View Full Version : Who has thru hiked The Colorado Trail?
My my, now 10 year old, son and I are going to thru hike the Colorado trail in 2012. We thru hiked Walmart a few times but never a real trail:) So this will be a completely new experience for both of us.
I'm using this time as a rite of passage into his journey to becoming a man. I'll have several of the important men in his life join us at different stages to just hang and share wisdom.
Anyhow. Thought I'd see who's done the CT. Do you have any advice & tips for before, during and after our expedition? FYI. We are planning many short trips before then. And we plan on hanging the whole trail.
Thanks all
Cannibal
01-25-2010, 15:46
Pretty sure "food" has done it all, if not an actual "thru". Mags over on Whiteblaze is a GREAT resource for the CT. I can tell you all kinds of stuff about the beginning, including a really nice campsite where my knee said "mercy". :scared::D
I had forgotten you had told me about those fellers. I figured I'd pick your brain sometime over a pint or 6 :D
ringtail-THFKAfood
01-25-2010, 17:05
I figured I'd pick your brain sometime over a pint or 6 :D
I would be happy to share what little I know. I have segment hiked the whole trail. But since then there have been several reroutes.
What a wonderful idea! Good luck and hopefully we get to hear a few good stories at the conclusion.
I thru-hiked in 2006. Mags pretty much lives there. I was still mostly a ground dweller then, but I spent much of my time with Roni from Israel, a die-hard hammocker. It is doable with hanging just about the whole way.
Just Jeff
01-25-2010, 22:50
If you've never hiked a real trail before, I'd definitely recommend some smaller shake-down hikes first. The CT is more rugged and remote than the AT, which has some steep sections (b/c they don't believe in switchbacks on the East coast) but is rarely more than half a day away from a road. So for safety's sake, hit some overnighters and two-nighters as you can, make sure you can read a map/compass, etc. (Sorry if you already know all this...can't tell from the internet what folks' experience level is. :jj: )
I just got the CT guide b/c I plan to do a few sections while I'm out here. Seems like a worthy investment so far but I haven't hiked any of it yet.
And definitely hit up mags for some info.
You making the CO hang in Feb?
You making the CO hang in Feb?[/QUOTE]
That's the plan. I'm excited!
Just Jeff
01-25-2010, 23:35
Me too - I gotta get in a hang or two before then, though. But it'll be awesome to meet so many new folks who AREN'T on the East coast! The Mt Rogers hangs were cool but I think this one will have its own special character.
NCPatrick
01-26-2010, 09:23
Me too - I gotta get in a hang or two before then, though. But it'll be awesome to meet so many new folks who AREN'T on the East coast! The Mt Rogers hangs were cool but I think this one will have its own special character.
Well, yeah. Cannibal is a special character.
Cannibal
01-26-2010, 09:33
Well, yeah. Cannibal is a special character.
Everybody has a job. :D
I should have mentioned in my first post, Mags has made his Colorado Trail End-to-End Guide (http://www.pmags.com/joomla/index.php/Backpacking-and-Hiking-documents/coloradotrail_info.html) available free on his website. It was very helpful for me during my thru-hike.
KerMegan
01-28-2010, 10:41
Well, yeah. Cannibal is a special character.
I bet he even has a unique ASCII code, too!