Eureka acknowledged it's been a tough winter. Clothing. I was whimpering and crying on and off from being cold and exhausted all day. A continental divide is a naturally occurring boundary or ridge separating a continent 's river systems.Each river system feeds into a distinct ocean basin, bay, or sea.. Continental divides are broad, continent-wide example of drainage divides, sometimes just called divides. Likewise, the red routes that we sampled werent extremely difficult, just more difficult than the blue road. If hikers begin too early they may encounter heavy and near impassable snow conditions in the southern San Juan and San Juan Mountains of Colorado, and if the hiker finishes too late they may also encounter heavy snow in Glacier National Park near the Canadian border. So you are interested in hiking the Pacific Crest Trail but you dont know if youre quite ready to drag yourself across a continent for five months and probably die? Going over Edwards Peak to Grays Peak in Colorado. You've made it this far, you're either into this site or you're still looking for something. According to a Google search, The Great Continental Divide Adventure Route is a motorized route that follows closely along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. After George Floyd's murder, he volunteered at a Minneapolis food shelf, eventually becoming a staffer. He didnt understand that the only thing I was afraid of at that moment was. At Datil we found a combination general store, motel, gas station, restaurant, and butcher shop, which also raised its own beef. Wow, what a woman! Continental Divide Trail Survey Collection, Pacific Crest Trail Horror Stories (Class of 2022), Pacific Crest Trail Hiking Advice for 2023 (& Beyond), Hikers Lowest Moments on the Pacific Crest Trail (Class of 2022), All my gear was totally soaked through at 11,000 ft / 3,353 m in driving sleet after Hope Pass, set up, and wound up. Here are 10 intriguing facts you may not know about the Continental Divide Trail. "By the time he was probably 10, we couldn't keep up with him," Julie Cahoy said. Hopefully, none of this happens during your (or your loved ones) hike, but its possible. It is suspected that his death was heat-related (source), FALL | Dawson Johnson | July 2014 | Dawson Johnson, a 75-year-old hiker from Redwater, Texas, fell and died while hiking down from the Mount Whitney Summit to Crabtree Meadow (source), HEATSTROKE | Timothy Evan Nodal | April 24, 2014 | Near Lake Morena (California) Timothy Nodal began to feel sick and emergency services were summoned. Road walking on a highway without a shoulder. As GPS units have become both more powerful and easier to use, it has enabled anyone to be able to easily find their way along the trail. A continental divide is a drainage divide on a continent such that the drainage basin on one side of the divide feeds into one ocean or sea, and the basin on the other side either feeds into a different ocean or sea, or else is endorheic, not connected to the open sea.Every continent on earth except Antarctica (which has no known significant, definable free-flowing surface rivers) has at least . This blue track begins at the Mexican border where New Mexico SR 81 crosses it, and then flows northward through New Mexico, Colorado, Idaho, Wyoming, and Montana (a green line bypasses Idaho and takes you through Yellowstone National Park, which is the route we chose). Sleeping Bag or Quilt. Bowlin Travel Centers Inc. When firefighters reached him, they were going over his symptoms when he suddenly went into arrest. Tent stakes didnt go in very well, but it stood up okay. [8][9] Permits are required to hike or camp along some sections of the trail and a passport is needed to cross the Canadian border. Yogi is the OG of thru-hiking guidebooks, at least for the Triple Crown trails. A guy on a motorcycle offered me a ride and then said he didnt have helmets but it was fine because theres no helmet law in Montana, I happened upon a man and a woman digging in some dirt on the shoulder and they had their truck parked off the edge of a forest service road. Camping alone when Id flipped up to Idaho/Southern Montana away from the bubble because I was trying to finish to go back to school. He kayaked in Wisconsin's Apostle Islands, backpacked on Michigan's Isle Royale. He was, North of Grays (Colorado) on a forest service road a man in a Jeep passed me twice and then stopped and asked if I had a gun or bear spray. As this trail follows the Continental Divide, there are parts that are very high in elevation and challenging. This scenic trail runs from the USA/Mexico border into Canada and covers 2,767 miles of spectacular remote wilderness. [Authors note: About 2,700 miles of the trail is within the U.S. Rather than cooking over campfires, we used Coleman stoves; rather than reading by candlelight, we used electric lanterns; and rather than sleeping wrapped in buffalo robes, we snuggled into sleeping bags. [36], The CDT trail goes east from the Idaho border, circles around the city of Butte, then turns north toward Glacier National Park via the Lewis and Clark National Forest and through three National Wilderness areas. Water can be scarce and grizzly bears are found near Yellowstone Park. I was night hiking along the road when a local pulled up. The lowest elevation of the trail in Wyoming is 6,522 feet (1,988m) about 12 miles (19km) north of Rawlins. Nobody knows why Alexander Cahoy died suddenly while hiking the Continental Divide Trail. [25], Notable points on the CDT from south to north along the Idaho/Montana border include:[25][1], Leaving the Idaho/Montana border, the Montana portion of the CDT is 627 miles (1,009km) in length although several alternate routes shorten or lengthen that distance. There have been 15 thru-hiker deaths on the PCT. While the blue tracks werent all that difficult, the green tracks were definitely easiersometimes all pavement. More than likely, youll hit rain or snow, which means mud and washouts. The free printable Continental Divide Trail maps and guides below are organized by state starting in the south at the Mexican border in New Mexico, and working the way north along the C.D.T. [8] In 2007, Francis Tapon became the first person to do a round backpacking trip "yo-yo" on the Continental Divide Trail when he through-hiked from Mexico to Canada and back to Mexico on the CDT. Death Valley; Eastern Sierras; Lassen Volcanic Nat'l Park; The Lost Coast; Sequoia - Kings Canyon; Joshua Tree National Park; Colorado. New Mexico; Continental Divide; I-40; . The name "Trail Ridge Road" derives from its proximity to historic pathways used by native peoples to cross the Rocky Mountains. Outside of Winter Park, it caught up to me and I, Five days of Bob Marshall Wilderness (Montana) with. [20] There are few facilities along the trail itself, and it is usually necessary for the hiker to leave the trail to resupply or find lodging. Have your own tale of woe from a Continental Divide Trail thru-hike? A lot of the trail can suck (and sometimes it sucks a lot). A series of cold days in Colorado in October, especially the cold during the mornings. Why? ", Alex's sister, Hannah Benson-Cahoy, traversed the Superior Hiking Trail with him. When youre assembling a group for an adventure like this one, you must make sure everyone is compatible. The lowest elevation of the trail in New Mexico is 4,189 feet (1,277m) in the town of Lordsburg[22] and the highest elevation in New Mexico is 11,301 feet (3,445m) at the summit of Mount Taylor. The CDT, alongside the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail make up the triple crown of hiking. Continental Divide Trail . Perhaps now is a good time to discuss possible vehicles for this adventure. Outside's long reads email . Yokohama, thinking that 2,700 miles of all types of trails, roads, and highways would prove to be an excellent test, provided us with tires and fuel for all four vehicles; a set each of G003 for the 2013 Jeep Wrangler and 1999 Jeep Cherokee and a set each of the X-MT design for the 1974 Toyota and 2005 Jeep Wrangler. The route follows the western mountains known as the Cascade Range and the Sierra Nevada Range. Either way, best to sign up for my newsletter, yeah? The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) extends 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada across a range of landscapes in New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana. The trail exits west to Idaho. A few thru-hikers hike southbound (SOBO) from the Canadian border beginning in June and finishing in October or November. If you are worried about a loved one hiking the Continental Divide Trail or you have doubts about whether you want to undertake this journey yourself, you should probably stop reading now (or maybe you should definitely read this). Save the dates and stay tuned for more details! Most hikers occasionally take a "zero", a day without hiking, or a "nero", a day with little hiking, to rest and recuperate. One of the friendly small towns through which we drove was our third gas stop; Datil, New Mexico (on an alternate green route). Award-winning Hiking Tours: Continental Divide Trail Summits Day Hike Tour! His Instagram photos reflect his appreciation for beauty along the trail. He succame to his injuries (which included internal bleeding and head trauma) before being found in his sleeping bag by hikers the day after his fall (source), HIT BY CAR | Flicka Rodman | Nov. 19, 1995 | While taking a road walk detour down Highway 138 in Southern California, both he and Jane Rodman were struck and killed by a motorist who lost control of his vehicle after falling asleep at the wheel (he received a five-day jail sentence) (source), HIT BY CAR | Jane Rodman | Nov. 19, 1995 | While taking a road walk detour down Highway 138 in Southern California, both she and Flicka Rodman were struck and killed by a motorist who lost control of his vehicle after falling asleep at the wheel (he received a five-day jail sentence) (source), FALL | Jodi Zatchick | Winter 1983 | During a winter thru-hike attempt, Jodi Zatchick and her hiking partner Gerald Duran fell off a cliff face near Wrightwood, California after losing the trail and slipping on an icy slope (source), FALL | Gerald Duran | Winter 1983 | During a winter thru-hike attempt, Gerald Duran and his hiking partner Jodi Zatchick fell off a cliff face near Wrightwood, California after losing the trail and slipping on an icy slope (source). Youll get access to exclusive posts, discount codes, live streams, and super extra cool stickers so that everyone will know how cool you are. [25], Notable points in Wyoming on the CDT from south to north include:[28][25][1], Northbounders leaving Yellowstone National Park in Wyoming enter the Centennial Mountains of Idaho. Sign-up to get our latest reviews and news before everybody else does. Inside a 5,600-mile footrace on the country's hardest trail. November 28, 2017. [12][13][14] This seven-month journey spanned over 5,600 miles. I eventually did and believe I made the right choice, but it hurt and still hurts that, When I realized my foot was hurt and it would take. We thoroughly enjoyed each others companyplus our dogs got along. WARNING! Her body was found on rocks at the base of a waterfall about 6 mi / 9.6 km northwest of Timberline Lodge (source), FALL | Emma Place | August 12, 2017 | Emma Place (19), died in a fall along the PCT near Mount Hood (Oregon). The youngest person to thru-hike the trail is Reed Gjonnes, who hiked the trail with her father Eric Gjonnes from April 15, 2013 to September 6, 2013 in one continuous northbound hike at age 13.[18][19]. In 2021, the CDT was about 70 percent complete, with a combination of dedicated trails and dirt and paved roads. Resorted to drinking out of a disgusting cattle pond. While the ride follows through the spectacular mountains . Leave a comment below and warn future CDT classes of the awfulness that awaits them on their thru-hikes. With the morning sun at his back on August 12,1805, Meriwether Lewis followed a well-worn Indian trail from southwest Montana's Horse Prairie Valley up Trail Creek, gradually topping out on a 7,373-foot pass. T he Triple Crown trails (the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail) offer nearly 8,000 miles of some of the best hiking in the world. Myth #4: The Idaho-Montana border is full of PUDs. As you can see on Kevins website, Kevin provides one main route (the blue line), some more difficult alternative routes along the way (the red lines), and several easier routes as well (the green lines). Avid Thru Hiker Dies on Third Continental Divide Trek. (March 2008) "There & Back Again", Bastone, Kelly (August 2008) "Taking the High Way: Thru-hiking the Continental Divide Trail,", Last edited on 10 February 2023, at 23:37, "A Quick and Dirty Guide to the Continental Divide Trail", "The Continental Divide Trail Thru-Hiker Survey (2019)", "Cheating their Way to Fame: The Top 9 Adventure Travel Hoaxes", "The Onion vs. Mr. Magoo - On your mark, get set hike. Kevin has put years of personal effort into developing this route, along with several alternative routes along the way. A broken branch on that tree gave me a, Camped by a road in New Mexico and someone parked their car by me and ended up. The epic trail runs about 3,000 miles (4,800 km), but that is simply a rough estimate since there are so many alternates and detours that thru-hikers often take. Completing the Triple Crown is not an easy feat. Hikers can continue north into Alberta and British Columbia via the Great Divide Trail to Kakwa Lake in Kakwa Provincial Park and Protected Area, B.C., north of Jasper National Park. Homer Young's Peak. The data collected in the survey will always be free and accessible to everyone who wants/needs it. Interstate 15. This is the legendary Continental Divide, also known as the Great Divide. It is the second highest peak in Rocky Mountain National Park. Hiking the CDT means more than blindly wandering down a path filled with trail angels eager to help hikers on their journey to or from Mexico or Canada. Skills Required Hiking, Walking Finishes at Montana, USA Length of route 4989 Km Average time to complete 120 - 150 Days Possible to complete sub-sections Yes. 15. borders.] In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson proposed a national system of trails and in 1968 the U.S. Congress adopted the National Trails System Act. Therefore, you can pretty much do it in or on just about anything with plenty of clearance, good off-road tires, and low gears, but I highly recommend a Jeep with strong off-road tires such as the Yokohama Geolandars. 37. r/NationalPark. He was in his sleeping bag, his possessions arranged neatly around him. "I have to come to terms with the fact that I may never know," said his father, Tom Cahoy of Minneapolis. [21], The official route of the CDT in New Mexico is 794.5 miles (1,278.6km) long,[1] although many alternate routes shorten or lengthen that distance. Hiking into Grants was a long, hot day. The lowest elevation of the trail on the Idaho/Montana border is 5,764 feet (1,757m) along the North Fork of Sheep Creek in Idaho and the highest elevation is 10,091 feet (3,076m) at the summit of Elk Mountain. At an elevation of 11,315 feet (3,449m), the highest point reached by the CDT in Wyoming. All hikers must replenish their food every few days, often hitchhiking from a road crossing of the trail into a town to buy food and supplies. Most thru-hikers take this alternate route, which is 60 miles (97km) shorter than the official CDT and passes through the town of. Rocky Mountain National Park has the highest paved roads in any National Park in the United States. Just down SR60 from Pie Town (Pie Towns claim to fame is two restaurants serving the best homemade pie west of the Mississippi), Datil is a must stop for anyone who enjoys a good beef steak with all the trimmings, served by some of the nicest people youll ever have the joy to meet. Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Deaths. Overnight it started sleeting. Hitching into Santa Fe, New Mexico in the bed of a pickup doing 85 mph / 137 km/h and passing everyone was pretty scary. ALSO SEE: Yokohama Geolandar X-MT Tire Review. [], CDTC, New Mexico Land Office, BLM Announce Partnership to Improve & Protect CDT Access, CDTC Applauds Important Milestone for the Bipartisan CDT Completion Act. Herman Gulch. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) is the 501(c)(3) national non-profit working in partnership with the US Forest Service, National Park Service, and Bureau of Land Management to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. A few hikers "flip-flop," hiking different sections of the trail when the weather is most favorable rather than sequentially. Hiker Kiana Van Zanten met Alex on the trail and admired the way he approached hiking "really taking the time to enjoy nature and the trail, leaving no trace, taking the time to befriend other hikers even if you're not sure you'll see them again, willing to go on fun side adventures and not just be so focused on staying the line.". Three-fourths were from the United States and the remainder came from eleven other countries. In his 20s, he hiked several trails, including the 2,650-mile Pacific Crest Trail along the West Coast. His body was found just below the summit (source), FALL | Laurie Choate | September 5, 2018 | Laurie Choate, died in a fall hiking the Kendall Katwalk (Washington). The total number of thru-hiker deaths on the Pacific Crest Trail? Soon after, she hiked 800 miles of the Continental Divide trail along the Montana and Idaho borders. The vehicles ran the gamut from a 5-year-old Jeep to a 45-year-old Toyota FJ40, with two more Jeeps (a Cherokee and a Wrangler) in betweenquite an eclectic selection of four wheelersand four camping trailers. Here are the number of fatalities that have occurred in each section. Thats why we treated the divide route like the trunk of a tree, with branches out both sides, but always returning to the basic route root. The Pacific Crest Trail is a test of mental, physical, and emotional endurance. The CDT crosses Interstate 15 again at an elevation of 6,299 feet (1,920m). Courtesy photo. In 2021, he cared for his 94-year-old grandmother five days a week until she died in December. Obviously, we had neither the time nor the funds to explore every alternative route along the divide, but we did sample several of them. By continuing to browse our site you agree to our use of data and cookies. At the time we were unaware that wed be meeting hikers, mountain bikers, and dual-sport motorcyclists along the route, along with some fantastic folks living in the small mountain towns through which wed be driving. "As parents you always worry, but we had a certain level of trust," Tom said. The Continental Divide Trail Is Officially 3,100 Miles Long. Here is a detailed account of each of the deaths noted above (in chronological order from earliest to most recent): HAPE (UNCONFIRMED) | Maddie Magee | May 28, 2022 | Twenty-three-year-old Maddie Magee died near the top of Forester Pass (the high point of the PCT) in California's Sierra Nevada of (unconfirmed . Horseback riding is permitted on the trail; mountain biking is only permitted on a few sections. There was a lot of snow. The Continental Divide Trail explores this iconic crown jewel of America's trails with more than 250 spectacular contemporary images, historical photos and documents from the Continental Divide Trail Coalition archives, and detailed maps. Not being able to keep up with the other hikers while I was approaching Monarch Pass. "My bipartisan bill ensures the trail will continue to provide public access and a continuous route will finally be . In 2018, 300 individuals attempted to hike the trail end-to-end. At 11,004 feet (3,354m) the last major summit of the Rocky Mountains before descending into the. Jump in and jump out at the various interstates as your free time dictates. Targhee Peak. I had to get off the road and climb over blowdowns to get around him. to the Canadian border in Montana, just as you would be thru-hiking. The Montana/Idaho Border where you just walk a forest road, After three weeks of hiking and slowly coming to the realization that I was not having as much fun as I had expected. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (in short Continental Divide Trail, CDT) is a United States National Scenic Trail with a length measured by the Continental Divide Trail Coalition of 3,028 miles (4,873km) between the U.S. border with Chihuahua, Mexico and the border with Alberta, Canada. The grand finale of the CDT in Wyoming is Yellowstone National Park. Well, the day we drove through it was like early fall with a sunny day in the mid-70s. In the yearly Continental Divide Trail Hiker Survey, hikers share both their lowest moments on the trail (physically, mentally, emotionally the literal lowest point of the CDT is Waterton Canyon, Montana at 2,972 ft / 906 m), as well as when, if ever, they found themselves in a situation where they felt they were in danger or where they were legitimately afraid. Fifteen miles (24 km) from the Southern Terminus, the trail was ill-defined and rocks were making me roll my ankle every other step. The trail represents a monumental conservation effort, stretching 3,100 miles across the United States, from Canada to Mexico. "I have to come to terms . "He apparently died peacefully in his sleep on top of a mountain at over 12,000 feet. We give equal recognition to thruhikers/equestrians and sectionhikers/equestrians. Girl, 13, Youngest to Claim Triple Crown", "Working Together, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail", "Horror & Heartbreak on the Continental Divide Trail (2018 Edition)", "What are the steepest climbs on the AT, PCT, and CDT? The thunder and lightning had continued from the previous day when I had slept (didnt sleep at all) trapped on a ridgeline. At various spots along the blue route, Kevin has added alternative green and red tracks. This spectacular trail is the direct result of a tremendous amount of effort by Kevin Glassett (aka GPSKevin; www.gpskevinadventurerides.com). Learn how to create your own. You being in the desert - not this high-altitude chaparral crap on the PCT - you're hiking for nearly 100 mi / 160 km through shadeless and waterless desert. When Julie didn't hear from her son for a few days, she called the local sheriff's office, which sent out a search and rescue team. Consider all these things while assembling a group and planning your trip. These are from the non-parks within the NPS. The Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail both stretch from Mexico to Canada, but the CDT offers up a far more diverse landscape than the PCT. He broke one arm, both legs, and suffered a head injury. In May/June of 2014 and 2015, we gathered two . [16] Andrew Skurka completed the trail as part of the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop in 2007. Has anyone died on the Pacific Crest Trail? In 1978, the Continental Divide Trail was formally established with the responsibility for management given to the U.S. Forest Service. "He didn't need a lot of money to do what he did. It traverses a multitude of biospheres, from tundra to high desert, with a vast variety of flora and fauna, including several . Perhaps a more accurate description is that 30% of the CDT is on either a dirt or paved road. In most areas the CDT is well marked. Murder charges: 'Who else want it?' The discovery this week in northern New Mexico of a 59-year-old known for extensive long distance hikes ends a monthslong search after going missing in December. We had inadvertently passed them, but spent the whole day trying to catch up. UNKNOWN | Park Sun Chil (Happy Days) | April 13, 2018 | A hiker from South Korea is said to have passed away on the trail in Southern California. "Money wasn't important to him," Tom said. Parkview Mountain (2,913 feet vertical) - 10 miles round trip, with trailhead access from Willow Creek Pass on CO-125. An autopsy produced no answers. You can even hike the entire length of the divide from the Mexican border to the Canadian border on the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail if you have five months to spare. Depending on any given year's snow-pack and a hiker's individual schedule, alternative routes are available. With the card in your GPS unit, youll see the route plainly delineated with a blue track (with arrows pointing southward). Starting the Cirque of the Towers alternate in the Wind River Range in Wyoming. Officials reported that the tree had rotted at the base, causing it to become unstable (source), DROWNING | Wang Chaocui | Mid July, 2017 | In Yosemite National Park (California), Wang Chaocui was discovered in a river in Kerrick Canyon. Founded in 2012 by a passionate group of volunteers and recreationists, CDTC is . For elective surgeries, the death rate was 1.30% among Black men, compared with white men at 0.85%, white women at 0.82%, and Black women at 0.79%. Trail users enjoy equally . It was, Aside from the day I had to leave the trail due to my mothers death (certainly my worst day on or off the trail), I would say it was a day in the San Juans when a thunder blizzard forced me into an. And thats it! Nature's indifference, unexpected weather, or a badly timed road crossing can all result in hikers becoming quickly in over their heads. Hikers don't get the luxury of dictating every aspect of their hikes. This is not expected. was banging a pot and spoon all night. Of course, there may be more death along the PCT than reported, but the reality is that there is little (but dont trust me). This was an area near Baru volcano and the continental divide. Grizzly bears become a possible danger from the Wind River Range northward, especially in and near Yellowstone Park. Our first night on the trail, since we began our epic journey at the Mexican border, was in the mountains of New Mexico, a few miles north of Interstate 10. At the time this post is being updated (as I update it whenever news comes in), the number stands at 15. The residents of Atlantic City, Wyoming, are just fine being off the grid. The 2017 hiking season was plagued by many dangerous river crossings because of the unusually high snowpack from the previous winter (source), HEATSTROKE (SUSPECTED) | Marvin Novo | May 29, 2017 | In the Mission Creek Preserve (California), Marvin Novos body was discovered along the West Fork Trail. Congress established the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) in 1978. Each drainage basin contributes its water to river systems, which in turn flow into distinct larger bodies of water, such as oceans. [9], In 2019, the respondents to a survey of CDT thru-hikers were two-thirds male with a median age of 31. For the past few weeks, social media has been overflowing with homeowner complaints about missed pickups. These trails travel through 22 states in the USA and cover around 7500 miles. [1] Frequent route changes and a large number of alternate routes result in an actual hiking distance of 2,700 miles (4,300km) to 3,150 miles (5,070km).
