[cdt-l] To train for or celebrate hiking the CDT

[Alistair and Gail Des Moulins]

Re bridges being not in place in Glacier Park
Last year we left the Canadian Border on June 12th. On the morning of June 
16th we came to the crossing of the river above Red Eagle Lake and there was 
no bridge there. When we got our permit we were not made aware of the fact 
that the bridge was not scheduled to be put in until June 18th. The weather 
for the previous few days had been very wet so the stream was in flood. We 
bushwhacked up the east side of the creek, had to go 400' up a sidestream to 
find a crossing point then bushwhack on. We in the end stopped early for the 
night rather than fight the bush. By morning the stream had dropped 
sufficiently for us both to cross to the trail.
So there are hazards with leaving the north end too early!

Alistair

> Date: Sat, 03 Mar 2007 00:07:34 -0500
> From: "Ginny & Jim Owen" <spiritbear2k at hotmail.com>
> Subject: Re: [cdt-l] To train for or celebrate hiking the CDT
> To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
> Message-ID: <BAY101-F3616D0BE2514B104F1FD9187860 at phx.gbl>
> Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed
>
> Sly wrote:
>>
>>Speaking of that....   has anyone an idea of when the best day to  leave
>>Cumbres Pass or the canadian boder during "normal" snow years.  You  know
>>something like "Ray Day"  (June 15th) on the PCT.
>>
>>Postholer has a sliding "Sierra Entry Indicator" for the PCT but nothing
>>like that for the CDT.
>>
>
> Sly -
> The traditional "Ray Day" for the south San Juans (Cumbres Pass) in a 
> normal
> snow year is June 15th.
>
> Best bet for leaving Waterton or Chief Mt in a normal snow year is the 
> last
> week in June.  At one time, leaving Canada earlier wasn't an option 
> because
> you couldn't get a permit for Glacier.  In 1999, permits were based on
> whether or not the outhouses at the various campsites were still buried in
> snow.  A lot of people leave earlier, around June 15, but snow and snow 
> melt
> are likely to be a problem for the first two weeks. Bridges may not be up 
> if
> you leave earlier.  Leaving around the 20-25th  is  better- but that does
> mean pushing hard to get through Colorado before the end of October.
>
> Walk softly,
>
> Jim & Ginny
>