I get a lot of people asking every year how to support the surveys and beyond sharing them with your close-knit bubble of weird hiker friends, the best way to support the survey is to contribute via Patreon. For the past few weeks, social media has been overflowing with homeowner complaints about missed pickups. Hikers sent sympathy notes to his parents praising Alex as easygoing, strong, cheerful, always willing to lend others a hand. Over the years, there have been a number of deaths on the Pacific Crest Trail. CDTC policy is to operate on the honor system, assuming that those who submit a request for recognition have completed a journey between the Mexican and Canadian Border along the Continental Divide . Print. The Great Continental Divide Adventure Route is a motorized route that follows closely along the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. For instance, turn north on the Continental Divide Trail near Albuquerque, New Mexico, drive the trail to I-70 near Vale, Colorado, and then head for home until youre ready to revisit the trail. Perhaps a more accurate description is that 30% of the CDT is on either a dirt or paved road. Website Designed & Developed by ThompsonStenning. Maybe trying to scare a moose away? "Trail angels" (volunteers) at locations along the trail assist hikers with food, water, and transportation to and from resupply points to trail heads. St. Paul residents ask: When will the recycling truck cometh? Not everyone who begins a Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike will complete their mission of traversing the country-spanning 2,660 mi / 4,280 km trail. [10], Most thru-hikers begin the hike in April in New Mexico, hike northbound, and finish at the Canadian border in August or September. 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. The Route covers 5 states: New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana and is a . MWA staff work to maintain the CDT in Montana and Idaho with the help of volunteers and agency partners. ago. [35] The Montana Wilderness Association is the leading non-profit partner for the northern section of the CDT. The hike was supposed to take them around 4 hours to complete and was approximately 4 kilometers long. Continental Divide Trail. 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. Since then, she's completed the Appalachian, Continental Divide, and Pacific Crest trails, and is now adding the 6,800-mile American Discovery Trail to her list. We give equal recognition to thruhikers/equestrians and sectionhikers/equestrians. M. Biggers, Ashley. 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. They meet at the actual continental divide at Flattop Mountain, an elevation of 12,324 feet (according to the National Park Service's website). Jennifer Coleman, 34, of Richmond, Va., died hiking in the Logan Pass area of Glacier National Park on Aug. 30 or 31, 2021. May 17, 2016. "And not just a little bitty fire," Hannah said. we left our remaining vehicle at the Lone Star Trailhead, shouldered our 35- to 40 . Considerations When Planning A Hike: Id had enough of hiking alone through Colorado storms and just wanted to hitch back into town, but I didnt because the weather was supposed to improve the next day. In 1965, President Lyndon Johnson proposed a national system of trails and in 1968 the U.S. Congress adopted the National Trails System Act. "[2] Distances given are approximate as sections of the trail are uncompleted and the trail is sometimes re-routed. [9], In 2019, the respondents to a survey of CDT thru-hikers were two-thirds male with a median age of 31. 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 . The Continental Divide Trail blazes a path through some of the nation's most treasured scenic terrain. It's also the most remote, and the highest - the lowest point on the entire trail is in New Mexico at 4,189ft . Minneapolis program teaches kids cooking skills, emphasizes community. I also came across the following deaths which occurred on or near the PCT but did not involve thru-hikers: FALL | 30-year-old male | March 31, 2022 | A mans body was recovered just north of Forester Pass on the Pacific Crest Trail/John Muir Trail following a fall in monsoon-type weather(source), LIGHTNING | Nicholas Torchia | July 30, 2021 | On the Sallie Keyes Cutoff near Muir Trail Ranch in the Sierra, Torchia was leaning against a tree for cover during a storm when the tree was struck by lightning (source), HEATSTROKE | Unnamed Woman | June 16, 2021 | Emergency services were called to aid a woman near Anza (California) suffering from suspected heatstroke. In 2021, the CDT was about 70 percent complete, with a combination of dedicated trails and dirt and paved roads. Hikers must decide on a route through the Great Divide Basin as the actual Continental Divide forks, forming an endorheic basin. Speaking of trailheads, because of various issueshealth and mechanicalwe completed the journey in three stages, much as you readers might do if youre as intrigued as I with exploring the Continental Divide: First stage: Mexican border to Interstate 40, second stage: I40 to I80, and third stage: I80 to the Canadian border. Likewise, the red routes that we sampled werent extremely difficult, just more difficult than the blue road. Road walking with no shoulder and semi-trucks passing by at 70 mph / 113 km/h less than 2 ft / 0.6 m away was sketchy. "I have to come to terms with the fact that I may never know," said his father, Tom Cahoy of Minneapolis. Ninety-five percent of the trail is located on public land, including National Parks, National Forests, and land managed by the Bureau of Land Management. This scenic trail runs . Most deaths from disease occurred east of Fort Laramie. 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. A few hikers "flip-flop," hiking different sections of the trail when the weather is most favorable rather than sequentially. 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 . The Great Continental Divide Adventure Route is a scenic route that slices through several national parks, four or five states (depending on which route is chosen), crisscrosses the divide several times, and consists of pavement, gravel, dirt, and rocky roads. For many, this allows them to just experience . Trail users enjoy equally . The Indian Peaks Wilderness is a wilderness area in north central Colorado managed jointly by the United States Forest Service and the National Park Service within the Arapaho and Roosevelt National Forests and small parts of the southern section of Rocky Mountain National Park.It borders the James Peak Wilderness to the south, and straddles the Continental Divide. Have your own tale of woe from a Continental Divide Trail thru-hike? Because the Continental Divide Loop . Luckily I found a friend. Oh my that is so sad. was banging a pot and spoon all night. These trails travel through 22 states in the USA and cover around 7500 miles. It takes between five and six months to hike through the remote Continental Divide Trail, depending on how fit you are. 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. The CDT loop combines two longer park trailsthe Tonahutu Creek Trail and the North Inlet Trail. Road walking on a highway without a shoulder. At Datil we found a combination general store, motel, gas station, restaurant, and butcher shop, which also raised its own beef. For the next 358 miles (576km) the trail closely follows the border of Idaho and Montana, which is also the Continental Divide. The Crazy Cook Monument in New Mexico's bootheel is the most commonly used starting or finishing point of the CDT, but due to its remote location lacks lodging and other services. The most common problems reported by thru-hikers are injury and snow. It is a rare club of hikers that have hiked . I was whimpering and crying on and off from being cold and exhausted all day. Nature's indifference, unexpected weather, or a badly timed road crossing can all result in hikers becoming quickly in over their heads. Prior to that, she was a reporter at the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, La., and the Duluth News-Tribune and spent 15 years as a freelance writer for national and regional magazines. By the end of Colorado, I was absolutely worn out and my mental state had deteriorated and I needed to reset and start hiking with other people. The CDT stretches 4989 km between Canada and Mexico, slicing the United States from top to bottom, crossing New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana. By 1995, only 15 people were recorded as having hiked the whole trail, still largely unfinished. 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. New Mexico; Continental Divide; I-40; . [22], The Rocky Mountains of Colorado terminate in southern Wyoming and the CDT passes through a through a long section of desert range-land in the middle of the state, known as the Great Divide Basin. Tent stakes didnt go in very well, but it stood up okay. One of our side trips was Leadville, Colorado. With the trails growing popularity, its important that people realize that a PCT thru-hike does not take place in a controlled environment and that death on the PCT is an entirely realistic possibility for the ill-prepared (or even the well-prepared). The CDT, alongside the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail make up the triple crown of hiking. Grizzly encounter on day four in Glacier National Park (Montana). Elk Mountain. The data collected in the survey will always be free and accessible to everyone who wants/needs it. Youll get access to exclusive posts, discount codes, live streams, and super extra cool stickers so that everyone will know how cool you are. 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. The CDT is now 95 percent complete. Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Deaths. Each drainage basin contributes its water to river systems, which in turn flow into distinct larger bodies of water, such as oceans. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) recognizes anyone who reports completion of the entire Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. 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%. I experienced vertigo for six weeks from a dislodged crystal in my ear (BPPV) while postholing through snow and low temperatures in Colorado (October and November). The road is open to traffic and is extremely narrow in some sections. The average base weight of a thru-hiker's backpack in 2018 was 16.4lb (7.4kg). Usually most of the red route was about the same as the blue, with a small section of it being difficult. Wolf envisioned a similar trail running along the Continental Divide, and in 1978, he organized the Continental Divide Trail Society, which advocated for the newly designated National Scenic Trail and published several early guidebooks.[4]. Some road walking is required. Which also means youll need the clearance and traction that off-road tires and low range will give you. Be fully prepared for any weather, though, because even in July, some of the higher passes through the Rockies could be clogged with snow, or inundated with vicious storms (hail, rain, and/or snow). Alex also liked helping people when not hiking. They may also encounter adverse weather conditions. The Continental Divide in Southwest Montana. Be alert to all car traffic, which is especially heavy on summer weekends. Nobody knows why Alexander Cahoy died suddenly while hiking the Continental Divide Trail. Herman Gulch. [5] More than 1,000 thru-hikers completed either the AT or PCT in 2019 compared to 150 completing the CDT, a reflection of the isolation and difficulty in hiking the CDT. Leaving the Basin, the CDT traverses the remote and rugged 'bench' of the Wind River Range, climbing to above timberline which is about 10,000 feet (3,000m) in this area, and then through the Absaroka Range in the northwest portion of the state. More than likely, youll hit rain or snow, which means mud and washouts. ", "Good time to take inventory on gear - and yourself", "Francis Tapon: The first person to yo-yo Americas wildest trail talks heating, eating and the philosophy of lightweight", "2007 Adventurer of the Year: The Walking Man", "Salem 13-Year-Old Youngest to Hike Triple Crown", "Ore. "Everybody says there was no trauma, no distress," Tom said. We took Mosquito Pass into Leadville and the 13,185-foot pass between Leadville and Fairplay required all the clearance our vehicles had and their transfer cases low ranges, but the history, the relics, the mine shafts, and scenery were well worth the effort. 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. [Authors note: If you dont wish to shoot your own photos at the border, or have bragging rights about doing the entire route, or meet the nice folks at the Hachita Food Mart, a ride down State Routes 146 and 81 from Interstate 10 to the border is pretty much just a cruise on a two-lane highway over rolling hills through cattle country.]. "He apparently died peacefully in his sleep on top of a mountain at over 12,000 feet. "By the time he was probably 10, we couldn't keep up with him," Julie Cahoy said. I was tired, hot, and fed up with the desert. Completing the Triple Crown is not an easy feat. 1 mo. There was a lot of snow. 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. Consider all these things while assembling a group and planning your trip. 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. 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. Open full screen to view more. In the end, I didnt have the heart to finish so alone I was out there for the community and when I couldnt have that, In Colorado attempting to do five passes in a day. The highest elevation is 9,324 feet (2,842m) in the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. 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. ", Alex's sister, Hannah Benson-Cahoy, traversed the Superior Hiking Trail with him. Sign-up to get our latest reviews and news before everybody else does. The combined elevation gain of all the ' Hiking Triple Crown ' is more than climbing Mt Everest 41 times. Death Valley; Eastern Sierras; Lassen Volcanic Nat'l Park; The Lost Coast; Sequoia - Kings Canyon; Joshua Tree National Park; Colorado. [23], Three southern termini of the trail exist: 1) Crazy Cook Monument, the official CDT southern terminus, east of the Big Hatchet Mountains; 2) Antelope Wells, New Mexico; and 3) near Columbus, New Mexico. Glacier National Park. Later that night, she got a call from the coroner. It was called the Eagle Guest Ranch, and when we found that they raised and served their own beef, we decided to eat, shower, and sleep at the Eagle Guest Ranch. Drainage divides, regardless of . ALDHA-West recognizes those individuals who have hiked, in their entirety, the complete lengths of the Appalachian Trail (AT), The Continental Divide Trail (CDT), and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). Hiking into Grants was a long, hot day. Thru-hikers of the Continental Divide Trail, the Appalachian Trail (AT) and the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) achieve what is known as the Triple Crown of Hiking. The grand finale of the CDT in Wyoming is Yellowstone National Park. Most hikers typically hike the trail Northbound, from Mexico to Canada. 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. "As parents you always worry, but we had a certain level of trust," Tom said. borders.] The hiker from Minneapolis had been out of contact for a few days when a search team found him June 9 at his campsite in the Colorado mountains. 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. 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. He didnt understand that the only thing I was afraid of at that moment was. . Into the zone of death: 4 days spent deep in Idaho's remote Yellowstone backcountry. Twice hail chased us off the first time, the second time it was just hard , Hiking a cross-country alternate in the Spanish peaks. It is also a trail that is beautiful, stunning and perhaps the most rewarding of the major long-distance hiking trails. While the ride follows through the spectacular mountains . With our group it was easy; wed all four wheeled together for years and had traveled with each other on a camping trip or two. David Odell was the first person to thru-hike the (still undefined) CDT in 1977, although there was an earlier claim. Once known as Magic City and Cloud City, and situated nearly two miles in the sky, Leadville enjoyed two gold rushes with a major silver strike in-between. As it turned out, we accrued almost 8,000 miles total on the expedition because of all the highway travel to and from the trailheads. Overnight it started sleeting. Founded in 2012 by a passionate group of volunteers and recreationists, CDTC is . Caf Jax was our final breakfast while actually on the trail. Wed just camped for the final night on the trail and parked at the border for our completion photos, and were celebrating our victory. All we had left to do was to wend our way home on the wonderful and interesting US Highway 93. Most of the CDT is located on National Forest System lands-, traveling 2,140 miles through 20 National Forests and 4 forest service regions. Remember that between altitudes of 10,500 feet (3,200 km) and 13,000 feet (3,962 km) the air is thin, and some hikers may experience difficulty. A thru-hike is a bucket list item for many people, but which trail is best? Hitching into Santa Fe, New Mexico in the bed of a pickup doing 85 mph / 137 km/h and passing everyone was pretty scary. Continental Divide Trail CDT Life, CDT Survey, Hiker Problems. 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. 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). The first section of the proposed trail was laid out in Colorado in 1962 by the Rocky Mountain Trails Association. . As this trail follows the Continental Divide, there are parts that are very high in elevation and challenging. It was truly miserable. The Continental Divide Trail is meant to follow the Continental Divide through the United States between Mexico and Canada, or at least stay within 50 miles of it since it is not always practical to put the trail directly on the divide. Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, NJ/PA. 2 min read. On a path as long, high, and remote as the Continental Divide Trail, there is little room for gear errors. 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. In that same year, the Continental Divide Trail Alliance (CDTA) was created and with volunteers built or improved the route of the trail. Many will leave the trail due to injury, some due to weather, others for financial reasons, and, unfortunately, a very small percentage will die. The main continental divide in Canada follows the ridge of the Rocky . It was, My first night at Two Medicine before getting my permit and starting the trail the next day. That is readily available via the internet and that we know of. The CDT is actually a network of small roads and . For hikers who have completed all three trails, ALDHA-West presents the official "Triple Crown of Hiking" (TC). I had to get off the road and climb over blowdowns to get around him. Thru-hiking the CDT is an adventure of a lifetime, but it's not for the faint of heart. ALSO SEE:10 Best Off-Road Tires and How to Pick the Right Ones. A few thru-hikers hike southbound (SOBO) from the Canadian border beginning in June and finishing in October or November. The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) spans over 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada and is one of the most significant trail systems in the world. Trail Ridge Road crests at 3.721m (12,209ft) and climbs up Milner Pass, Trail Ridge , Fall River Pass and Iceberg Pass . 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. The Pacific Crest Trail is typically divided into five distinct sections: the Desert, the Sierra Nevada, Northern California, Oregon, and Washington. One night in the Collegiates (Colorado), I had already gotten rained on all day and picked a suboptimal campsite just to get it over with. 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. This is not expected. Because if youre lucky, you may drive the entire length in sunny warm weather, but thats very unlikely. Much of the CDT follows high, grassy ridges with some walking on dirt roads required. [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. 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? Continental Divide Trail. Of course, there may be more death along the PCT than reported, but the reality is that there is little (but dont trust me). Famous locations like Santa Fe, Jackson Hole, Leadville, Pikes Peak, Yellowstone National Park, and many other national parks adjacent to the route can be visited while you make your way along Americas spineyou (or your group) should make up your own list. Here are the number of fatalities that have occurred in each section. Myth #3: You can't go through Colorado's San Juans before June because there's too much snow. I almost camped under some dead trees but decided to keep going through intense blowdowns and got a cut on my leg. The road walk into Rawlins (Wyoming) after the Basin. 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. But even with a chip from Kevin, our expedition still took us almost a year of planning, which included assembling a cast of characters, their vehicles, and a sponsor. 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. Here are 10 intriguing facts you may not know about the Continental Divide Trail. The peak, near the CDT, is the highest along this section of the CDT with an elevation of 10,621 feet (3,237m). The Continental Divide Trail Coalition, P.O. [17] Olive "Raindance" McGloin, yo-yoed in 2020 becoming the first woman on her second attempt (McGloin also yo-yoed the PCT in 2014). She previously covered Carver County and western Hennepin County as well as aging, workplace issues and other topics since she began at the paper in 2011. I was night hiking along the road when a local pulled up. In Montana near the Canadian border the trail crosses Triple Divide Pass (near Triple Divide Peak, from which waters may flow to either the Arctic Ocean (via Hudson Bay), Atlantic Ocean or Pacific Ocean). 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? The road climbs to the continental divide at the top of the Pass (12,095 ft.). You might say we were emulating the explorers of the 1800s but we were in Jeeps towing trailers rather than riding horses tugging pack animals or riding Conestoga or Studebaker wagons.