As alluded to above, I often advise hikers not to worry too much about resupply before beginning a thru-hike. Barring any dietary restrictions or a tight resupply schedule (i.e. you're on a CDT speed run), there's little reason to stress about where you're going to buy food in Wyoming in a couple of
The Continental Divide Trail Gear Guide: Class of 2020 Survey
In the third part of this year's Continental Divide Trail Thru-hiker Survey, we take a deep dive into Continental Divide Trail hikers' gear. CDT gear lists 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
The Continental Divide Trail Hiker Survey (2020)
In the second installment of the 2020 Continental Divide Trail Hiker Survey, we'll take a look at the hikers who were actually on the trail this year. Normally, this information is covered in the initial survey publication, but because of many hikers choosing to cancel their hikes due to COVID-19, I
The 2020 Continental Divide Trail Survey – Part I: NOGO
The 2020 Continental Divide Trail thru-hiking season was not immune to the pandemic and the CDT Hiker Survey is here to reflect this change. This year, just as I did with the PCT Survey, I am first documenting all of the data collected from respondents - both those who hiked the CDT and those who
Why Water Caches Are Bad for Thru-hikers
Water caches are locations where water is stored or left out where there would otherwise be none. They have become increasingly common on long-distance trails such as the Pacific Crest Trail and the Continental Divide Trail, which may sound like a good thing - water caches mean hikers aren't forced
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
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
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