As part of the Continental Divide Trail Survey, I ask hikers what their lowest moments on the trail were and when, if ever, they encountered a situation where they felt legitimately afraid or in danger. The CDT has a reputation for being more challenging than the Pacific Crest Trail and the
The CDT Resupply Guide: Class of 2019 Survey
After deciding that you're going to hike the Continental Divide Trail and researching your CDT gear, most aspiring thru-hikers move to the question of resupply. What is CDT resupply? It's the replenishment of the food (and other consumable items) carried in a hiker's backpack. The idea that
The Continental Divide Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2019 Survey
In the second chapter of the Continental Divide Trail Thru-hiker Survey, we take a deep dive into Continental Divide Trail hikers' gear. CDT gear lists can vary wildly between hikers and (spoiler alert) it's impossible to find a perfect CDT gear list. That said, we can try. I've organized this
Trail Angels and Trail Magic
If you're planning on setting off on a thru-hike, you may encounter the terms trail angel and trail magic as you scour the internet for information to better prepare you for the journey ahead. So what are trail angels and trail magic? Trail angels are people who go out of their ways to make life a
The Continental Divide Trail Thru-Hiker Survey (2019)
Welcome to the results of the 2019 Continental Divide Trail Thru-hiker Survey! The CDT Survey is now in its third year and I would like to extend a huge THANK YOU to everyone who took the time to participate. You're all champions of life. And thank you, dear reader, for being patient while
Continental Divide Trail Week 12: Wyoming!
DAY 78: The Last Great Breakfast We wake up at 7:30 (early for waking up in town) and head downstairs where we are greeted with pancakes, strawberries, watermelon, and bananas for breakfast. Have I mentioned how much I love Steamboat Springs? Karen and Johan give us a ride back to the CDT at
Sea to Summit Ultralight Air Sleeping Mat Review
The Sea to Summit Ultralight Air Sleeping Mat is the second lightest sleeping pad made by Sea to Summit (the lightest being the Ether Light XT Air Sleeping Mat). It uses Sea to Summit's Air Sprung Cell technology (basically an egg carton layout of air pockets) which I find to be quite
Why the CDT Is Better Than the PCT
The Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail are both long-distance hiking trail connecting the Mexican and Canadian borders of the United States. Every year, a class of hopeful thru-hikers sets out on (what is many times) a once-in-a-lifetime journey with the hopes of completing the
Why the PCT Is Better Than the CDT
The Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail are largely regarded as two of the greatest long-distance hiking trails in the world. Hiking one of these trails requires a huge amount of time and dedication; time and dedication that many people will only be able to accommodate once (if