BACKPACKER CDT Project

A sunset... but nowhere near the end

2007-09-25T11:54:00.000-06:00

It snowed on the Continental Divide in Colorado yesterday. The aspens are turning a brilliant yellow. Elk bugles echo in the lower meadows. I'm sad to see the summer come to an end. It's been a good one, really the best one ever.

I've had summers where I've hiked more days. I've had summers where I've worked less hours. But I've never had a summer where I've had a chance to touch the lives, if only briefly, of so many people. People who love hiking and the outdoors, and people who are so passionate about a protecting a trail stringing through the Rocky Mountains.

Thanks to all of you, we've achieved unthinkable goals in the past four months. We have the most up-to-date information on the CDT in the world. We believe the data our CDT map scouts collected is better than what land managers and CDTA currently house on their systems. To echo the words of Teresa Martinez, Field Operations Manager of the CDTA, "you've started a legacy."

I like that.

I'll also admit this project didn't come without shortfalls. The schwag promised hasn't been shipped (we intend to honor our promise to reward our CDT volunteers), three teams didn't get their section maps, two teams dissolved from conflicting personalities, and wildfires displaced more than 25 volunteers. The sale of Backpacker to Active Interest Media caused delays and staff shortfall in every department.

The good news is our CDT teams have managed to map more than 2,000 miles of trail this summer. Real progress has been made, and will continue to be made next summer. Yep, you heard it here, we're going to continue the project next year. We'll keep updates posted on this blog.

Photo: Sunrise at Ute Lake. Submitted by Pam Johns of Team 16.

Gathering the Pieces

2007-08-31T12:30:00.000-06:00

This is an exciting time--and one of the most memorable of my career so far. In the past few weeks, we've seen hundreds of photos from several segments of the Continental Divide Trail. The result of this project is coming alive in front of our eyes as we begin to edit sections, doubleback with land mangers, and, most importantly, assemble all the great stories, field notes, and media everyone has collected. All that talk, all those logistics, all those phone calls and emails were worth it. It's going to take weeks to put it all together, and if you haven't heard from us you will soon.

In the meantime, we'll be posting short reports and an appetizer of photos here, and we'll be catching up on a backlog of emails from team leaders. Just a few hours ago Jonathan Ellinger sent me an email:

"We finished last Saturday our trip from Big Hole Pass to Goldstone. My blog entry for the trip is here." Cool blog Jonathan! You can see photos from the trip on Flickr too.

Ernie Pyle Search Party is back

2007-08-29T17:49:00.000-06:00

Eli Schelin emailed us a short report this afternoon on their scout of the most northern 50 miles of the CDT.

"We covered the 52 miles from Waterton, Alberta, Canada to the Jackson Glacier Overlook. The trail is in excellent shape and is well signed. We saw lots of wildlife – deer, long horn sheep, and mountain goats in the campsites and on the trail. And we even saw a snow flurry as we came across Piegan Pass on the 8/23. All the team members did a great job supporting one another and sharing their skills and knowledge.

We have a ton of pictures that everyone is sorting through – but in the mean time I’ve attached one picture of the search party at the trailhead in Waterton, Alberta, Canada on the 8/19. From left to right are Andy Hubing, Brian & Shelley TerBush, Robert Vanderhoof, and Eli Schelin."

Hiking Around Montana's Wildfires

2007-08-29T17:19:00.000-06:00

Check these photos out! Keith Gebo sent these in today from Team 49 on the CDT in Montana. There fires surround them for most of the trip. "We should have some great shots of a big grizzly bruin. The smoke kept us from getting very many 'Big Sky' photos," say Keith. "There were some serious issues with the trail markers and the trail conditions to a lesser extent. I used a MP3 voice recorder to document the trail conditions and warnings. I am working on transcribing it. When I finish I'll send a copy to you. I will also be sharing the information with the local USFS." Thanks for the update Keith.

On the Divide, Not the Trail

2007-08-21T18:11:00.000-06:00

Here's a new twist: Over the next two years Glenn Dunmire plans to backpack, scramble, climb, or do whatever it takes to trace the Continental Divide.

Not the trail, but the Divide itself.

His hope is to straddle the entire backbone from Mexico to Canada. Most of it will be off-trail, and some hairball sections will require X-treme climbing skills on rotten rock. Most of the trip he'll do solo, too.

Oh yeah, and according to his website, Glenn is doing this truly epic adventure on a rehabilitated hand with three missing carpal bones and a crippled left knee with "no ACL or medial or lateral meniscus."

Imagine the logistics to work a trip like this out? Imagine the all the T-storms he'll have to face being above treeline most of the time? Good luck, Glenn, we'll be watching.

The rest of the High Boy story...

2007-08-21T17:09:00.000-06:00

Since our last blog on the Helena High Boys (Team 48), the team has successfully completed their 42-mile section. Listen to the rest of their adventure unfold below:

AUGUST 15 (DAY 3)
In this two-part podcast on Day 3, team leader Steve Wargo reports a few blisters but overall three great days. Tonight they camp at 7,800 feet under the shadow of Mount Black in grizzly country. They also talked about their encounter with The Onion, the thru-hiker who plans to yo-yo the trail this year.

First Report

Second Report

AUGUST 16 (DAY 4)
"Today has been absolutely spectacular!" The team tagged several peaks today, including the highpoint on their section. GPS location: 12T 0383937E 5183942N.

AUGUST 17 (DAY 5)
The five High Boys arrive back in Helena, MT. Team leader Steve reviews how they mapped some of the tough areas of their section and they have a lot of suggestions for land managers and BACKPACKER. In addition to other highlights and last thoughts about their trip, Steve tells a funny story on how a CDT sign clocked one of the High Boys in the head on their last night.

Team 32: Team Tarpman

2007-08-21T15:04:00.000-06:00

Team co-leader and frequent map contributor Leon Nelson of Redding, CA sent in these photos from their 50-mile leg in the Wind River Range of Bridger-Teton National Forest last week. Leon says the elevation proved to be the biggest challenge for the group who all came from hometowns well below 1,000 ft (the trailhead was over 9,000 ft.). Leon plans to call in day-by-day podcast reports later this week to re-cap their adventures. Send us more photos too, Leon!

Yo-Yoing the CDT

2007-08-16T14:30:00.000-06:00

Have you heard of this guy? Garret Christensen (trail name: The Onion) is attempting to yo-yo the CDT this year. That means he'll hike from Mexico to Canada then turn around and hike back to Mexico for a total of roughly 6,200 miles. Team 48 crossed paths with this speedhiker yesterday in Helena National Forest. By 5 p.m., The Onion already had 20 miles under his belt for the day and said he finished his north-bound hike in an impressive 95 days. He was on Day 105 or 106 and heading back to Mexico. So he's hiking about 33 miles a day, plus more miles on re-supply days. You can follow his progress on his blog.

Team AWA (Altitude Without Attitude)

2007-08-16T14:15:00.000-06:00

This quick report came in last night from Sean Bullington of Centreville, VA:

"Just wanted to send you a quick update to let you know that we are back from the trip (we got in from Jackson, WY this past Sunday morning). We're sifting through the pics/etc and will be working on the trip report over the next week. Other than some blisters, having longer days than expected, walking through some good storms, seeing tons of wildlife, and having to re-route around a grizzly eating a horse on the trail, the trip went really smoothly! We'll keep you posted as the report gets finished, and here's a pic of us near some thermals on the way to Heart Lake!" Thanks for the great attitude and help, AWA!

Team 48: Day 2

2007-08-14T16:37:00.000-06:00

From a windy saddle, Steve Wargo hells out a big thanks to David Payne and Michael Brown who helped his team through a parched and unsigned section of the CDT yesterday in Helena National Forest, Montana. The team completed 11 miles yesterday, and plans to hike 8 today. Listen to podcast below.

GPS Location: 12T o399751E, 5174135N

CDT Team 23: Copper Mountain to Bakerville, CO

2007-08-14T13:28:00.000-06:00

A quick recap from team member Kim Phillips:

"Our team set out last Sunday, August 5^th to map a 67-mile stretch of the Continental Divide Trail in Colorado. After three days of steady rain and drizzle, the clouds lifted just in time for the high-altitude portion of the trip. The remaining three days were spent at 12,000+ feet, navigating exposed ridgelines and gaping at the dramatic Rocky Mountain views. Although the rugged terrain caused a few injuries, our group persevered, summited the final peak of the trip (14,270-ft. Grays Peak), and finished in Bakerville." More photos below:

Skywalkers Report In

2007-08-13T14:18:00.000-06:00

This report and photos just came in from Todd Fontaine of Team 20.

"Group 20CO, aka Skywalkers, finished their section of trail on August 4th. Our trip brought us through some parts of the CDT that were currently under construction as well as across the well-established Monarch Crest section. With the help of Mal Sillars (CDT surveyor), who joined us for the first two days, we were able to map approximately 12+ miles of the soon to be CDT. We had decided to go with light packs for there were sections that hadn't been established yet. This meant crossing talus and scree fields as well as navigating our way through sections of brush, but the payoff was amazing. Once we hit the completed trail we were able to really appreciate all the work that goes into trail construction. Our group met up with a couple of crews and their work was truly incredible. The next three days we hucked our heavy packs up and over Chalk Creek Pass, past Hunt Lake and then to Monarch Pass. Due to some time constraints and a desire to beat the hordes of mountain bikers on the Monarch Crest Trail, we dumped our heavy packs and decided to blast out the 11 or so miles with light packs to finish at Marshall Pass."

And They're Off...

2007-08-13T13:57:00.000-06:00

Steve Wargo of Team 48 (Helena Highboys) reported in this morning from MacDonald Pass about 14.5 miles west of Helena, MT. Steve, as you might remember, submitted a YouTube application early this spring, so we're expecting lots of exciting coverage from the team. The team was briefed by Montana Wilderness Society this past weekend, and is joined by a local Forest Service expert today. This difficult section will require keen navigation skills. Listen below:

Team AWA (35a)

2007-08-13T13:38:00.000-06:00

Naomi Blagdon recaps their adventure on the CDT last week. Their 60-mile section, including a 2-mile reroute to avoid a problematic bear, stringed together Yellowstone National Park and Teton Wilderness. Listen in as she lists all the wildlife and beautiful scenery they saw, plus the unique characters on the trail, including thru-hikers and cowboys.

On the Trail

2007-08-07T13:36:00.000-06:00

This week we find four more teams on the trail. They are:

Team 23
This trio will hike a 38-mile segment from Copper Mountain to Argentine Pass in White River and Pike National Forests. Here, the CDT follows the Colorado Trail.

Katie Richards: AT thru-hiker ('05); Student Conservation Association volunteer (Baxter SP trail crew). Lawrenceville, GA.
Kevin Hollebeek: professional surveyor; AT thru-hiker ('05); frequent trail crew volunteer; Katie's boyfriend. Lawrenceville, GA.
Kim Phillips: Backpacker map intern; CU-Boulder graduate student; wedding photographer. Boulder, CO

Team 26
The Rambling Routers are exploring a 40-mile leg near Rabbit Ears Pass, Steamboat Springs, CO.

Jennifer Salvage: AT thru-hiker ('00); first woman to thru-hike IAT solo; teacher by profession; has run AMC thru-hiking workshops. Medford, NJ.
Myles Hayes: Professional photographer; previous WFA certification; High Adventure Club president, TCU. Chicago, IL.
Jeff Salvage: race walking expert (took it to the trail); maintains greattreks.com; Jennifer's husband. Medford, NJ.

Team 43
This small team lost a team member late in the game due to a family medical emergency (hope all is well, Adam) but the duo still plans to trek from Chief Joseph Pass into Salmon National Forest, past Chief Joseph Pass.

Steve Silberberg: Former computer programmer; current wilderness guide (Fatpacking). Hull, MA.
Jason Stevenson: Associate Editor, Backpacker magazine. Emmaus, PA.

Team 50a
The Continental Dream Team is one of the several team displaced by the massive wildfires in Bob Marshall Wilderness Area. We know the team was still planning to meet in Montana, but don't know their final route.

Michael Rutland: freelance writer, photographer; EMT experience; survival experience. Austin, TX.
Dianne Deering : LNT State Advocate; passion for the outdoors.Denver, CO.
Miguel Esquivel: Spearheading creation of Trans-Panamaniam Trail from Colombia to Costa Rica; GPS & navigation instructor; CPR certified. Panama.
Jim Jakicic: Mini-Cassia Idaho Search & Rescue officer; experienced backpacker. Rupert, ID.

Checking with Team CO24

2007-08-07T12:27:00.000-06:00

Team CO24 (Jeremy, Jim and Dylan) reports in from the finish of their 64-mile hike from Herman Gulch to Monarch Lake. They traveled mostly above treeline through the Vasquez and James Peak Wilderness Areas in the Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest. Listen to their detailed highlights by clicking on the video icon.

This Week

2007-08-01T15:06:00.000-06:00

Four teams are on the trail this week: 2 in Colorado, 2 in Wyoming. They are:

Team 20
A 55-mile section from Marshall Pass to Cottonwood Pass Road in San Isabel National Forest.

Sally Pfrimmer: Colorado local; amateur photographer; Rocky Mountain wildlife savvy. Canon City, CO
Todd Fontaine :gradeschool teacher; experienced backpacker.
Michael Morin: Colorado park ranger; passionate about recreation, nature, hiking. Pine, CO.
Doug Ouren: Wilderness & winter survival instructor; USGS wildlife ecologist; professional GPS use; wilderness first aid experience; Stephanie's husband & Fletcher's father. Fort Collins, CO
Stephanie Ouren: Backcountry cook; map reader; Rocky Mountain flora savvy. Fort Collins, CO
Fletcher Ouren: Doug & Stephanie's 13-year-old son; has taught GPS to elementary students; amateur photographer (digital); experienced backpacker. Fort Collins, CO.

Team 24
Herman Gulch to Monarch Lake
This 64-mile leg travels mostly above treeline in Vasquez and James Peak Wildernesses and Arapaho-Roosevelt National Forest.

Keith Martin: Colorado local; trail crew volunteer; passionate about hiking. Durango, CO.
Dylan Kuhn: maps trails as a hobby (check out his work at http://www.cyberhobo.net/hobomap/?cat=14&zoom=4). Fort Collins, CO.
Matt Taylor: GIS director, Clear Creek County, Colo.; map lover; GPS-savvy. Idaho Springs, CO.
Jeremy Larsen: GIS, GPS, cartography experience; navigation instructor; pursuing graduate degree in geography. Salt Lake City, UT.

Team 34
A 40-mile section from Brooks Lake to Turpin Meadows Campground
Barry Gibson: amateur photographer; aspires to open B&B out West; GPS-savvy. Seven Fields, PA.
Barb Cooey : Assistant leader, National Sierra Club; backcountry gourmet; certified in LNT, CPR, first aid. Dubuque, IA.
Jeff Carver: father of six (between him and wife Kathy); often takes the clan hiking, kayaking, scuba diving, mountain biking, running, fishing and camping. Esko, MN.
Patrick Brown: Backpacker map project contributor; amateur photographer; Bridger-Teton section is on his wish list. Germantown, MD.
Kathy Carver : First hike with husband Jeff to Tetons; current Duluth Aquarium employee (? - correct me if I'm wrong); avid hiker, biker, etc. (see Jeff's bio). Esko, MN.

Team 35a
(nicknamed Altitude without Attitude)
This team will explore southern Yellowstone National Park to Turpin Meadows.

Sean Bullington: Mapper for localhikes.com; recently returned from Patagonia backpacking trip; self-proclaimed GPS nerd; husband to Paula. Centreville, VA.
Paula Bullington: degree in recreation management; experienced backpacker; husband to Sean. Centreville, VA.
Naomi Blagdon: AT thru-hiker ('03), subsequent fan of good trail data; Lorne's daughter. Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
Lorne Blagdon: AT thru-hiker ('03) ...pulled off a 40-mile day from Harpers Ferry to Mason-Dixon line; trained in search and rescue, orineteering by Canadian Air Force; writer, song writer. Wirral, New Brunswick, Canada.

In The Texas News

2007-08-01T11:33:00.000-06:00

The Daily News in Galvenston, TX recently published a story about the CDT Project and local Steve Smith, a member of Team 15b. Read the STORY by Mark Collett.

Missions Accomplished!

2007-07-27T23:45:00.000-06:00

Several teams called in Friday to share their trail stories.

Team 25
"This may be the most complicated and confusing section of the entire Continental Divide Trail," the team reports on their scout of old, new, and proposed sections.

Team 21
The Collegiate Cartographers hiked 51 miles, tagged two 14,000-foot mountains, and climbed an estimated 12,000 feet during their 5-day trip. Their final report:

Team 47
Team Grizzlybait knocks off an impressive 70 miles in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Lots of bear and elk, and some signs of mountain lion.

Team 15b
The team offers day-by-day descriptions and trail tips for their section to Wolf Creek Pass, CO.

Wednesday:

Tuesday:

Monday:

Sunday:

Team 21: Day 4

2007-07-26T22:12:00.000-06:00

9:15 am - Kris gives a recap of Wednesday, when the team took a side trip up Huron Peak , a 'small' Fourteener in the Sawatch Range (at 14,003 feet, picture below). They also passed through an old mining town, now a mere husk of its booming past. Dick Vogel jumps on as well for a better introduction.

2:58 pm - Kris recaps the team's steep climb up to Hope Pass (trudging up 10 to 12 percent grades). The afternoon brought the reward of aspen stands and an alpine lake, cushioned in a sea of Purple Asters. Jon Butcher also checks in to share a bit about himself.

Heavy Traffic on the CDT

2007-07-25T21:06:00.000-06:00

So we've heard in from a few teams this week, but there are still plenty others out there. Here's a run-down of what they're up to and who they are...here's hoping they find that sought-after patch of cell reception to give us an update before the week is out.

Team 14, aka Team SoCo
This group is hiking a sizable chunk (some 70+ miles) through Colorado's San Juan Mountains, from Cumbres Pass to Wolf Creek Pass. Lawton, an '06 CDT thru-hiker, submitted a podcast earlier in the week, but unfortunately reception was just too spotty to make anything out beyond the basics ("This is Lawton Grinter, reporting in from the C-D- [garbled static]"). Here's more on the team:
Lawton Grinter: CDT thru-hiker ('06); father of The Walkumentary; experienced backpacker. Crested Butte, CO.
Matt Abbas: Colorado land surveyor (cross-country); avid hiker. Pueblo West, CO.
Felicia Hermosillo : aka Princess of Darkness; CDT thru-hiker ('06); experienced backpacker; fluent in Spanish. Crested Butte, CO.

On Wednesday afternoon the group was able to post an audible podcast. From the sound of it, the three are making great headway, despite such dramas as the treeing of a bear cub by SoCo's canine member. UTM coordinates: 13 0343361E 4146640N

Team 15a
This group hiking a loop through the San Juans, touching on the CDT for 30 miles or so. The round-trip will take them from Blue Lake to Elwood Pass along the trail in question. A few extra miles will be put in for the approach and descent from the actual Divide. Here's who's doing it:
Stephen Maxwell: AT thru-hiker ('06); LNT advocate; spending summer at Philmont Scout Ranch. Beaumont, TX.
Jon Kedrowski: GPS-savvy; completed Master's thesis on Colorado 14ers; avid photographer. Avon, CO.
Adam Doody: photographer, backcountry snowboarder, general contractor. Seattle, WA.
Andrew Matranga: Backpacker assistant map editor; JMT/High Sierra Trail thru-hiker ('06); Team Southern Terminus co-leader. Boulder, CO.

Team 15b
The San Juans are seeing a lot of project volunteers this week; team 15b is doing another loop from the Quartz Creek trailhead to Wolf Creek Pass. These loop hikes were planned in order to make the CDT through the remote San Juans a bit more accessible. Weekend trips there typically take some shuttling and tricky logistics, so when everything is all said and done, these loops should be a good example of how shorter trips along the Divide can be planned.
John "Steve" Smith: self-proclaimed "map and compass nerd"; aspires to hike John Muir Trail. Dickinson, TX.
Stephen Wade: Adventure racer; pilot; experienced backpacker (has hiked in Italy, Africa, Argentina, to name a few). Joplin, MO.
Bill Nelson:emergency physician, training in HAPE, HACE and hypothermia; triathlete. Joplin, MO.
Ryan Kingsley: LNT certified trainer; wilderness therapy field guide; search & rescue member. Louisville, CO.

Team 45
Turning attention to the trail in Montana, Team 45 is covering some 35 miles from Johnson Lake to the Lower Seymour Lake trailhead in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest. Here's a rundown of who they are:
Deanne Hansen: Currently on a Western roadtrip, skipping from Park to Park (daughter's wedding coming up, at Colorado's Independence Pass); Jim's wife. Pollock Pines, CA.
Jim Hansen: Currently on a Western roadtrip, skipping from Park to Park (daughter's wedding coming up, at Colorado's Independence Pass); Deanne's husband. Pollock Pines, CA.
Conor O'Neil: Avid backpacker, summer & winter; gets out 3 out 4 weeks a month; Emily's husband. Wilson, WY.
Emily Hall-O'Neil: degree in physical geography; Rocky Mountain Research Station supervisor/crew leader (flora/fauna inventories); Conor's wife. Wilson, WY.
Mitch Cheney: petroleum geologist; GPS-savvy; avid backpacker; Dan's brother. Houston, TX.
Dan Cheney: Mitch's brother and long-time hiking buddy.

Team 47, aka Grizzlybait
Team Grizzlybait picked that name themselves, by the way; I trust they are doing everything in their power to downplay it in the field. They're hiking 67 miles through the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, miraculously spanning a stretch from I-15 (at Deer Lodge) to I-15 (at Elk Park). Makes shuttling about as easy as it comes.
Kevin Kondrat: Detroit Detective Lieutenant; licensed Captain, U.S. Coast Guard; experienced backpacker. Grosse Point, MI.
Mark Hanks: Boy Scout leader; AT & PCT section-hiker. Lexington, KY.
Jessica Carroll: Seasonal Forest Service employee; GPS whiz; Montana native. Red Lodge, MT.
Dallas Shewmaker: Gear rental company owner (www.lowergear.com); summited Whitney twice; JMT thru-hiker. Scottsdale, AZ.
Steven Nichols: PCT & AT section hiker; Boy Scout leader; cancer survivor; knows Mark and Dallas. Lexington, KY.

With so many out, we should have some great stories to relay next week. Wish them all luck!

Team 21: The Collegiate Cartographers

2007-07-25T08:55:00.000-06:00

Word is coming in from all parts of the CDT this week, and Backpacker's own Kris Wagner had a chance to throw in a podcast or two yesterday. He's with Team 21, the Collegiate Cartographers, striking out into the White River and San Isabel National Forests and the Collegiate Peaks Wilderness. Here's a list of team members:

John Smith: Comercial pilot; GPS-savvy; currently mapping Ouachita Trail.
Dick Vogel: USAF survival instructor; logged more than 12,000 trail miles; aspiring 2010 CDT thru-hiker; completing Oregon Coast Trail June 1st.
Jon Butcher: Team Leader; Resident GPS/topo expert at Colorado REI store; expert backpacker.
Kris Wagner: Backpacker map editor; the man behind Backpacker.com/hikes.
Bob Wold: Senior programmer, Trimble Outdoors; he wrote the Adventure Planner software.

And now for the podcasts...

Tuesday, July 24:
12:58 pm - Kris reports in from a pass above Lake Ann and gives an overview of the trip thus far. Sounds like yesterday brought the group a bit of a detour.

9:40 pm - Reflecting on the trip thus far, Kris comes up with some sage advice for future project volunteers and shares plans for today's (Wednesday's) hike...

Team 46: The Troad Warriors

2007-07-25T08:34:00.000-06:00

What's a Troad? Well, by some accounts, it's the historical name for a Turkish peninsula. As far as Team 46 is concerned, a troad looks a little bit like a trail, and a little like a road. The team has spent the week hiking through a relative maze of roads and trails in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest and Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness in Montana. This morning they awoke to find they had cell reception, and this podcast is the result. Johnny Gregg of Coeur D'Alene, Idaho, gives the update; here's a list of the whole team:

Johnny Gregg: Grand Canyon Wildlands Council volunteer (USFS road mapping); WFR certified; good cook; Maura's fiance.
Maura Gregg: Gregg's fiancee/hiking buddy.
Trish Settles: environmentalist, community planner (applied GPS mapping to Boston area neighborhood planning); led groups of women into backcountry for 9 years.
Steven Fuller: Team Leader; USGS employee; Boy Scout leader; GPS-savvy.
Mike Mol: Michigan Conservation Officer (ret.); search & rescue, first aid trained; experienced navigator & photographer; Kris' husband.
Kris Mol: past White River NF ranger; past Michigan Park ranger; experienced navigator & photographer; Mike's wife.

Team 22: Wrap-Up

2007-07-24T12:55:00.000-06:00

The Sidehill Gougers made it home safe and sound this past weekend, but unfortunately another pesky glitch with our podcast system kept news of their journey off the blog. They had a great trip, and it would be a shame to let their journaling efforts go to waste. So without further ado, I take you back to last week...

Thursday, July 19:
3:02 pm - Kristen reports in with a day four update on the hike, 19 miles from where we'd heard from them last.

7:35 pm - Kristen with another update, after an exciting, storm-wracked afternoon.

Friday, July 20:
10:24 am - On the home stretch to Copper Mountain, Dan Larson gives his take on the trip. He started with a 54-pound pack, but only has one packing regret...

Success! - Andy gives a final report from Copper Mountain, with a jubilant team within earshot.

Team 25: Day Two

2007-07-24T09:59:00.000-06:00

Mike Reynolds, team leader for Team 25, checks in over a cup of coffee (store-bought) from Grand Lake, Colo. The group, a big one as teams go, will be spending the next few days in Rocky Mountain National Park. Here's a breakdown of who's who:

Lew Sovocool: Army Officer (with Iraq combat engineer experience); past wildland fire crew member; NOLS semester grad; volunteer trail worker.
Hilary Lorenz: Professor of Arts, Brooklyn, NY; Sierra Club member; active in Appalachian Mountain Club.
Robert Byram: Extensive Forest Service fire crew experience; former marathoner; school counselor; reportedly makes great ash cakes.
Mike Reynolds: LNT instructor; Wilderness First Responder; has worked with Special Olympics; college professor.
Laura Rovero: Outdoor lover, experienced hiker; new-comer to the West (New England transplant).
Eric Helfrich: Geology student; trail runner, rock climber; has done climate research in Arctic.

UTM coordinates: 13N 0430078E 4455949N

A Busy Week

2007-07-23T08:54:00.000-06:00

This week there are a record eight teams out, covering trail in Colorado and Montana. We'll introduce you to all of the teams soon, but for now here's an initial report from Team 25 (recorded last night), hiking 44 miles through the Arapaho-Roosevelt and Routt National Forests. Their path touches on Rocky Mountain National Park as well, so although they don't have a satellite phone, with luck they'll find enough cell reception to keep us posted throughout the week.

A Massive Closure

2007-07-19T15:43:00.000-06:00

Yesterday the Ahorn Fire dealt another blow to the project: due to fire danger the Forest Service had to make the call to close 447,000 acres of the Flathead and Lewis & Clark National Forests. The closure mainly affects the Bob Marshall Wilderness, although access to the area is now pretty spotty for some of our teams. Those that are affected are:

Team 49
Rogers Pass (Hwy 200) to Benchmark Campground

The Continental Dream Team (Team 50a)
Benchmark Campground to South Fork Teton trailhead (via Gates Park)

Team 50b
South Fork Teton TH to Badger Pass (trailhead at Swift Reservoir)

Team 50c
Badger Pass (trailhead at Swift Reservoir) to Marias Pass

We're currently working with team members and others familiar with CDT routes to find other options for these teams. As far as we're concerned, project volunteers will be able to get out there and hike come hell, high water, or wildland fire. You can read more details on that closure at InciWeb.

A Perfect Sponsor Combination

2007-07-19T14:38:00.001-06:00

Two new sponsors have recently contributed to the welfare of project volunteers: Justin's Nut Butter and Bear Naked.

Justin's has donated 600 sqeezeable packs of peanut butter--that's two per hiker--effectively eliminating the need for a knife or spoon when enjoying PB on the trail. A serving packs 190 calories and 7 grams of protein, sure to provide enough power to get up and over afternoon climbs.

Bear Naked is giving each volunteer a pack of trail mix, in a variety of blends (each, appropriately enough, is named after one of America's three long trails). What does the CDT taste like? According to Bear Naked: chocolate, with a dash of almonds, walnuts and banana chips. I'm game. Check out other flavors on their website.

Team 6: Points of Interest

2007-07-19T10:40:00.000-06:00

Day 2 required some stout navigational skills for The Diamondback Four. Hike the map with them, as you listen to their play-by-play report.

Team 6: The Diamondback Four

2007-07-19T09:59:00.000-06:00

Late last night, team 6 broke their silence calling in for the first time from northern New Mexico. Chris Shaffer of Groton, MA reports on the highlights of their first day (Monday), including losing the trail, finding archaeological sites, thunderstorms, and the howls of coyotes.

GPS location: 13S 0366521E, 4030146N

Team 22: What's in the name?

2007-07-18T11:18:00.000-06:00

Team 22 calls themselves the Sidehill Gougers. That's Gougers not Growlers, as earlier stated in their report on Monday. Confused yet? No worries. In this podcast from Holy Cross Wilderness, Susan Hmurciakova of Moose Pass, AK explains the origin of their unique team name. We just hope everyone packed trekking poles.

Team 22: Fourth Report (Packing Light)

2007-07-17T22:09:00.000-06:00

How much will your pack weigh? Catherine Buni of Team 22 is carrying a base pack load of about 15 pounds (and she estimates with food and water she's maybe at 23 total pounds). Not bad for a 5-day trip in the Rockies, huh? Of course, her best friend is the gear editor of BACKPACKER. The team knocked off 13.5 miles today. And, as you hear, it sounds gorgeous up there at 11,000 feet in Holy Cross Wilderness.

Team 22: Third Report

2007-07-17T18:58:00.001-06:00

In this lunchtime report, Kristin Hostetter, BACKPACKER's gear editor, talks about the awesome work a trail crew is doing to reroute a section of the CDT, clean-up campsites, and restore fragile alpine ecosystems in Mt. Massive Wilderness.

This Week on the Trail

2007-07-17T12:00:00.000-06:00

Four teams are out on the trail this week, one of which you've already heard from via podcast. Here's a rundown of what they're up to, as well as the three other teams:

Team 22
The team you've heard a bit from is hiking in Colorado from Twin Lakes (at CO 82) to Copper Mountain (a bustling ski resort in the winter months). The trip takes them trough three management districts: the San Isabel and White River National Forests, and the Holy Cross Wilderness Area. Here's a list of the team members:

Andy Gregory: Team co-leader. Wildlife ecologist/landscape geneticist; has observed wolf-elk interactions in Yellowstone over past three years; husband to Sarah.
Sarah Gregory: Team co-leader. 10th grade teacher (algebra); experienced backpacker; map collector; wife to Andy.
Susan Hmurciakova: backcountry trail ranger, Chugach NF (Alaska); wilderness first aid certified.
Dan Larson: Professional writer; racing cyclist; avid hiker.
Kristin Hostetter: Long-time gear editor for Backpacker magazine.
Catherine Buni: Avid backpacker, Kristin’s long-time hiking partner.

The Diamondback Four (Team 6)
This group is one of two in New Mexico (finishing up the state for the project), hiking from the Skull Bridge area to Hopewell Lake. That's the northern part of the state, where the trail begins to break into Aspen groves through the Carson National Forest. The Diamondback Four are:

Chris Shaffer: Team leader. Engineer; New Hampshire 4,000 Footers-savvy.
Alissa Leavitt-Reynolds: Forest Service archeological surveyor; REI GPS whiz.
Adam Reynolds: Experienced hiker, strong technical background (including a BS in physics and a brand new MSc in mechanical engineering). Alissa’s husband.
Ruth Kirkpatrick: Has harbored a long-time interest in the CDT; lover of the unexplored West.

Chupacabras (Team 10)
The Chupacabras are also in New Mexico, covering the northern stretch of trail from Hopewell Lake to Cumbres Pass, in Colorado. This is also a leg through the Carson, over trail recently built to make the walk across the border more interesting (with less road-walking). Members are:

Don Kerzel: Team leader. Has been on family trips up Cascade Peaks and along PCT for 14 years.
Xochitl Diaz: avid backpacker; self-proclaimed sucker for big challenges.
Bob Medley: El Paso Ridgewalker hike leader; Boy Scout leader; geocacher; weather balloon repeater retriever (he'll have to expand on that one); hiking buddy of Xochitl's.
Patrick Reuter: Graduate degree in physical geography; winemaker; brother-in-law to Don.
Jennifer Barrons: Geocacher; amateur photgrapher.
Dylan Tichenor: Amateur photographer; on his 9th or 10th GPS unit; Jennifer's husband.

Team 28
Another border-bridging team, 28 will start at the Colorado-Wyoming border and hike north from FR 550 to county road 401. The path takes them toward the Great Divide Basin, an area where the Divide plunges down from the high Colorado Rockies and splits around a BLM-managed patch of high plains near Rawlins. The Rawlins area, as it so happens, is the site of a recent easement, taking the CDT off of roads (the route has been on roadways through there since it was first designated). Team 28 won't quite make it to the hot, dry flats of the basin, and will instead work its way through the greener, more scenic Medicine Bow National Forest. Team members are:

Nancy Mathison: Team leader. Sierra Club National Outings trip leader; quite the backcountry cook.
Brian Payne: Co-star (with Michelle) of the YouTube Powerbar extravaganza.
Michelle Marincel: See above, and watch the video for more on the couple.
Seth Stallings: Fresh off a tour of duty with the Navy; skilled officer and avid hiker.

Team 22: Second Report

2007-07-17T09:02:00.000-06:00

In this short report from San Isabel National Forest in Colorado, Andy Gregory of Wamego, KS talks about a pine martin sighting, gorgeous mountain views, and great uphill marches. Andy is a wildlife ecologist who has observed wolf-elk interactions in Yellowstone. Along with four other team members, he's also out there with his wife, Sarah. Note: The sat phone reception is very poor and it eventually cuts out.

Ahorn Fire Continues

2007-07-17T08:29:00.000-06:00

The latest report submitted by team member Jim Jakicic: Now at over 5,000 acres, the Ahorn fire was predicted to reach Deadman Hill sometime last night.

Great Team, Great Press

2007-07-16T14:04:00.000-06:00

Roger Ludwig, team leader for the Gila Monsters, recently wrote up an excellent story on his trip for the Wyoming Tribune-Eagle. The piece may be especially insightful for volunteers about to hit the trail: Roger reports on team interactions as much as what they encountered along a 70+ mile slog through the Gila National Forest.

The team also met a handful of fellow hikers along the way, some already known to the project and mentioned on this blog, out to promote the CDT in their own way. Erin Zwiener aims to be the first to complete the trail on horseback in one season, and Mat Matson is a retired Rotarian dedicated to spreading the word about the trail over a multi-year section hike.

Read about it all in Roger's story.

Fire Grows; Helicopter Crashes

2007-07-16T10:36:00.000-06:00

Hot and super dry weather with moderate winds has increased the Ahorn fire (see updated map) to more than 4,000 acres in the last day. According to reports, a helicopter crashed this morning near the fire's helipad. The pilot suffered minor injuries. At least six trails are closed in the region, including a portion of the CDT. Check out the latest photos.

Team 22: First Report

2007-07-15T21:25:00.000-06:00

Team 22 reports in the night before their CDT section hike from Twin Lakes to Copper Mountain, a 5-day trip that skirts the edge of Mt. Massive Wilderness through San Isabel National Forest in central Colorado. This team of flatlanders took the day acclimatizing to the thin air at about 9,500 ft., getting to know each other, and prepping last minute gear supplies. That, and you'll never guess what they had for dinner. Listen below. GPS location: 13S 0381987E, 4328504N

The Heat Is On

2007-07-15T15:03:00.000-06:00

While places like Texas bail themselves out of biblical storms, temperatures along the Continental Divide Trail continue to break all-time heat records. It's tinder dry in the mountains.

Last weekend, we reported on the Fool Creek Fire. Now, there's a second fire (Ahorn Fire) burning its way just south of the CDT. Jim Jakicic of Rupert, ID is sending us and his teammates daily reports. During the week of August 6, Jim along with four others on Team MT50a (nicknamed the Continental Dream Team) plan to scout a section of the CDT near where this blaze is burning (see big map of area).

As of reports on Friday, the Ahorn Fire was estimated at 600 acres and was 50% contained.

Meanwhile, the Fool Creek Fire has grown to more than 4,000 acres with no lull in sight. Team leaders have been notified and we'll be discussing options in conference calls later this week.

Caldera Crew

2007-07-15T11:31:00.001-06:00

Last week, the Caldera Crew (team MT36) explored a difficult, and extremely wild, portion of the CDT from Targhee Pass into Yellowstone National Park to Old Faithful. As you'll hear, they did a lot off-trail navigating, and suffered through a 32-mile stretch without water except for a "nasty" waterhole. Three teammates endured dehydration at some point and one member might have a broken toe. It's likely the team questioned, maybe even, cursed us and this project as they pushed over downed logs, up steep slopes, around cliff bands, all the while with a deathly thirst. In an email sent Friday, teammate JC Harlan of Nampa, ID, called it the most grueling trip he'd done and despite the all the challenges "we all had a great time and would not exchange it for anything."

We say, thanks Caldera Crew for busting your butts out there. Your work as well as the other teams won't go ignored. In fact, the more we learn about the status of the CDT, the more we realize the dire help it needs.

Below are four podcasts from the team:

Monday, July 9 (Day 1)
The team recaps their somewhat challenging day of trailblazing through grizzly and moose country. GPS location: 12T 0480885E, 4940178N

Listen to: Day 1

Wednesday, July 11 (Day 3)
Today's report comes in two calls. Many challenges have unfolded since Monday. Water is becoming scarce, and solid navigation skills are essential as they blaze sections of new trail, move through burn areas, and backtrack to known points. GPS location: 12T 0488874E, 4927553N

Listen to: Day 3, part 1

*******

Listen to: Day 3, part 2

Thursday, July 12 (Last Day)
Teammate Catherine Cox of San Jose, CA, sums up their 66-mile trip by saying, “…We’re standing here looking at Old Faithful and it’s the perfect paramount to our trip as we had to maintain faith at various sections on this arduous trail…” Listen as they re-play their exciting journey. GPS location: 12T 0513513E, 4923006N

Listen to: Day 4

P.S. We had some bugs with our new phone system, so we weren't able to post these reports as they came in. Our "new and improved" phones are supposed to email a sound file of messages left on our voicemail mailbox. After several hours of trying to figure how to access the sound files and no word back from our technical support guy, we decided to publish these the old school way. We went out and bought a voice recorder and recorded the messages left on the phone. This was an unexpected glitch in our system, which is now resolved. We apologize to readers and, more importantly, the families of the hikers in the Caldera Crew. We know you're watching.

Maps and more maps

2007-07-12T15:10:00.000-06:00

Life has been hectic here @ the map office. Between team conference calls and coffee swigs, we've prepared a pile of maps for all the summer teams. If you haven't already, team leaders will receive their custom waterproof maps (printed by our partner OffRoute.com) by the end of next week.

From today to the end of July, 18 teams will hit the trail. Twenty more teams go out in August.

Also, next week, we'll have two satellite phones on the trail, calling in daily podcasts.

Fire in the Mountains

2007-07-10T15:35:00.000-06:00

The Fool Creek Fire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness continues to blaze (read latest report from the G reat Falls Tribune). Keith Gebo, team leader for Team 49 (the Scapegoats) and Great Falls, MT resident, sent in these photos of the wildfire from this weekend.

So far, the fire will affect the South Fork Teton Trailhead to Badger Pass section (unfortunately, that's you Team 50b who are scheduled to hike this length of the CDT starting August 13).

With the generous help of Keith, we're keeping a close eye on the situation.

Fire on the CDT!

2007-07-07T14:51:00.000-06:00

This just in from the Forest Service: A wildfire in the northern section of the Bob Marshall Wilderness has closed the Continental Divide Trail. Reports say the fire was lit by a lightning strike and has grown to more than 3,000 acres. Teams heading into this region to scout the trail please contact us for more info, if we don't contact you beforehand.

Below is a list of trail closures from the CDT list serve (emailed @ 3:40 p.m. today):

• North Fork Sun River Trail (#110)
Closed from the junction of Route Creek Trail (#108) to Sun River Pass.

• Open Fork Trail (#116)

• Monroe Creek Trail (#188)

• Wrong Ridge Trail (#187)

• Washboard Reef Trail (#117)
Closed from the wilderness boundary to junction with Trail #108.

• Sun River Pass Trail
Closed from Sun River Pass north to junction with Bowl Creek Trail at Grizzly Park.

Alternate routes are required for all thru-hikers and section hikers on the CDT.

Team 37: Final Day

2007-07-05T22:38:00.000-06:00

Today proved to be a trying day for the team. First, there was melting snow for drinking water. Then, lots of routefinding through a maze of mines on little-traveled trails. Third, no water for 11 miles. But their thirsts were quickly quenched with cold drinks hand delivered by friends at their final destination. All told, this team hiked roughly 70 miles in an impressive 5 days. Listen to Mari Klebe of Dowling, MI report below by clicking on the play button:

Team 37: Taylor Mountain

2007-07-05T11:52:00.000-06:00

Last night ended with a bang for Team Goat Hikers Anonymous. They lucked out and saw Fourth of July fireworks from a nearby town. At the end of this podcast, you'll hear team members laughing in the background. Clearly, everyone is having a swell time out there.

Team 37: Daily Reports

2007-07-05T10:58:00.000-06:00

While most of the country celebrated the Fourth of July, Team 37, nicknamed Goat Hikers Anonymous, is working their way across a 65-mile section from Targhee Pass to Aldous Lake in in Gallatin and Targhee National Forests of Idaho and Montana. We've received about six podcasts from the group in the last four days but the satellite phone coverage has been really spotty, making many of the reports unpublishable. Team member Trung Q Le left a quick message on one of the office cellphones and reported: "We're doing really well."

June 3
Day 3: The day starts out with a moose walking through camp. Among the many highlights, team member Julie Ardoin from Kenner, LA says she's never seen wildflower meadows this incredible.

June 2
Day 2: The team knocks off more miles than originally planned on the first day. Today, the team splits up to scout out a proposed trail vs. walking a road section. The team meets some nice locals, and sees lots of wildlife signs, including bear prints, antelope, and mule deer.

Team 40: Day 5

2007-06-28T14:01:00.000-06:00

After 69 miles of hiking, Dwight and his wife, Marita, finished their leg of the CDT at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Water proved to be scarce on this section--some springs on the map were dry. Despite that, there was no dry spells of wildlife. They spotted an estimated 360 elk on their last day. Hear more in their final trail report below:

2007-06-27T10:24:00.000-06:00

The Rolling Yellowstones sent us a few pictures from their CDT scout in Yellowstone last week, so we created a quick slideshow. Warning: Photos may inspire you to go hiking.

Team 40: Day 4

2007-06-26T23:06:00.000-06:00

It was cold last night along the Montana Divide (25 degrees F), but it didn't keep the elk from chatting up Dwight and Marita at sunrise. And once they got on the trail, still more megafauna joined them along their route -- chalk it up as the projects' first wolf sighting.

UTM coordinates: 12T 0334026E 4952650N

A Few Days on the Trail

2007-06-25T22:40:00.000-06:00

We'd thought Dwight and Marita were being awfully quiet out there. Thankfully we stumbled on their diligent podcasts, stashed in a formerly unknown folder. So without further ado, their progress thus far:

Saturday Evening:
The pair had a later start than expected, spending hours shuttling to their trailhead. But the payoff sounds just right: a quiet spot on a lake brimming with lively fish; green, open country; and a moose sighting in camp.

UTM coordinates: 12T 0351951E 4922430N

Sunday Evening:
Hiking through foothills on the eastern slope of the Divide, the two encountered a few patches of confusing trail. At one point Dwight mentions Nicholi...more on him in the next podcast.

UTM coordinates: 12T 0344256E 4925610N

Monday Evening:
The day's hike was confusing at times, and Dwight & Marita had to backtrack twice as a result. Still, spirits are high and the llamas are well fed. Yes, llamas. Dwight is known to hike with the hearty packers from time to time, and this trip is no exception. No telling what all those elk and moose think of their South American brethren.

UTM coordinates: 12T 0339264E 4935502

Extra Boost!

2007-06-25T15:48:00.001-06:00

The generous folks at Sharkies are donating a package of their organic fruit chews to each team member. These healthy treats will help replace minerals and electrolytes lost on those big climbs along the Continental Divide. Top explorers and pro cyclists, like Levi Leipheimer, swear by them. Check out their nutritional facts.

This Week's Lineup

2007-06-25T14:19:00.000-06:00

Last week The Rolling Yellowstones had a fine time in Wyoming with plenty of time to stop and pose with geysers and wildlife. There were no bear sightings, which can be either a good thing or a bad thing, but the team came away with some good stories nonetheless. As they settle back into daily routines this week, look for some photos and an overview of the trip.

There is one team out this week, the husband-wife duo that is Team 40. The pair, Dwight and Marita, will be heading into the wilds of Montana and Idaho, covering a section running from Bannack Pass to Bannock Pass. No typo here -- in this case there is a 55-mile difference between an A and an O.

The trip will take them through a handful of national forests: the Targhee, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and the Salmon. More on their progress to come...

Dahlgren & Probar Hit the Trail

2007-06-22T20:25:00.000-06:00

Two gear sponsors signed on to the project this week: Dahlgren Socks and Probar. The former will be keeping volunteers' feet wrapped in an alpaca-merino-acrylic blend to fight off blisters; the latter will be adding a stash of Superfood Slam bars to each team's food bag.

Check out each company's site for a better look at what's in store for Continental Divide Trail Project teams.

A Sample Section

2007-06-20T16:42:00.001-06:00

The data that Team Southern Terminus brought back has been sifted through, edited and rewritten, and has found its home on backpacker.com. It's a great example of what the end product looks like, and may help upcoming teams get a better feel for what they're after on their respective hikes.

You can find it online here.

Dateline: Cibola NF

2007-06-19T07:29:00.000-06:00

Team 5, the group that returned from a trip to New Mexico last month (as covered in a May 31 post, pictured here doing some pre-trip planning), was recently featured in an excellent article in the Columbia Daily Tribune out of Columbia, Missouri. Team member Mary Twenter penned the piece, which provides an insightful day-by-day breakdown of the trip.

Check it out on the Tribune website for some great photos and a good look at how a trip comes together in the field.

Team Update: Day 1

2007-06-18T11:30:00.000-06:00

The Rolling Yellowstones send out a round of introductions from the trailhead as they begin their trip. And here's a little more background on the team:

Kevin Anderson: Team leader. Attorney; past Backpacker map contributor; GPSed Ennis Peak, a new one in Utah.
Bev Wert: Seasonal Yellowstone employee; has hiked all over the park, including a 40-mile weekend.
Mary McKinney: Yellowstone backcountry resource manager and related GPS experience; Bev's sister-in-law.
Jason Wozniak: Past Road Less Traveled guide; Social studies teacher in Rio de Janeiro; has developed GIS projects for high school students.

And for all you Portuguese-speaking listeners, this is the podcast for you.

UTM coordinates:
12N 0513776E 4922180N

Not a podcast, but...

2007-06-18T10:57:00.000-06:00

The Yellowstone team sent an update via e-mail this morning before hitting the trail (a park map may help you get a better feel for the area)...

Howdy! The Rolling Yellowstones are enjoying a breakfast of bagles and fruit with a view of Lake Yellowstone this AM. Sharing photos of the local wildlife and funny visitor stories have kept the team entertained since our rendevous at the Dogshead trailhead yesterday.

We had a great evening taking a short hike on the Elephant Back trail to a dramatic view of Lake Yellowstone with thunder heads and a little snow and hail thrown in for fun. We then went to the Lake General Store for burgers and ice cream. This morning we woke to two large Bison and a calf and Mary and Bev have been warning us the whole time about grizzly bears, which are abundant in the area ("don't go anywhere without your bear spray"). I feel like a gun slinger with my trusty bear spray by my side. This is a great group with most of us being "mature" in age with Jason being 32 a "quasi-carioca do Brasil." We are excited to hit probably the only part of the CDT that runs by major geyser basins.

-The Rolling Yellowstones

The Rolling Yellowstones

2007-06-17T21:46:00.000-06:00

Team 35b, better known as The Rolling Yellowstones, is the only group out this week. This is the project's first group to head to a National Park (not to mention out of New Mexico), and with a pair of team members that often work for Yellowstone on board, they're enjoying a stay at the staff cabins tonight. They'll be hitting the trail tomorrow morning, hiking southeast from Old Faithful to the west end of Shoshone Lake. All told their section will cover roughly 20 miles of the actual CDT, allowing plenty of time to check out other parts of the park.

This stretch of trail is fairly well-traveled and runs through some of the more active parts of the park. The Upper Geyser Basin (home to Old Faithful, captured with gawkers in this 1972 park photo) is a classic slice of Americana and boasts the largest concentration of geysers in the world. About mid-hike the team will find the West Thumb Geyser Basin, a spot near Yellowstone Lake packed with more hydrothermal activity/photo ops.

The park has produced and posted several online informational videos, and one epsiode in particular gives a nod to the Continental Divide. Check out Park Ranger Beth Taylor's Inside Yellowstone for more of what The Rolling Yellowstones have to look forward to.

Team 11: Post-trip Update

2007-06-14T11:11:00.000-06:00

After making quick work of some 46 miles of trail, Team 11/No Melvins has made it back to their starting point at the Los Pinos trailhead. The team encountered only one other, a thru-hiker, over the course of the week; as Jim says, the remote, varied stretch of land provides a "very good micro-view of the Continental Divide Trail."

UTM coordinates: 13N 0328646E 3997087N

Your Public Awaits

2007-06-13T09:40:00.000-06:00

Seems the adventures volunteers are having along the trail are drawing some interest; last Sunday the Lafayette, Ind., Journal & Courier featured an account of local Dean Rainwater's time spent mapping in New Mexico. You may have read about Team Four's trip in a May 23 post, but check out Sunday's article for a closer look at Dean's experience.

The online article links to a photo gallery as well, which nicely showcases some of Dean's personal shots of the trip. The picture posted here was taken while the team waited out a hailstorm on the high plains.

If you come across similar articles about the project in your local paper, drop us a line and we'll spread news of it in future posts. It can work the other way as well -- if you have a story idea related to the project, our marketing team can start up a relationship with local media.

Technical Snag

2007-06-12T21:18:00.000-06:00

Team 'No Melvins' has sent word that their sat phone hasn't been cooperating in the way of podcasts, so the lack of news from the field doesn't indicate the status of the trip. Gabcast, the service through which we post audio updates, is typically accessed by calling into a toll-free 800 number; it just so happens that satellite phones, being international, often have a hard time locking on to those area code-free numbers.

Once the team is clued into a new access number, updates should start rolling in. So keep an eye out for some coming news from the wilds of New Mexico...

No Melvins

2007-06-11T07:48:00.000-06:00

Team 11, also known as 'No Melvins' (we'll have to ask why when they return from the field) is hitting the trail this week, shaking things up after last week's quiet spell. The team is heading to Cuba, NM, from which they'll find the Los Pinos trailhead and hike north through the Santa Fe National Forest to Skull Bridge. No epic battle awaits at the end of the trip, proof that placenames can't always be trusted.

We sent a satellite phone their way, so word should be coming in from The Land of Enchantment before too long.

Same Idea, Different Latitude

2007-06-07T10:09:00.000-06:00

Miguel "Mike" Esquivel, the co-leader for Team 50a (soon to be renamed), is signing on to the CDT project with some good experience already under his belt. The 45-year-old dual U.S. and Panamanian citizen has made it his mission to create the first trans-Panamanian Trail, cutting through jungle from the Colombian border to Costa Rica.

His vision involves an all-volunteer effort, making the CDT project a great fit for his idea of what trail scouting and building is all about.

Mike's team hits the CDT on August 6, reporting on a 60-mile segment through Bob Marshall and Great Bear Wildernesses.

The Power of Powerbar

2007-06-05T14:15:00.001-06:00

Our next team doesn't hit the trail until next week. Until then, let's ponder an important question:

What happens when you leave two engineering students in Rolla, Missouri with a box of Powerbars? Watch this video.

Michelle and Brian will help scout roughly 49 miles Medicine Bow National Forest in mid-July.

Kris Wagner, Map Editor

Last Week in the Cibola

2007-05-31T14:46:00.000-06:00

A recap of Team 5's trip to the Cibola National Forest, thanks to team member Mary Twenter:

New Mexico Team 5 thought of a few clever team names... the "Mojitos" or "Will Hike For El Bruno's Food," but in the end, we really ended up as the New Mexico Five, a team that worked together.

Team 5, pictured left to right: Pat Kinney, Mark Watson, Kurt Johnson, Frank Twenter, Mary Twenter

Our trip was well supported by local trail fans and began at, where else, El Bruno's pouring over maps and enjoying dinner with Dr. Dick Kozoll and his wife who have been working diligently with a local trail team on maintaining and improving the trail in the Cuba area. Dr. Kozoll pointed out several places where we would find the trail to deviate from the maps we were provided and assured us the stretch under their care was well marked.

The first day out began on a slippery slope of Mesa Chivato in the Cibola National Forest. Abundant rain made the road to the trailhead impassable so we had to HIKE... Our stretch of the trail would take us basically up and over four mesas in 55 miles or so.

What we saw on the mesa tops was a diverse and beautiful high desert landscape. Mesa Chivato was dotted with pinon and grasslands where we spotted an elk. San Luis Mesa was mostly sand and scrub and La Ventana Mesa was a sandstone dome that provided solid rock underfoot.
Experiencing the environments up close drove home how important it is to get out and learn from the great outdoors - all these mesas look the same from the car!

Our local shuttle driver, Bill Leverton, is the publisher of the Cuba Area Visitor Guide and described the Cuba landscape as, "an area of grasslands, deep, deep washes, high mesas, fantastical rock and sandstone formations and battalions of geologic weirdness" in his December 2006 edition. We agree!

Fortunately, the trail on our section was wonderfully marked with cairns and posts almost 100 percent of the way. We were able to enjoy the scenery because of the awesome work of CDT trail-tenders.

One item of importance for teams to follow: logon to the CDT blogs of regular and thru-hikers to check on issues arising on your section of the trail. We had a wonderful contact from BLM who gave us great tips on our section and knew the trail well but was unaware that a water spigot we were counting on was not operational. He thought it was. Thru-hikers we met knew it wasn't and had planned accordingly. We hadn't.

Thank goodness Dr. Kozoll makes trail calls and delivered water to our camp. Water is the chief concern on this section. The springs we used on either side of the spigot were good sources and well spaced along the trail.

-Mary Twenter

Team Update: Day 4/5

2007-05-31T11:32:00.000-06:00

Team 1 is back in touch. The reason for the silence? They were busy. Yesterday the group made the call to push on and finish the section, reaching the final trailhead at around midnight last night. This morning's podcast includes a bit on the latest stretch of trail (they diligently counted 369 downed trees in one 6-mile stretch) and some closing thoughts from team members.

The Latest from the Field

2007-05-31T08:55:00.000-06:00

Roger reported in for the Gila Monsters yesterday, having found a bar of cell reception in the wilds of New Mexico. From the sound of things the team is having an excellent trip, and although some planned-for water sources are dry, others are bubbling up unexpected. On Tuesday they put in 16.6 miles, pushing on another 12.1 yesterday to Wagon Tongue Mountain.

Team 3 UTM coordinates: 12S 0735222E 3750180N

No word from Ken and Co., although having a satellite phone along doesn't always guarantee steady communication. Reception can be patchy (it was a little shaky while I was testing it from sunny Boulder, CO), and batteries can run dry in a hurry. Check back for updates later today...

Techy Questions

2007-05-30T10:06:00.000-06:00

That last post generated a few good questions that require some links, so here's an answer or two:

Q: People have made reference to listening to the phone call-ins, how do we get to do that?
A: There should be an audio control panel graphic (from Gabcast) visible with each post. It requires Adobe Flash Player, which is an easy and free download if not already installed. That may take care of the problem.

Q: How do we convert UTM coordinates to Latitude/Longitude?
A: Well, there's a long answer and a short one. The long version employs any number of complicated equations, involving exciting computations such as Meridional Arcs, footprint latitudes and plain algebra. If you're curious, check out Steven Dutch's explanation (he's a professor of natural and applied sciences at the University of Wisconsin).

The better answer is an online calculator. Just plug in the coordinates and zone, and click away to get your answer (select NAD 83 as your datum...WGS 84 was adopted from it as a world standard). The map on the site doesn't seem to be accurate, but the converted coordinates are spot on.

Team Update: Day 3

2007-05-29T20:45:00.000-06:00

Today, the team took on the name "For the Best of Times; For the Worst of Times," apparently experiencing a bit of both before finishing the day ahead of schedule in Reeds Meadow. The latter includes a five-mile obstacle course of blowdowns in a burn area; the former includes a firetower lookout from Reeds Peak, an encounter with three other hikers, and a 15-acre meadow that elk and wild turkey call home.

UTM coordinates: 13S 0234046E 3674396N

Word from the Gila Monsters

2007-05-29T17:12:00.001-06:00

Team 3, the team out this week hiking sans satellite phone, met up with ranger David Popelka today and is ahead of schedule. David, a trails & recreation manager with the Glenwood Ranger District, says the group has recently finished a section of old service road hiking and is moving on to a more scenic trail system.

David offered help but admits they are well prepared, with water caches set and ready along the route. Area rangers will still be checking in on the team throughout the week, so we may get more word on their progress in the coming days.

Team Update: Day 2

2007-05-28T18:52:00.000-06:00

Ken passes the phone around for introductions from the team currently known as "Team 9L-60" (9 liters of water carried in 60-pound packs). The four hiked 9 miles today, gaining elevation as the pine forest broke into an aspen-fir mix. They're currently camped near Aspen Spring, not far from Reeds Peak, the tallest in the Black Range at 10,011 ft.

UTM coordinates:
13S 0228232E 3667516N

Team Update: Day 1

2007-05-27T19:51:00.000-06:00

The team has reunited at the Rocky Point trailhead after splitting breifly to knock out the first 13.5-mile leg of trail. The terrain was rocky, though well-marked, and the wilderness was true to it's name--the team didn't encounter another soul all day. "If you want to get away from it all, this is the place to come," says Ken.

UTM coordinates: 12S 0779273E 3668611N

Team Update: Day 1

2007-05-27T12:45:00.000-06:00

Ken reports in after lunch, following an 8-mile morning from Rocky Canyon, heading north to the Rocky Point trailhead. Due to initial concerns about water, the team has broken out this intial 13-mile stretch as a day hike, set to rendezvous with Matt at the trailhead tonight, where a car (and water) awaits.

UTM coordinates: 12S 0775514E 3665750N

Team Update: Pre-Trip Planning

2007-05-26T23:27:00.000-06:00

All of Team 1 has met up after a long day on the road (that's Ken, Steve, Matt and Jason--Natalie couldn't make the trip in the end), and reports in from their pine-forest camp under a clear, moonlit sky.

UTM coordinates: (WGS 84) 12S 0769462E 365*966N

One In, Two Out

2007-05-25T10:46:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Team 5 pulled safely off the trail into Cuba. From team leader Pat Kinney's initial reports it was a fine time, and everything went smoothly. The only potential stumbling block came when a supposed water source turned up dry; luckily, one team member had a bar of cell reception and called in to Dr. Dick Kozoll, a Cuba local and trail advocate who often volunteers for the CDTA. The good doctor was kind enough to drive down and place an emergency water cache for the team, saving them an uncomfortably dry stretch of hiking. Dr. Kozoll has offered to assist other teams hiking in the area, so watch the blog for an upcoming, more proper introduction.

This weekend two more groups are out, Team 1 and Team 3 (aka The Gila Monsters). Both teams are heading to the Gila National Forest--the Gila Monsters will be joined by area rangers on their hike as they cover 65 miles from the Coyote Peak stock tank to Mangas Mountain.

Team 1 will strike out into the remote Aldo Leopold Wilderness, originally designated in 1924 as a part of the Gila Wilderness (the two areas were split when an administrative road was built in 1931). The complex was the first to be protected simply because of its sheer wildness, which Aldo Leopold recognized as a young ranger in 1909.

The team covering the wilderness will carry an Iridium 9505a satellite phone, so their journey will be logged here via podcasts. The phone is actually a little lighter than the Globalstar we sent with Team Southern Terminus, weighing in at 375 grams (0.83 lbs). We should have first word of their trip by Sunday, so once again, stay tuned.

The Walkumentary Update

2007-05-24T10:11:00.000-06:00

Lawton Grinter (aka Disco), an '06 CDT southbounder, has finished editing his documentary on the trip and is shipping to up-and-coming Walkumentary fans everywhere. The DVDs are free of charge, but donations are welcome--keep in mind he not only had to walk some 3,000 miles to get the footage, but also spent more than 200 hours editing it all back at home.

Check out his blog for more information, or read our April 25 post here.

Disco will be hitting the trail again this summer with Team 14, heading down to Colorado's Cumbres Pass on July 30th.

Last Week in the Gila

2007-05-23T15:12:00.000-06:00

With last week's teams back at home, the next step of the project has begun: organizing the boatloads of data they collected. For example, Dean from Team 4 took a full 327 photos, and there were four others out there with him snapping pictures, taking video and collecting GPS waypoints and track data (Greg handled the latter). There's also the notes to go along with all of that, which Rebecca diligently scribed.

But on to a few of these pictures, soas to put a better face on the Gila National Forest. The first is a good snapshot of a stretch towards the start of the route, looking south along the Black Range. The trail eventually makes a turn to the west, striking out across the storm-swept plains (from Team 4's experience, at least).

As Dean reports, the rain came like clockwork: at 10 a.m. cumulus clouds began to form, giving way to noontime thunderheads and evening rainstorms. The ominous-looking clouds pictured here rolled in on Tuesday, dropping pea-sized hail on the team for some 45 minutes. The five of them piled into a 2-person tent in order to avoid a pelting.

The storm picture below was taken Wednesday, and captures the twisting start of the famed tornado. The team had dealt with a cold, wet night on the San Agustin Plains, and decided to hump it to the tree-cover of Pelona Mountain (0768533E 3729956N, 12S) after spotting another storm rolling in Wednesday afternoon. Greg, Rebecca and Matt had taken the lead, leaving Dean and Eric behind with more gear. Dean remembers the initial back-and-forth after eyeing the twister:

"Is that a tornado over there?"

"I don't think so...I don't think they have tornadoes in New Mexico."

Ah, but they do. In the end the storm was a few miles off and didn't so much as stir up a good gust near the trail. But a tornado in the backcountry, with nary a basement or storm cellar in sight, can be quite unsettling. For Dean, this marked the second he's seen in as many years; last year, an Easter storm spawned a tornado on his property. The twister rearranged some outbuildings and did a number on his house, although it's since been patched up. His take on his most recent sighting?

"It was both scary, and really neat at the same time."

The I.C.

2007-05-22T09:26:00.000-06:00

This week Team 5 is the only group out, covering a 55-mile stretch south of Cuba, NM. An area near their southern trailhead is known among land managers as "The I.C.," putting the team's exploits in prime running for the next hit show on FOX.

But Orange County the I.C. is not; the initials stand for Ignacio Chavez, a local who was granted land by the Spanish government in 1768 in an attempt to populate the area. As Team 5 will discover, the attempt was a dud. The barren volcanic upland has thin topsoil, is studded with boulders and, in the time of Senor Chavez, was frequented by Navajo raids.

As a result the I.C., now managed by the BLM as a wilderness study area, is rich with wildlife. Elk graze patchy grasslands, and a rainbow of birds nest among ponderosa pines, Douglas fir and pinon pines. The trail leads north along the Rio Puerco, a river that typically carries more of a trickle of silt than a rush of fresh water.

The map posted above will give some idea as to the data teams are working with in the field. The waypoint here marks the southern trailhead of the section, and the track was pieced together by Backpacker map office staff (with assistant map editor Andrew Matranaga leading the effort). That track was cobbled together from a variety of federal resources, and represents the most up to date CDT route as designated by land managers. It sometimes strays from more popular thru-hiker routes, but if you're looking to hike the official National Scenic Trail, this is it.

With that data in hand, teams will hit the ground and see what's actually out there. Sometimes what's on the ground will match the map to a tee; sometimes it may be off by a hundred yards or so. As data that previous teams collected comes in, we'll have a better idea of where the CDNST is actually running these days.

Another Week, More Miles

2007-05-18T09:35:00.000-06:00

Word has come in from Team 4; they finished up last night and are taking today to enjoy some much deserved R&R. Lisa, team leader Dean's wife, chatted with him today:

"They finished last night around midnight by putting in a 20 mile day. He was very upbeat and said it was an incredible trip. It stormed every night and one night it was below freezing. They got stuck out on the plains in a hail storm huddling together in a tent for about 45 minutes until the hail stopped. Stated his team 'ROCKS' and everyone worked wonderfully together--a great group of people."

And from team member Greg White's wife, Courtney:

"He said that he had a blast. He said that they got a picture of a tornado and that they also ran into a Pygmy Rattlesnake. They had just checked into the motel and were going to get some much needed rest. After they wake up, they plan on doing some sight seeing."

Nothing like an online, interactive map of the King of Trails PLUS tornado pictures! We're glad to hear everyone had such a great time despite the acts of God. Thanks to the team for their hard work; more from them to come as they return home.

Team 2 is also safely off the lava flows, where the going was tough. Hats off to team members Doug and Bob for their efforts, and a special thanks to team leader David Morganwalp for working out logistics at the front end. The trail runs through tough country, and every mile covered by volunteers is greatly appreciated. The final resource, available to hikers, land managers and trail advocates as a planning tool, will be well worth the effort.

Thrilla in the Gila

2007-05-17T10:45:00.000-06:00

The support for Team 4 is impressive, so I'd say it's about time for an update. In the end, the two teams out this week weren't issued satellite phones, hence the lack of podcasts. And as far as cell coverage goes, it's quite simple, at least according to Gila National Forest Recreation & Trails Manager Les Dufour. Speaking of team leader Dean Rainwater, Les spelled it out:

"If he has a cell phone, he's out of luck."

But it sounds like the weather down there is at least making for a pleasant enough experience. Where water scarcity is usually an issue, the region has recently been buffeted by a string of afternoon showers, predicted to stretch into the weekend. The team's water caches may very well be rain-soaked by the time they find them.

"It rained a full inch here last night," Les said. "They were probably getting to their second stash of water right as it was really coming down on them."

Maybe not the New Mexico experience they had in mind, but so it goes on the divide. Here's hoping they packed that rain gear.

The Zuni Acoma Trail

2007-05-15T11:24:00.000-06:00

Yesterday, Team 2 hit the lava flows and tackled the ancient Zuni Acoma Trail, a long-cairned trade route between the Acoma and Zuni Pueblos. The terrain wasn't kind. A call to the visitor center turned up team member Doug Melton, preparing for another trip to the flow this morning.

"We did about seven miles of it, and it whupped our ass big time," he said. "It's probably the most inhospitable, rugged hiking I've ever done in my life."

Inhospitable? Rugged? Then why the centuries-old history of use? Maryanna Ireland, park guide and visitor center manager, says it was simply the shortest walk from point A to point B. Most of the original path was paved over when State Route 53 went in; all that remains is what's protected within the El Malpais National Monument.

And the hike can be enjoyable enough, it's just a matter of being prepared (its original walkers were in Yucca sandals, after all). A full day must be set aside for the trek, with plenty of water on hand. Maryanna also recommends hiking it from east to west, making the 700 to 800 year-old cairns easier to spot in the sun. The payoff is a trip to another world, over a relatively fresh gush of once-molten rock.

"It's the youngest lava flow in this area," Maryanna said. "In geologic time, it blew up about 2:00 p.m. yesterday--that's how fresh it is."

Depending on who's doing the dating, yesterday afternoon translates to anywhere from 1,000-3,000 years ago.

Doug and the rest of the team will finish it up today, forgoing Yucca sandals for their lava-chewed boots. Then it's off to smoother hiking along the Chain of Craters, where the trail breaks free of the lava flow and meanders through a series of geologically older cinder cones.

With luck, they'll be the ones doing the whupping from here on out.

And They're Off!

2007-05-13T13:48:00.000-06:00

Two more teams are hitting the trail this week; New Mexico Teams 2 and 4 will be collecting data on roughly 100 miles of trail. Here's a rundown of the sections:

New Mexico 2: Chain of Craters
The team will hike south of Grants, New Mexico, in a 50-mile arch west of NM 117. Chain of Craters, in the El Malpais National Monument, is a playground of ancient lava flows and cinder cones, the remnants of the Rockies' very active geologic past. The area is no stranger to passing travelers: through the centuries Spanish conquistadores, civil war-weary U.S. troops and railroad barons have scoured the land for potential profit. Thanks to a national monument designation, the land won in the end.

New Mexico 4: NM 59 to Coyote Peak Stock Tank
This 58-mile section runs through a part of the Gila National Forest managed by the Black Range Ranger District. Most of the CDT in this area is freshly-established, having been rubbed out by a wildfire in years past. The CDTA's official guidebook describes the stretch as "pretty mellow country," with more rolling hills than jagged peaks, but thin water resources should make for an interesting challenge nonetheless.

Wish them luck! We'll post updates from the team as we hear word on their progress.

The Word is Out

2007-05-07T15:56:00.000-06:00

Our trail project is growing legs, to say the least. Event organizers @ the Where 2.0 Conference want us to do a presentation on the CDT Project later this month in San Jose, CA. Gurus from Google, MapQuest, Yahoo Maps, Garmin, and many other location-based companies will get a firsthand look at the segments already mapped by teams, plus a primer for what's to come later this summer.

Kris Wagner, Map Editor

New Additions

2007-05-06T10:47:00.000-06:00

Here it is, May 6th, and still no final word about all of the teams? Well, yes, but for good reason. Last week, as we were spreading the word to 300 prospective volunteers, we realized that there are some great sections of trail out there that need more coverage. Particularly, the San Juans in southern Colorado and the Bridger-Teton Wilderness, just south of Yellowstone. There's also Yellowstone itself and Glacier National Park; spots that deserve just a little bit more attention, where a 35-mile trip can last well into the week.

So we pored over maps and came up with six new sections, meaning six new teams with spots for roughly 30 more volunteers. So the coming week will bring more good news to those wanting to get out on the trail this summer and do some recon. Thanks for your patience--we're anxious to get this thing rolling ourselves.

In the meantime, we are hearing back from loads of volunteers that have signed on, and the range of experience and skill sets are quite impressive. A team that's heading to Montana will be joined by Clay Zimmerman, an outfitter from Utah who manages a unique staff: pack goats. About six breeds of dairy goats make excellent hiking companions over rocky terrain, and Clay straps the bearded porters up with their own packs to help spread the load. You can check out his rental site, High Uinta Pack Goats, for a better look at the hearty hoofers.

Dealing with Altitude

2007-05-02T13:13:00.000-06:00

I noticed a good comment/question from a Rhode Islander following that last post: "Since we are the Ocean State with a high point of 812 feet, how do we train for 12,000 feet of elevation?"

Many project volunteers will be dealing with similar transitions, jogging to catch a plane at 110 feet one day, slogging up a hill at 11,100 the next. An article ran in a 1999 BACKPACKER that is forever timely, and a good read to boot. The author, Michele Morris, threw herself headlong into a high-altitude hike in the name of science.

Here's a snippet from 11,430 feet:
Midway up what seems an endless switchback, I'm doubled over, gulping the thinning air like a goldfish on carpet. The day started well enough, even though I awoke four or five times during the night. We were on the trail by 8:30 after a decent breakfast, and lunch was a restful repast in a sun-dappled grove of spruce and pine.

But just after lunch, a nagging ache took hold behind my eyes and it has translated to a permanent squint. We're above treeline now and hiking into a buffeting wind so strong that at times we stand in place, unable to make headway against the force...

Not that this defines an average trip to the Rockies, but it's good to be prepared. You can read the full article online for tips on dealing with a big change.

We Mapped You!

2007-05-01T17:30:00.000-06:00

Here's some fun stats about the applicants, but first, a cool map (courtesy of Assistant Map Editor Andrew Matranga) that displays the applicant pool from the 50 states (click on photo to see a bigger map).

2,976 people applied for the CDT Project. All 50 states were represented, and some states surprised us with their turnout (17 hardy souls in South Dakota!).

California came in as the top dog with 299. Colorado was a close second with 241. At the lower end, Hawaii was the least-represented US state with three applicants.

Even more interesting were the international applicants.

Our neighbor to the north, Canada, brought in 40 (the same number as the State of Maryland). We had some members of the Armed Services stationed overseas who applied--five in Germany, two in Korea, one in Iraq, and one in Afghanistan.

Then, there's the random places where BACKPACKER ends up: like the two people in Bermuda and Brazil (respectively), or the single applicants from New Zealand, Israel, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and England.

We could go on and on... We now know the magazine travels the world.

But, more importantly, thanks again for the creative essays, the unique videos, and the wall calendars. You are the best readers we could ever hope for. We had a blast going through the applications...in fact, we should get back to that!

May 1st

2007-05-01T10:15:00.000-06:00

Well, the big day has arrived, and we've started contacting potential volunteers for the mapping project. Getting teams together has been a bit trickier than we'd originally thought, as you may have gathered from previous posts. With that in mind, don't give up hope if you don't hear back today--we'll be sending out good news throughout the week.

We'll let you know when all selections have been made, but rest assured that whatever the case, should you find yourself as a Backpacker volunteer this summer or not, we want to show you how much we appreciate your applying. All of the applications were impressive, and the numbers alone were inspiring; the CDT is in good company.

The CDTA, Backpacker and Trimble are currently compiling a list of freebies to send out to all applicants.

The Walkumentary

2007-04-25T14:42:00.000-06:00

Lawton Grinter, aka Disco, walked the CDT southbound in 2006 to finish where Team Southern Terminus started. This summer he'll be heading back out with a GPS unit in hand, ready to spend some more intimate miles on a section of trail in Colorado for the Backpacker map project.

But in that long, cold stretch of snowy months between his successful thru-hike and the coming summer, Disco has been hard at work editing and compiling video from last year's trek. The finished product, set for distribution in mid-May, is an epic travel log: The Walkumentary.

Disco has trailers up on YouTube and a blog posted with more details (and links to those trailers). Check it out here to get a taste of what a thru-hike on the King of Trails is all about.

...and as it so happens, Disco found his way onto The Misfit Happy Hour, a Chama, New Mexico, radio show, during that 2006 hike. He and Felicia Hermosillo, aka The Princess of Darkness (who will be on a Backpacker team as well), can be heard here spinning trail yarns on the KZRM show.

Team Status

2007-04-25T11:16:00.000-06:00

Congrats to Team Southern Terminus for knocking out the remote, mostly dry 51-mile section in southern New Mexico. We'll post the map, photos, and video within the next week.

Meanwhile, at the office, we're contacting others to build the rest of the map teams. It's been a tough task. Many, many applicants have put lots of enthusiasm into their application. So while your waiting for our call, check out Steve Wargo's video on YouTube.

Kris Wagner, Map Editor

Team ST: Day 3

2007-04-24T20:09:00.000-06:00

[8:09 p.m.] Team Southern Terminus has pulled it off in style! The group really put some miles behind them today, and has finished off the full 51-mile section in 24 hiking hours. The team reflects on the experience over dinner at El Charro restaurant in Lordsburg--check back soon for more on what they encountered and experienced over the past two and a half days...

Team ST: Day 3

2007-04-24T10:23:00.000-06:00

[10:23 a.m.] With views to Little Hachet Mountain, the team continues between water caches through the Little Hachets. UTM coordinates are 12R 0743059E 3524767N.

Team ST: Day 2

2007-04-23T21:30:00.000-06:00

[9:30 p.m.] A day of drainage crossings has brought the team to the Little Hatchets, close to 20 miles north of the Day 1 camp.

Team ST: Day 2

2007-04-23T14:01:00.000-06:00

[2:01 p.m.] From rattlesnakes to fossils, it sounds like New Mexico is keeping the team busy. UTM coordinates are 12R 0752197E 3503684N.

Team ST: Day 2

2007-04-23T11:05:00.000-06:00

[11:05 a.m.] Team Southern Terminus has packed up and found their first water cache , heading north through Sheridan Canyon. UTM coordinates are 12R 0755012E 3500083N.

Team ST: Day 1

2007-04-22T20:14:00.000-06:00

[8:14 p.m.] A round of introductions at the Sheridan Canyon camp, following a lovely bean burrito dinner. UTM coordinates are 12R 0753766E 3495889N (WGS 84).

Team Southern Terminus: Day 1

2007-04-22T15:38:00.000-06:00

[3:34 p.m.] Andrew reports in from the trail near the southern terminus. From here the CDT heads north through the Big Hatchet Mountains, rising up from the horizon like "big scoops of mashed potatoes." More descriptive similes to come...

On the road to Hachita

2007-04-22T11:29:00.000-06:00

Well alright. Team Southern Terminus is intact and on the road from Lordsburg to Hachita to meet our shuttle to the border. But first, a quick recap of the first leg of travel for this trip.

Jim, Jimmy, Brian and I had a great home-style Mexican dinner at El Charro and watched the freight trains roll by. (By the way, try the fried chile relleño; probably the best I’ve ever tasted, with a perfect cheese to chile consistency). Outside, it was a crisp night, and a Cheshire-smile shaped moon hung on an indigo tapestry of stars tossed into the high desert air.

Then, the four of us spent the night in Jim’s Winnebago in the north parking lot of Short Park on the west end of Lordsburg. At around 10 p.m., the lot outside the Lordsburg Event Center (happenin’ place, let me tell you) started filling up with cars. Turns out there was a quinceria party or something going on, and we were parked in the middle of the festivities. They were rocking to Tejano until I don’t know when. I was just trying to get some sleep before we started out our hike through the Chihuahua Desert.

Unbeknownst to us, Dave and Judy were sleeping in the south side of the park. Since they didn’t have a cell phone, we weren’t sure how to meet up with them. In the morning, we took off for I-10 to Hachita and stopped for breakfast at the Kranberry Restaurant just off the road. Then, we spotted a red, California-plated Saturn sedan we’d been told to look for, and figured we’d check inside. Lo and behold, there were Dave and Judy. Sweet serendipity. This group is off to a fortuitous start. We pored over maps and coffee, and then pushed off for the end of the line in the lower Bootheel, with a quick photo op where I-10 crossed the Continental Divide—one of only two times we’ll even touch the watershed line on this trip.

Andrew Matranga, Assistant Map Editor

Team Southern Terminus: Pre-Trip Update

2007-04-22T09:53:00.000-06:00

[9:53 a.m.] Backpacker Assistant Map Editor Andrew Matranga checks in from the Continental Divide, south of Lordsburg, NM, en route to the trailhead (The audio control panel below requires Adobe Flash Player, an easy download if not already installed).

Stay Tuned

2007-04-19T11:20:00.000-06:00

In but a few days, our first team will hit the trail at the CDT's southern terminus and hike roughly 50 miles north. We'll get the resulting data online ASAP, showcasing what we're really after as far as an end product goes.

In the meantime, the team will be posting daily updates, via podcasts, to the blog over the course of the week. They'll be able to do so by calling in with a Globalstar GPS 1600 satellite phone (pictured to the left). The phone gets a signal within a couple of minutes or so, and weighs in at a manageable 384 grams (0.85 lbs).

So to get a feel for what scouting the CDT is all about, check back here through the course of the week. It should make for a good listen.