Continental Divide Trail Resupply Guide (2023 Survey)
In the third installment of the Continental Divide Trail Thru-Hiker Survey, we cover what’s probably the biggest (perceived) logistical issue on the CDT: resupply. After hikers get their gear sorted, questions surrounding resupply become the object of CDT hiker fascination.
What is CDT resupply? It’s the replenishment of the food (and other consumable items) carried in a hiker’s backpack. Basically, buying more food and supplies on the trail. Contrary to popular belief, CDT hikers commonly leave the trail and venture into towns to buy more food; they don’t carry all their food (for the entire hike) from the beginning. And, perhaps even more shockingly, the idea that thru-hikers subsist on a diet of foraged mushrooms and edible plants is a lie.
I often advise hikers not to worry about resupplying before beginning a thru-hike, but I am not always believed. 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’ll buy food in Colorado in a few months. The Continental Divide Trail runs society adjacent, and it isn’t difficult to get somewhere to pause and organize yourself and your hike.
Using data from the 2023 Continental Divide Trail Hiker Survey, I’ve compiled the following picture of what resupply looks like over the course of a Continental Divide Trail thru-hike. Hopefully, this helps all you would-be CDT thru-hikers rest a little easier.
Notes on the Data
- This year, there were 173 completed surveys. Hiking next year? Sign up to take the survey here.
- Some responses are sorted and colored – e.g., northbound or southbound. More on this below.
- The Continental Divide Trail and thru-hiking generally use acronyms and jargon. If anything is unclear, the thru-hiker glossary may help. Please comment if you still can’t find what you’re looking for.
- I ask that respondents do their best to respond accurately. Not every hiker answers every question, and not every answer is guaranteed 100% accurate (e.g., someone may mistakenly report spending $10,000 on their hike instead of $9,000).
- I refer to survey respondents collectively as this year’s “class.” Remember, this is a sample and not a comprehensive survey of every person on the CDT.
- These results invoke basic statistics. To maximize your time here, familiarize yourself with average, median (M), and standard deviation (σ).
- For stats requiring the length of the CDT for a calculation (e.g., mileage/day), I use 2,974.5 mi / 4,787 km (from the FarOut Guides CDT app).
- In case you missed them, check out the latest CDT Survey Results and the CDT Gear Guide.
- More detailed posts focused on CDT Horror Stories, CDT Advice, and more in the coming weeks. If you would like to be notified of new surveys, click here.
If no color/label has been appended to a data point, I used all collected data (i.e., it includes section hiker data and data from hikers who did not complete the trail).
Unless otherwise noted, I use the following colors to differentiate each section of the Continental Divide Trail. These colors are typically used in the graphs below.
- New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho/Southern Montana, Northern Montana
Resupply Strategy
When you find yourself in town along the Continental Divide Trail, you have the following options in terms of your resupply:
- Buy yourself a full resupply (replenish your food stocks from zero back to a level sufficient to get you to the next resupply point)
- Buy yourself a partial resupply (boost your current stock to get you through to the next resupply point – i.e. get more snacks)
- Pick up a package from a post office or hiker-friendly place along the trail (like a hotel or trail angel) that you’ve sent ahead to yourself.
- Get a large enough meal to last until the next town (some hikers are fond of doing this at the Cajon Pass McDonald’s).
- Skip the town completely and crush miles to your next resupply.
Sometimes, your options are limited to a gas station or a very expensive general store (which is where some hikers may prefer to send themselves packages). Other times, you’ll find yourself in a large town with a supermarket (this is a good place to get a resupply to send ahead somewhere).
Before delving into the “best” strategy for CDT resupply, I must warn you (again) not to fall into the trap of attempting to plan your entire hike ahead of time. It (probably) is not going to work (although I’ve been proven wrong in the past).
Unless you have specific dietary restrictions or some very compelling reason, there is little reason to plan your resupply stops ahead of time. It’s like worrying about how you’ll get home when you reach the northern/southern terminus; it doesn’t matter to you who has yet to walk a single step. Trust me, there will be plenty of time on the trail to figure out your resupply. (I’m an internet stranger, so you have to.)
With this in mind, let’s examine the CDT Class of 2023’s resupply.
Resupply Boxes
Buying your food and prepping boxes before your hike can be tempting for the first-time thru-hiker – even the experienced but uncertain thru-hiker). A certain (false) sense of security comes from packing up resupply before the trail – a kind of “well, I’ve got all that sorted out.” Except on the trail, all that planning/sorting you did beforehand can prove more of a liability than an asset.
Plans change, post offices aren’t always open, boxes get lost, and hikes end early – a lot can happen between your start date and the resupply box you hop(ed) to retrieve weeks or months later.
On top of all that, unless you’ve done a long-distance hike before, it can be hard to imagine what you, in a month (or two…or three…), will want to eat all day after having hiked hundreds of miles.
But since practically all hikers send at least some boxes, let’s examine how many boxes were sent, how many were prepped ahead of time, how frequently they were sent, and what was done before starting vs. on the trail.
Resupply Strategy
- 2.7% – Mailed all resupply
- 7.5% – Mailed most resupply (> 50%)
- 41.8% – Mailed some resupplies (10-50%)
- 41.8% – Mailed a few resupply (1-10%)
- 6.2% – Mailed no resupply
2023 Thru-Hikers
- 6.2% – Mailed all resupply
- 7.5% – Mailed most resupply (> 50%)
- 41.8% – Mailed some resupplies (10-50%)
- 41.8% – Mailed a few resupply (1-10%)
- 2.7% – Mailed no resupply
2022 Thru-Hikers
- 5.5% Mailed all resupply
- 9.4% Mailed most resupply (> 50%)
- 40.2% Mailed some resupply (10-50%)
- 42.3% Mailed a few resupply (1-10%)
- 7.5% Mailed no resupply
As with most years (every year), most hikers split their resupplies between buying locally and sending resupply boxes ahead.
Number of Resupply Boxes
This chart shows the number of resupply boxes by Continental Divide Trail thru-hikers (1).
Average: 6.6
Median: 5
σ: 5.8
Thru-Hikers
4.0
The average number of resupply boxes prepared ahead of time
(M = 2 | σ = 5.7)
Thru-Hikers (1)
7
The average total number of resupply boxes sent
(M = 5 | σ = 5.6)
Thru-Hikers (1)
22%
The average percent of resupplies sent as boxes
(M = 15% | σ = 26%)
Resupply Boxes Prepared Pre-Trail
As part of CDT resupply planning, many hikers prepare resupply boxes ahead of time. Here are the stats for the number of boxes that thru-hikers prepared before setting foot on the trail.
Average: 4.0
Median: 2
σ: 5.7
Note: You can buy and prepare resupply boxes from on the trail; you don’t need all your boxes ready before you begin your hike.
Thru-Hikers (1)
19.1%
The percentage of hikers who said they would have liked to have sent fewer resupply boxes during a thru-hike
Thru-Hikers (1)
7
The average number of resupply boxes sent by hikers who said they would have liked to have sent fewer resupply boxes
Thru-Hikers (1)
2.7%
The percentage of hikers who said they would have liked to have prepared no resupply boxes before beginning their thru-hikes
Boxes Mailed from the Trail
As many CDT hikers learn (and what I’m here to tell you now) is that you can mail yourself resupply boxes from the trail. This strategy is a smart one because you will not only have a better idea of your daily mileage and your food preferences after you begin hiking, but you’ll be able to make sure you don’t waste time and money ahead of time prepping resupply boxes you may end up hating or never even using (if you have to get off the trail for some reason or skip a section due to fire, snow, or trail closures).
Here are the stats for the number of boxes that thru-hikers (1) sent to themselves while on the trail.
Average: 3.0
Median: 2
σ: 3.1
Thru-Hikers (1)
7.8%
The percentage of hikers who said they would have liked to have sent more resupply boxes during a thru-hike
Thru-Hikers (1)
5
The average number of resupply boxes sent by hikers who said they would have liked to have sent more resupply boxes
Thru-Hikers (1)
0.7%
The percentage of hikers who said they would have liked to have prepared all their resupply boxes before beginning their thru-hikes
This year’s average number of boxes sent was 7, the median was 5, people who sent 7 wanted to send more, and people who sent over 9 wanted to send fewer. Sounds like the average of 8 is just what this year’s class wanted.
Remember, there is no “correct number of CDT resupply boxes”, but there are definitely places where a prepackaged and curated selection of your preferences will be preferable to the local selection.
Where to Mail CDT Resupply Boxes
As part of the CDT Survey, I asked hikers where they definitely recommend sending a resupply box. Hikers’ motivations for sending a resupply box to a location on the trail can range from “the selection is bad, and everything is expensive” to “the store owners are awful people, and we should not support them.” Regardless of their reasons, here’s where the CDT Class of 2023 thinks you should send yourself resupply boxes.
If there’s any confusion, the locations are listed in descending order (not geographical order). The percentages reflect the percentage of this year’s class who indicated that they would “definitely send a resupply box” to each location. And remember, this year’s class agreed upon sending six resupply boxes; I’ve included 10 to give you options (because, you know, hike your own hike, etc).
Suggest Mailing Resupply
- Pie Town (New Mexico) 85.7%
- Ghost Ranch (New Mexico) 41.2%
- Lima (Idaho/Southern Montana) 37.0%
- Doc Campbell’s (New Mexico) 31.9%
- Leadore via Bannock Pass (Idaho/Southern Montana) 29.4%
- East Glacier Village (Northern Montana) 23.5%
- Encampment via Battle Pass (Wyoming) 21.0%
- Benchmark Wilderness Ranch (Northern Montana) 16.0%
- South Pass City (Wyoming) 14.3%
- Old Faithful Village in Yellowstone (Wyoming) 13.4%
*This is the fourth year in a row that Pie Town, New Mexico, has been (overwhelmingly) at the top of the list.
Many hikers fail to realize that you can easily send yourself boxes from towns on the trail (instead of preparing your boxes ahead of time). You are not committed to your plan on the first day you set foot on the trail.
The CDT is long. But it simply connects a series of smaller trails between resupply stops. Nothing is stopping you from going to a supermarket, buying yourself delicious hiker food, and mailing it to yourself further up the trail (unless it’s Sunday because the post office is closed on Sunday – which may sound unimportant now, but will be an important thing to remember whilst on the trail).
For the sake of simplicity, suppose you’re strictly following the averages of this year’s CDT class. The number of resupply boxes that you will send to each section of the CDT is:
- New Mexico: 3
- Doc Campbell’s, Pie Town, Ghost Ranch
- Colorado: 0
- Wyoming: 2
- Encampment/Battle Pass, South Pass City
- Idaho/Montana: 3
- Lima, Leadore/Bannock Pass, East Glacier Village
Changes to CDT Resupply Strategy
To help future Continental Divide Trail hikers devise a successful CDT resupply strategy, I asked them what they would have changed about resupply. This year, 39.7% of thru-hikers said they would change something about their resupply strategy.
- 19.1% – Send fewer resupply boxes over the course of the trail (7 was the average number of boxes sent by hikers who said this)
- 8.5% – Include more variety in their resupplies (Clif bars and Stroopwafels will only get you so far)
- 8.5% – Include less food in their resupplies (the challenge of how much food to buy remains constant over the course of the trail)
- 7.8% – Send more resupply boxes over the course of the trail (5 was the average number of boxes sent by hikers who said this)
- 5.0% – Mail resupply boxes from on the trail instead of ahead of time
- 4.3% – Include healthier food in their resupplies (yes, you can survive on M&M’s – but should you?)
- 2.8% – Prepare no resupply boxes ahead of time
- 1.4% – Resupply more frequently (more frequent resupplies means less weight carried – but also more time in town)
- 1.4% – Resupply less frequently (less frequent means longer distances between resupplies)
- 0.7% – Send more food in their resupplies
- 0.7% – Prep all their resupply boxes ahead of time
Favorite Hiker Meals & Snacks
Another Continental Divide Trail resupply consideration? What foods are you going to be resupplying with?
Personally, I would love to eat a Costco-sized bag of M&M’s with a large brick of cheese and a bottle of Sriracha for each section of trail, but I’ve been told this isn’t healthy (and 4.3% of CDT hikers said they wish they had resupplied with healthier food).
So, what do CDT hikers eat? Berries, insects, dirt, fallen CDT hikers? Obviously. But there’s so much more on offer at (most) CDT resupply stops.
Favorite Backpacking Meals
- Ramen 42.9%
- Idohoan Mashed Potatoes 35.7%
- Knorr Rice Sides 35.7%
- Couscous 28.6%
- Backpacker’s Pantry 21.4%
- Peak Refuel 21.4%
- Annie’s Mac & Cheese 14.3%
- Mountain House 14.3%
- Farm to Summit 9.5%
- Good To-Go 8.7%
Favorite Backpacking Snacks
- Potato Chips 22.5%
- M&M’s 20.8%
- Snickers Bars 20.2%
- Bobo’s Oat Bars 16.8%
- Peanut Butter 16.2%
- Clif Bars 13.9%
- Lenny & Larry’s Complete Cookies 12.7%
- Luna Bars 12.2%
- Beef Jerky 11%
- Trail Mix 11%
How Frequently to Resupply
Predicting (with any degree of accuracy) where you will resupply before beginning a thru-hike is something many hikers attempt despite my telling them it’s unnecessary. Do you know how long it will take to walk 100 mi / 160 km two months into your hike with three days of unscheduled rain and too much food in your pack?
The weather, your physical condition, the people you’re with, where you’ve just come from, where you’re going, and many other factors make this a (somewhat) educated guess at best.
Maybe you’ll prefer carrying more food and resupplying less often. Maybe you’ll prefer a lighter load with more frequent stops in town. Maybe you’ll be injured or quit in the first week (or die), and none of this will even matter.
So, what’s the right balance between resupply and hiking? It’s different for everyone. This is a response that many of you may not want to hear, but also the most accurate response I can offer. That said, here’s a look at this year’s hikes regarding resupply.
Thru-Hikers (1)
141
The average number of days it took hikers to complete the CDT
(M = 143 | σ = 20)
Thru-Hikers (1)
17
The average number of zero days taken during a thru-hike
(M = 15 | σ = 9)
Thru-Hikers (1)
14
The average number of nearo days (low mileage days)
(M = 14 | σ = 8.5)
Northbound Hike Breakdown
The average number of days it took hikers to complete:
- 40 – New Mexico
- 43 – Colorado
- 26 – Wyoming
- 40 – Idaho+Montana
- 145 – Average days for northbound (1) to complete the CDT.
Southbound Hike Breakdown
The average number of days it took hikers to complete:
- 44 – Idaho+Montana
- 27 – Wyoming
- 36 – Colorado
- 32 – New Mexico
- 133 – Average days for southbound (1) to complete the CDT.
Thru-Hikers (1)
28
The average number of resupplies over the entire trail
(M = 29 | σ = 6)
Thru-Hikers (1)
6
The average number of days between resupplies
(M = 5 | σ = 1.8)
Thru-Hikers (1)
110
The average number of miles between resupplies (177 km)
(M = 103 mi / 166 km | σ = 37 mi / 60 km)
Average Resupplies Per Section
- 7.8 New Mexico (M=8)
- ~ every 101 mi / 163 km
- 8.0 Colorado (M=8)
- ~ every 94 mi / 151 km
- 5.7 Wyoming (M=6)
- ~ every 92 mi / 148 km
- 3.9 Idaho/Southern Montana (M=4)
- ~ every 108 mi / 174 km
- 5.4 Northern Montana (M=5)
- ~ every 113 mi / 182 km
Stretches between resupply can vary greatly – especially depending on which alternates you take – and some will be much longer (or shorter) than others. This should give you a rough idea of what to expect.
Average CDT Resupply Plan
Based on survey responses, we can determine what an “average” Continental Divide Trail hiker’s resupply looked like for a 2023 thru-hike. Below is a list of all the CDT resupply stops where hikers stopped this year, accompanied by the percentage of hikers who stopped at each location.
Resupply stops are listed in geographical order from Mexico to Canada (that’s south to north, in case you’re unsure) and, again, I use the following colors to indicate each resupply stop’s popularity: over 75%, 50-75%, 25-50%, under 25%.
New Mexico Resupply
- Hachita – 9.8%
- ⛺ Lordsburg – 98.6%
- ⛺ Silver City – 98.6%
- ✉️+⛺ Doc Campbell’s – 93.0%
- Reserve – 23.8%
- Davila Ranch – 1.4%
- ✉️+⛺ Pie Town – 88.1%
- Quemado – 2.1%
- ⛺ Grants – 95.8%
- Albuquerque – 3.5%
- ⛺ Cuba – 96.5%
- Santa Fe – 10.5%
- Abiquiu – 11.9%
- ✉️+⛺ Ghost Ranch – 55.2%
- Taos – 1.4%
- Chama via Cumbres Pass – 92.3%
Colorado Resupply
- Pagosa Springs via Wolf Creek Pass – 83.3%
- South Fork via Wolf Creek Pass – 8.7%
- Platoro – 4.8%
- Del Norte – 5.6%
- Creede – 38.1%
- Silverton via Stony Pass – 12.7%
- Durango – 2.4%
- Lake City via Spring Creek Pass – 50.0%
- ⛺ Monarch Mountain Lodge – 9.5%
- Monarch Spur RV Park – 0.8%
- Salida via Monarch Pass – 88.1%
- Gunnison – 4.0%
- Poncha Springs – 0.8%
- Buena Vista – 11.1%
- ⛺ Twin Lakes – 70.6%
- Leadville – 62.7%
- ⛺ Copper Mountain – 6.3%
- Breckenridge – 28.6%
- Frisco – 32.5%
- Idaho Springs 0.8%
- Silverthorne – 29.4%
- Dillon – 12.7%
- Winter Park – 42.1%
- Fraser – 9.5%
- Denver – 7.9%
- ⛺ Grand Lake – 82.5%
- Steamboat Springs via Rabbit Ears Pass – 93.7%
- Georgetown – 1.6%
Wyoming Resupply
- ✉️ Encampment via Battle Pass – 55.1%
- Riverside via Battle Pass – 23.2%
- ⛺ Rawlins – 99.3%
- ⛺ Big Sandy Lodge – 0.7%
- ✉️+⛺ South Pass City – 20.3%
- Atlantic City – 5.8%
- Lander – 77.5%
- Pinedale – 72.5%
- Lava Mountain Lodge via Togwotee Pass – 1.4%
- Dubois via Togwotee Pass – 79.1%
- Jackson – 12.3%
- ⛺ Brooks Lake Lodge – 8.7%
- ⛺ Grant Village in Yellowstone – 43.5%
- ✉️+⛺ Old Faithful Village in Yellowstone – 62.3%
- Mammoth Village in Yellowstone – 4.3%
- Gardiner – 2.9%
Idaho/Montana Resupply
- West Yellowstone – 53.0%
- ⛺ Island Park / Mack’s Inn – 37.4%
- Big Sky – 8.7%
- Ennis – 8.7%
- ✉️ Lima – 84.3%
- ✉️ Leadore via Bannock Pass – 85.2%
- Tendoy – 0.9%
- Salmon – 13.0%
- Jackson – 1.7%
- Missoula – 5.2%
- Darby via Chief Joseph Pass – 51.3%
- Hamilton via Chief Joseph Pass – 8.7%
- Darby via Lost Trail Pass – 14.8%
- Hamilton via Lost Trail Pass – 0.9%
- Camp Sula – 7.8%
- Wisdom – 2.6%
- Wise River – 2.1%
- ⛺ Anaconda – 58.9%
- Whitehall – 13.7%
- Butte – 41.8%
- Bozeman – 21.2%
- Helena – 79.5%
- ⛺ High Divide Outfitters – 45.2%
- Elliston – 13.0%
- ⛺ Lincoln – 54.1%
- ✉️+⛺ Benchmark Wilderness Ranch – 23.3%
- Augusta – 47.3%
- ✉️+⛺ East Glacier Village – 97.3%
- ⛺ Two Medicine – 12.3%
- Saint Mary – 8.2%
- ⛺ Many Glacier – 23.3%
✉️ Stops where this year’s class suggests sending resupply boxes
⛺ Stops that can be reached without hitchhiking or road walking
Based on this information, how would our average Continental Divide Trail thru-hiker resupply? It would resemble the following. Note: names in bold with a ✉️ indicate locations where hikers suggest mailing a resupply box.
New Mexico
- Mile 84: Lordsburg
- Mile 158: Silver City
- ✉️ Mile 38 of Gila Alternate: Doc Campbell’s
- ✉️ Mile 415: Pie Town
- Mile 525: Grants
- Mile 629: Cuba
- Mile 689: Chama via Cumbres Pass
Colorado
- Mile 847: Pagosa Springs via Wolf Creek Pass
- Mile 961: Lake City via Spring Creek Pass
- Mile 1061: Salida via Monarch Pass
- Mile 1144: Twin Lakes
- Mile 1181: Leadville
- Mile 1216: Frisco
- Mile 1290: Winter Park
- Mile 1343: Grand Lake
- Mile 1436: Steamboat Springs via Rabbit Ears Pass
Wyoming
- ✉️ Mile 1520: Encampment via Battle Pass
- Mile 1602: Rawlins
- Mile 1722: Lander
- Mile 1799: Pinedale
- Mile 16.1 of Old CDT Alt: Dubois via Togwotee Pass
- ✉️ Mile 1988: Old Faithful Village in Yellowstone
Idaho/Montana
- Mile 2039: West Yellowstone
- ✉️ Mile 2134: Lima
- ✉️ Mile 2236: Leadore via Bannock Pass
- Mile 2358: Darby via Chief Joseph Pass
- Mile 27 of Anaconda Cutoff: Anaconda
- Mile 2618: Helena
- Mile 2686: Lincoln
- Mile 2744: Augusta
- ✉️ Mile 2877: East Glacier Village
Note: This is for educational purposes only and is not necessarily a good (or decent) resupply strategy. Please do not blindly follow this; instead, use it as a guide.
Between many resupply stops, you may pass a location where you can get a meal (Cuba in New Mexico, for example) or a place where you can buy some snacks (Monarch Pass in Colorado, for example). Remember that this post is meant to gently guide you towards a more successful resupply plan (whatever that means – since, as I’ve already told you, planning resupplies is not a great investment of your time).
Favorite (& Least Favorite) Resupply Stops
The Continental Divide Trail is mostly about hiking (the worst), but the towns along the trail also play a role in the CDT experience. This is why I ask about hikers’ favorite and least favorite resupply points. Take note that when asking this question, I specify “‘Favorite/Least Favorite’ means where [hikers] most/least enjoyed, not where had the best/worst resupply options (although these could be the same).”
Here’s what we came up with (for each section).
Favorite Resupply Stop
Pinedale, WY
35% of hikers voted for Pinedale
Least Favorite Resupply Stop
Pie Town, NM
32% of hikers voted for Pie Town
Favorite Resupply Stops
- New Mexico: Silver City (28%)
- Colorado: Leadville (27%)
- Wyoming: Pinedale (35%)
- Idaho/Montana: Anaconda (23%)
Runners-Up
- New Mexico: Doc Campbell’s (17%)
- Colorado: Salida (26%)
- Wyoming Lander (23%)
- Idaho/Montana: Helena (23%)
Least Favorite Resupply Stops
- New Mexico: Pie Town (32%)
- Colorado: Grand Lake (16%)
- Wyoming Rawlins (13%)
- Idaho/Montana: Lima (22%)
Runners-Up
- New Mexico: Cuba (25%)
- Colorado: Steamboat Springs (8%)
- Wyoming Encampment (12%)
- Idaho/Montana: Leadore (13%)
Hitchhiking to Town
What about hitchhiking to resupply stops?
You may not realize it, but hitchhiking often plays a big role on the Continental Divide Trail. It’s not unusual (and is actually quite common) for hikers to hitchhike to town to buy or pick up resupplies.
As part of the CDT Survey, I ask hikers what resupply stops (if any) they had difficulty hitchhiking to from the trail. The top responses were (from south to north).
Difficult Hitches
- Encampment via Battle Pass (Wyoming) 21.7%
- Darby via Lost Trail Pass (Idaho/Southern Montana) 15.1%
- Dubois via Togwotee Pass (Wyoming) 14.2%
- Leadore via Bannock Pass (Idaho/Southern Montana) 14.2%
- Augusta (Northern Montana) 13.2%
- Lander (Wyoming) 13.2%
- Lake City via Spring Creek Pass (Colorado) 12.3%
- Chama via Cumbres Pass (New Mexico/Colorado) 11.3%
- Lima (Idaho/Southern Montana)
- Pagosa Springs via Wolf Creek Pass (Colorado) 9.4%
Remember, hitchhiking can be a very subjective/random experience. You may get a ride with the first car past at a place where others stand waiting for hours. Don’t start crying if nobody picks you up after an hour, and don’t hate on people who call a Lyft/Uber/taxi (definitely an option at some trailheads).
Dietary Restrictions
For the final piece of the resupply puzzle, we look at hiker dietary restrictions and how easy they found resupplying with these restrictions.
Dietary Restrictions
- 38.7% – Has dietary restriction
- 61.3% – No dietary restriction
Specific Dietary Restrictions
- 49.0% – Vegetarian
- 19.6% – Vegan
- 15.7% – Dairy-free
- 9.8% – Gluten-free
- 9.8% – Lactose Intolerant
- 9.8% – Pescatarian
- 3.9% – Peanut Allergy
- 3.9% – Tree Nut Allergy
- 2.0% – Diabetic
- 2.0% – Keto
- 3.9% – Other
Trouble With Dietary Restrictions
I asked hikers with dietary restrictions, on a scale of 0 to 10 (0 being easy, 10 being difficult), how difficult it was to accommodate their diets while on the trail.
- 10.00 – Keto
- 5.80 – Vegan
- 4.38 – Dairy-free
- 3.80 – Vegetarian
- 3.20 – Lactose intolerant
- 2.00 – Pescatarian
- 1.75 – Gluten-free
- 1.00 – Peanut allergy
- 0.00 – Diabetic
- 0.00 – Tree Nut Allergy
Resupply Advice
We’ve covered a lot thus far, but enough with the numbers, colored labels, and bulleted lists of places you may or may not have ever heard of. What did thru-hikers have to say about Continental Divide Trail resupply?
- Challenge yourself to bring less. Initially, I often walked out of town with too much food, but over time, I better understood my diet and could lighten my carries.
- Consider pack size very carefully. This is not a trail for your 40-liter pack if it costs you food.
- Don’t be afraid to carry larger hauls, like seven days plus, to skip the smaller towns and harder hitches. The pack weight is only heavy for the first few days. Don’t bother doing resupply boxes in the majority of towns, as it’s easier to grab food in town and not be tied to missing packages and opening hours.
- In a pinch, you can get food at almost any of the main stops without sending a box if you’re not picky. The only one you’re really in a pinch with not sending a box is Pie Town. The rest are doable if you are okay with gas stations.
- My biggest piece of advise is to not pre-pack your boxes. After two thousand miles, it is almost guaranteed that you’ll be sick of some things (for me, couscous) you enjoyed at the start of the trail. Also, don’t be afraid to try weird food combinations. Peanut butter with cheese is great.
- I sent my Glacier and Bob boxes to Looking Glass in East Glacier. I could’ve picked up resupply in Kallispell or even East Glacier on the way in, but I was worried about running out of time hitching from the airport in Kallispell to the park. It was easy to get to Augusta, so a Benchmark box is unnecessary. Leadore and Lima were good places to send a box, although one could hitch further instead of resupplying in Leadore or resupply at the crappy gas station. South Pass City is a good place to send a box, but you cannot mail your Ursack home from there. Riverside/Encampment is a good place for a box, but you can get by without one. Ghost Ranch and Pie Town are good places for boxes; a box wasn’t necessary at Doc Campbell’s.
- It is easy to review this survey, watch content online, and decide to dehydrate and send boxes in advance. However, I strongly suggest not doing this, as tastes, routes, and hunger are hard to plan. All (NOBO) hard-to-resupply locations can be mailed from the trail.
- If you care about eating healthily, make and send out meals.
But most of all – have fun out there! And don’t die.
Support the Survey
Every year, I get a lot of people asking how to support the surveys. Beyond sharing them with your close-knit bubble of weird hiker friends, the best way to support the survey is to contribute via Patreon. You’ll get access to exclusive posts, discount codes, live streams, and super, extra cool stickers so that everyone will know how cool you are.
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CDT Survey Collection
If there is anything you can think of that would make this information more useful (or any more resupply-related cross-referencing you would like to see), please leave a comment and let me know.
For more on CDT Resupply, check out these articles.
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