening.

Approaching the San Juans

2009-09-27T22:34:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Salida, Colorado on Saturday the 26th, and I have been staying here at the Simple Hostel. The weather for the last week has been cold and snowy, but it looks like the weather will be nice for the next few days until Wednesday and Thursday, when a small system moves through the area. This means that I will be attempting to hike the CDT through the San Juans here in Colorado.

This is a big deal, since one never knows what to expect for weather in the San Juans. I have had people tell me that it can dump 6-feet of snow in a day there, or it can be sunny and dry there until November. One does not know what to expect, but I figure that it's worth a shot. I have purchased some additional clothing, so that I can get through the snow, and bear the colder days, if they do come.

I am also approaching the end of Colorado. I figure that I have another 10-12 days here. I have loved hiking in this, my native state. I have appreciated the great and beautiful scenery, the history, and the people here. I will say that I have been disappointed with all the development (roads, powerlines, houses, mines, etc.) here in the mountains, and the environmental devastation wrought by mining. Some of the creeks up here in the mountains have been poisoned by mines, making some of the rivers uninhabitable to fish and other wildlife. Frankly, I have to be careful which creeks I draw water from, so that I am not ingesting chemicals and toxins. I think Colorado has a lot of challenges before it to clean up its rivers for all who depend on them for water and recreation.

Rough Weather Heading Into Twin Lakes

2009-09-23T01:01:00.000-07:00

I hiked into Twin Lakes this afternoon, and I am glad to get out of the cold weather for a night. On Sunday, a front moved through the mountains, bringing with it rain, snow, wind, and colder temperatures. I was so chilled, I thumbed a ride at Tennessee Pass to Leadville, where I stayed at the the Leadville Hostel, and warmed up.

I went back out on the trail on Monday, and the snow was falling at a pretty good clip. Eventually, it stopped, and the sun came out, warming the day up to 40-degrees. I camped at Halfmoon Creek that night, where temperatures fell into the high 20's.

I did not let the weather dampen my determination to climb Mt. Elbert (14,433-feet), which is the highest peak in Colorado, and the second highest peak in the contiguous United States behind Mt Whitney in California. It was cold, snowy, and windy up at the top, so I spent maybe 5-minutes up there. I scrambled back down Mt. Elbert, where I cross-country hiked through snow that was knee-deep in some areas, and then I followed the South Mt. Elbert trail down to the CDT. It was quite the adventure, but I survived.

I will try and get my trail journal updated in full in Salida, Colorado, where I plan to take my next zero day. While there I will update my videos on YouTube and pictures on Flickr. Expect updates again on Sunday.

At the Doorstep of Colorado's Front Range

2009-09-12T08:00:00.000-07:00

After a wonderful break in Steamboat Springs, I resumed my hike through the Rabbit Ears and Never Summer Ranges in Colorado. About 11-miles of that hiking was on US 40 and State Route 14, which was very precarious road walking (yuck!), but thankfully the rest of the mileage kept me up over 10,000-feet, which made for very scenic walking. Certainly the highlights of the last section were climbing Parkview Mountain and skirting Ruby and Cascade Mountains on the boundary of the Never Summer Wilderness.

I have been resting in Denver at my brother's house for the last two days, but I am heading back on the trail today, where I will rejoin my companions for a 106-mile stretch through Colorado's Front Range, which will likely include climbs up two 14,000-foot peaks (Gray's and Torrey's Peaks). Hopefully, the weather cooperates over the next five days through this fabled section of the Rocky Mountains.

In Steamboat Springs... Hiking Never Summer Range Next!

2009-09-05T01:16:00.000-07:00

I am in Colorado! Yes, I am back in my native state, and I am loving the hiking along the Continental Divide. The weather has been great, the scenery is outstanding, and I have seen a ton of wildlife. Up to this point, I have liked this trail more than the Appalachian and Pacific Crest Trails combined!

I had a wonderful hiking experience in the Mount Zirkel Wilderness, and the group I am hiking with decided to take an unpublished, double secret hiking route around Mount Zirkel. You can read about it here. Needless to say, we deviated from the official route, and followed the true Divide through the wilderness area. It was awesome.

I will be leaving Steamboat Springs on Sunday morning, and I will be heading toward the Never Summer Range, and Rocky Mountain National Park, which is east of here. The trail will start to bend south again towards Grand Lake, where my brother will pick me up on Thursday afternoon.

I just uploaded photos to my Flickr site, and my trail journal is completely up to date, so check them out. More updates to come on Thursday!

Dry, Warm in the Great Basin

2009-08-27T16:30:00.000-07:00

I just walked into Rawlins, Wyoming, where I am staying at the 1st Choice Inn. The last day and a half has had abundant sunshine, and it's been arid and dry. However, the first three days through the Red Desert were mild, and afternoon thunder showers frequently chased me. I survived it all.

The group I am hiking with managed 30-miles a day through the desert. I have read that one is to "hike 30's and get the desert over with," but I have to say that I was very impressed with the abundant wildlife in the Great Basin of Wyoming. Coyotes, wild horses, antelope, horned lizards, and a badger were among the many animals I saw roaming the desert. I saw a lot of cows roaming the desert too, fouling water sources that are unfortunately not protected by fencing. The BLM has erected fences around some very important springs, but one day I had to drink some nasty cow-ass water over a twenty mile stretch. Despite treating the water with Aqua Mira and flavoring it with Crystal Light, I gagged down the water and stayed hydrated - miraculously.

A couple highlights from the stretch: Visiting South Pass City, which is an old mining camp town that Butch Cassidy used to frequent. I was amazed to know that in this small mining town, there were three saloons for cards and drinking. I guess there was not much to do in Wyoming back in the late 1800's. The other highlight was a drive-by visit from a guy named Bob, who shared cold PBRs with the group, and who claimed he had lost a half a million dollars worth of guns, ammo, and fireworks confiscated by the feds who raided his ranch a few years ago. Apparently, he spent time in Leavenworth until 1971, and he has not been able to catch a break from the law since that time. Hmmmmm...

I am leaving Rawlins tomorrow, and my next stop will be in Encampment, Wyoming for a quick resupply (I have been told that Encampment is not the place to spend time). After that, I will continue my hike into Colorado, and I think I will cross the border on the 31st or 1st of September. I will take my next zero day in Steamboat Springs. Wow! I cannot believe that I am almost in Colorado. Hike on!

I Flourished in the Wind River Range

2009-08-22T02:16:00.000-07:00

I am in Lander, Wyoming, resting up from an eight day, 146-mile stretch through the Gros Ventre and Wind River Ranges - it was awesome! You can read about the day where I thought I was going to die climbing Lava Mountain, or look at my potentially award winning photo in the Winds. Sometimes there are great risks out here on the trail, but the rewards (i.e. stunning views) are worth it.

I am taking the day off here in Lander, where I will re-supply, catch a movie at the theater, and simply enjoy being in a new town. On Sunday, I will get back on the trail, and I will begin my hike through the Great Basin in southern Wyoming. This is the well-known desert area along the Continental Divide Trail, which has long, water-less stretches and blistering temperatures. I plan to power through it, hiking 30-mile days, so I should be in Rawlins by Thursday.

It is looking like I will enter Colorado by the 31st of this month, which should put me on track to hike through the San Juans in southern Colorado before the snowstorms hit in late September - early October. At least I will keep my fingers crossed that there will be an Indian summer down there. Who knows?

All I can say is that I am having a great time out here, and I am thriving on this harsh, but beautiful Continental Divide Trail.

Food Poisoning, Beat Up Body, But Hey, It's Worth It!

2009-08-13T17:47:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! I am in Dubois, WY, and I am doing well, in spite of what I titled this blog entry. Yes, I think I suffered food poisoning somewhere in Yellowstone. I am not sure where I got it, but I managed to hike 60-miles, despite feeling like poop. You can read more about it on my trail journal entry here.

I got to Dubois, and the first thing I did was lay down. My legs are trashed. I've been hiking for 11-days straight, and I really prefer a sabbath in there after 7-days, so I am hoping that will happen after my next stretch through the Wind River Range.

I am still having the time of my life. The pace of the hike is comfortable, and I am surrounded by a bunch of great people. Everyone said that I will get lost on this trail, but I am here to say that I have not been lost. On this trail, I am finding myself. I love being outside, and I enjoy being in the wilderness. It has its moments, but do we not experience moments in the real world too?

Sometimes I feel like I have died and gone to heaven, and I pray for many moments not to end. So I will continue to enjoy "paradise," and I will be sure to proclaim how great it is.

Yellowstone Just Around the Corner!

2009-08-01T19:07:00.000-07:00

I am totally loving this CDT hike! Yes, there have been a lot of bugs, grueling climbs, lack of water, and did I mention bugs? Oh yeah, I did. Anyway, I am very close to the Wyoming border and Yellowstone National Park, and I am looking forward to the change of states. Montana-Idaho has been adventurous and remote, but I am looking forward to some easier walking - at least I have heard that the hiking there is easier. I have just updated my trail journal, and I am now about to load some new videos on my You Tube channel. I will try and thrrow some pictures on my flickr site, but I may run out of time. I will make additional updates when I arrive in Dubois, Wyoming, but that will be in about 10-11-days. I might be able to make some updates in Olf Faithful Village, but I am not counting on it.

Now in Darby, Montana

2009-07-20T23:21:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Darby, Montana yesterday, only to hitch another ride up to Hamilton, MT, where I stayed at the home of Will Moss, who is a reporter for the Ravalli Republic, and he will be doing a story on our hike from Canada to Mexico. This evening, Will came down to Darby to do an official interview with six of us here at the Travellers Rest, and I think we are all excited to read the article that he's going to publish. When I get to Lima, MT, I promise to publish a link to the article.

Mynext stop will be in Leadore, Idaho, where I will just re-supply. Following my stop in Leadore, I will go to Lima, MT, where I will take my next zero day. I will be eager to publish more pics and journals from my hike.

Montana has been really beautiful, but buggy. I have never seen more mosquitoes in my life. I have also been plagued by deer flies, horse flies, and black flies, but it is the mosquitoes that have been really relentless. I know that the weather will get warmer over the next few days, and I am hoping that the bugs do not get any friskier than they are already.

I got seven packages here in Darby, and I am thankful for all my friends and family who sent items. Thanks so much!

I will have pics loaded on my flickr page, and I just uploaded my recent journals, so I encourage you to check them out.

Hiked into Butte, MT

2009-07-12T14:53:00.000-07:00

Okay, actually I did not literally hike into Butte, Montanta, but I got off the trail at Pipestone Pass, where Wahoo picked me and George up yesterday. I am taking a much needed rest day here at the Comfort Inn here in Butte, and I am hoping to see a bit of the National Folk Festival this afternoon. I have uploaded pictures to my Flickr account, and my Trail Journals site is just about updated.

I am really enjoying the hike on the CDT, despite challenges from climbs, weather, bugs, and road walking. I just had a foot massage from Lou (PCT 2003), and I hopped into the hot tub here at the hotel. I think that I will be rested and recharged for my continued hike on the CDT. I am so thankful for Lou and Wahoo meeting us here in Butte, and providing us with so much trail magic. In fact, they will be slack packing us for the next 25 miles to the Interstate 15. Absolutely unbelievable what they are doing for us. Thanks trail angels!

Re-Supplying in Helena, MT

2009-07-06T23:32:00.000-07:00

I am in the most awesome town of Helena, Montana. This place is great! I like the vibe here, and people have been very friendly. I just got back from hearing a harp concert by Deborah Henson Conant at the Myrna Loy Center. She was brilliant. The awesome thing was that we got in for free - definite trail magic!

I am heading back on the trail, and I will get back off again on the 12th, when I meet up with Lou and Wahoo (PCT 2003) at Highway 12 near Butte. I will have more updates and pictures to upload when I take a day off there in Butte.

I am doing well, and feeling strong. Nonetheless, the trail here in Montana has challenging climbs and descents. The trail literally goes straight up and down these mountains. Navigation has not been a huge deal, as I am with a pretty competent group of hikers. To this point, I have not really been lost on the CDT.

I hope to have some pictures and video uploaded before I leave the hotel tomorrow. I am not sure how much I will get done, but I hope to at least get pics done on Trail Journals and Flickr. Check them out.

Freefall

Taking a Day Off in Lincoln, MT

2009-07-03T00:23:00.000-07:00

I arrived in Lincoln on July 1st, and I have been resting after a strenuous, yet rewarding hike through the Bob Marshall and Scapegoat Wilderness areas. The CDT is a lot of work, and my waistline is reflecting the number of calories I have burned in the last week. Yikes!

I am leaving on the 3rd of July, and I will hike into Helena on Monday, and then turn around on Tuesday, and hike to Butte, where I will take another zero day.

I have just updated my trail journal, and I am in the process of uploading pictures to my Flickr account. I am hoping to get a few videos on the blog tomorrow, so please be patient as I try and get some of this stuff done. This whole digital diary thing is a lot of work!

I am feeling great, and my legs are growing stronger every day. I love being in the wilderness, and it has been a real pleasure to be "home" for the last few weeks. The amazing thing is that I get to stay at "home" for another 5-months.

Resting up in East Glacier

2009-06-23T10:10:00.000-07:00

I am East Glacier Park after spending an incredible 7-days in Glacier National Park. I encourage anyone and everyone to come up here to see this unique, untouched national treasure - seriously.

I have updated my trail journals and flickr sites, but I may have to wait a while to upload video, since internet is so spotty here, and I have a lot of requests from other hikers to use the computer.

I am having the time of my life... again. I will update things again when I arrive in Lincoln, MT, which will be in about 8-9 days.

New Video on my hike is Here!

2009-06-14T23:31:00.000-07:00

I am in Glacier National Park, and it is awesome. I tried loading a video to YouTube, and it did not work out, so I will try it again later on. I will post it on the sidebar. Today, I anticipate writing another journal entry on Trail Journals, so look out for that. I just got my permit to hike Glacier, and now I am waiting for So Far, Luna, and Gazelle to arrive. On the trail tomorrow, and I cannot wait. Yeah!

Peace,

Freefall

Gear Check in Indiana

2009-06-04T18:10:00.000-07:00

I threw all my gear on the lawn at Lake Luther, the camp I used to work at out here in Indiana. I went through everything, set up the tent, unfurled my clothes, and laid out all my equipment, like I was going to have a yard sale. The picture on this post shows everything I am taking with me on the CDT, and the other picture is of the pack when it is filled up. Cool, eh?

I am learning that there will be several hikers (maybe 12?) at Serrano's up at East Glacier Park. Because of the numbers, I am thinking about starting the hike on the 16th, because our numbers will exceed the capacity of the back country sites in Glacier National Park. It seems that this CDT hiking thing is catching on in popularity. Anyway, starting on the 16th would also allow me to hike with Gazelle and Marlowe, who will both be starting on that day. The question is: will So Far, Luna, and Chance go along with that date (I need to e-mail them!).

Anyway, I am having a great time out here in Indiana. I have enjoyed reconnecting with friends and family out this way. The weather out here has been perfect the last few days, and the mosquitoes are not fully out yet - I have a feeling though that they will be vicious here in a week. I wonder if they will be bad in Montana?

I cannot wat to get on the trail. Only another week before I will be boarding the train to East Glacier Park! Yipee!

Experimenting With Maps!

2009-05-23T11:11:00.000-07:00

While I am here in Parker, Colorado for my niece's graduation, I decided to experiment with my GPS, Google Earth, and tools from EveryTrail.com. What I came up with is this map below. I plan to include these maps when I get into town, and I hope to make them even more interactive with pictures and the whole bit. Anyway, this is just an experiment, which will only help tell the story of my hike on the CDT this year. Yeah!

Walk Around The Pinery

Widget powered by EveryTrail: GPS Geotagging

Mail Drops Schedule Has Been Added

2009-05-12T13:50:00.000-07:00

I have added a list of mail drop here on the blog (scroll down and look on left hand side). You can also go to my Trail Journals page to get more detailed information. If you would like to send a letter, postcard, or a small care package, I would gladly appreciate it!

Back from ADZPCTKO - Now Focus on CDT

2009-04-26T16:04:00.000-07:00

I had a great experience at ADZPCTKO this past weekend. I reconnected with friends, talked trail, and basically got to hang with my tribe for several days. Wow! What a lot of fun.

I also got to see a lot of hikers who are attempting the CDT northbound and southbound. Among those who were at the Kick Off were So Far, Luna, Suge, and Gazelle (who, by the way, has just committed to doing the CDT!). We had five of the nine hikers that I know of who will be starting out at the Canadian border on June 15th, and I am looking forward to hiking with all of them. Yeah!

I am heading back home to San Francisco, where I will begin loading up boxes to move my stuff out of my apartment by the 30th of this month. It is an amazing thing to think that I will once again live a thru-hiker lifestyle until next November. As a lot of hikers were making their way out of Lake Morena this morning, I couldn't help but think, "That will be me in a few weeks." What a great feeling!

Now I can better focus on the CDT. My awesome and honorable role as Presentation Coordinator for ADZPCTKO kept me from devoting more time and energy on the CDT. With events ending today, my sights are set on Glacier National Park, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, the Wind River Range, the San Juans of Colorado, the Gila National Monument, and all other beautiful and unique places along the CDT. I am almost there!

Trail Journals Updated, Blog To Get Updates Next Month

2009-04-05T23:53:00.000-07:00

I just updated my Trail Journal, but I will hold off on blog design updates until I leave San Francisco. I only have a short time left here, so I need to get as much done with food dehydration as I can, and I only have two weeks left to use a dehydrator. THIS IS CRUNCH TIME! I look forward to dressing up the blog with a few relevant widgets so that everyone can follow this hike in a unique way. More to come. Stay tuned!

Hiking the CDT in 2009

2009-03-15T22:16:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my Continental Divide Trail (CDT) blog! I will start hiking the CDT on June 15, 2009 up at the Chief Mountain trailhead with several other hiking friends from my PCT hike in 2003.

I will be using this blog as a central, interactive repository, where I will be attaching widgets, links, pics, and videos so that friends and family can keep track of the hike. Anyway, I wanted to get the ball rolling here. More to come and hopefully designs galore (as a blogger blog will allow).

Peace,

Freefall