[cdt-l] TrailFest Update/CDTA commentary

[Mike DiLorenzo]

So this past weekend I was a part of TrailFest.

I did some work creating some new tread up on Cottonwood Pass, 20+ miles 
west of Buena Vista, CO, on a new stretch of trail that when completed, just 
might rival the Vasquez Peak area for perhaps the most spectacular high 
alpine traverse in northern CO.  The CDTA, USFS, and Youth Corps are 
rerouting the CDT high above where it currently lies on the west side of the 
Divide (south of Texas Creek and north of Tin Cup pass).  The trail will 
eventually stay high (11-12,000+ feet) and away from the motorcycles on the 
existing CDT in this area.  In addition there is other re-route work planned 
in the Sawatch to take the trail off roads and motorized trails.

TrailFest was a fun time, complete with several nice trips on the Divide 
(including mountain biking on the Monarch Crest Trail and also between St. 
Elmo and Hancock, AND even a climb from Twin Lakes south over Hope Pass and 
down the other side - just to give folks a small taste of the brutality that 
the CDT has to offer).  Good food and music rounded out the event (as did a 
soak at the Cottonwood Hot Springs on the way back up to the pass on 
Saturday evening).

But I got the feeling that the CDTA, and many of their members and 
supporters are out of touch with thru hiking.  They compared TrailFest to 
Trail Days, but there were no thru hikers present, most everyone was from 
the Front Range of Colorado. The CDTA doesn't seem to be too concerned with 
thru hiking.  But this isn't their goal.  They seem to differ from the ATC 
and PCTA in that they don't focus on thru hiking the trail. Their view of 
the trail being complete involves a well graded 18" wide single track 
running continuously from Mexico to Canada, never mind that many people have 
already walked the CDT.  But this is fine.  It might help to maintain the 
aura of mystery that the CDT currently holds and that many of us cherish.  
But what the CDTA is in touch with is fund raising and trail work.  The CDTA 
is flush.  There is no doubt about that, and the way they took care of their 
volunteer crew shows that.  And for anyone who's every done trail work, you 
know how great it is to be well fed after a hard day of moving rocks, 
shoveling dirt, and cutting trail.  They even had beer.  Amazing.

But more importantly what the CDTA does have is a HUGE committed group of 
volunteers. The people I worked with had nearly all done other projects with 
the CDTA.  They keep coming back!  Maybe it's the food and beer but these 
folks, while they may be out of touch with thru hiking, care about the CDT 
and are volunteering, time and time again, to make sure the CDTA reaches 
their goal of an 18" wide, well graded trail, that runs the length of the 
divide from Canada to Mexico.  And that's noble.  I heard some mention that 
the CDTA wants to complete the CDT by 2008.  Perhaps they don't want to see 
New Zealand finish the Te Araroa trail  before the CDT is done?  A little 
American pride maybe?  I dunno.  But it's a noble goal, and with the 
resources at their disposal, they might just get it done.   I just hope they 
don't insist on marking it all with 2x6 inch blazes...

$0.02 on the CDTA and TrailFest.

d-low