[Cdt-l] Minimalist Planning

[Jim and_or Ginny Owen]

You could start in Grants around May 20 and head north.  You would be just behind the NOBO herd then.  In 2006 we reached Grants on the 16th.  That was a low snow year in S. Colorado, so we were able to go through the San Juans without many snow problems.  With 10 weeks, you could finish Colorado and would probably be through the desert sections of Wyoming.  

 

Alternately, you could start in Butte around May 30, hike north to the border, then hike south from there.  (We did this on our first thruhike.  We had snow off and on for the first three weeks, then we were okay, but it was a high snow year, which isn't the case this year.)  In 10 weeks you can get through some of the most beautiful parts of the trail - Montana and northern Wyoming.  

 

Yes, I would definitely get the Wolf guides as well as Jonathan's maps.  If you want town info you can get it from Yogi's book or from our website.  

 

Ginny

http://www.spiriteaglehome.com/


 


Date: Sun, 25 Apr 2010 22:16:02 -0700
From: byekur at gmail.com
To: cdt-l at backcountry.net
Subject: [Cdt-l] Minimalist Planning

I have a bunch of questions for anyone with the knowledge and time.


My summer job is currently unraveling and if I don't have a job by May 15 (when school gets out) I am thinking I might try to see as much of the CDT that my short (10 week) summer will allow.  My work/hike limbo and an intense next couple weeks at school mean I will not be able to thoroughly plan out my hike.  In 2007 I hiked the PCT SOBO in 4 months with about two weeks of planning but I realize the CDT is different is several critical respects (resupplies, water, planning resources....?).  So my question are:


Where will the current NOBO thru hikers be on the trail around the last two weeks of May?
Will it be possible head north from here and resupply in towns (no gen. delivery)?
What are the bare minimum necessary planning resources I need?
         ie  Are Ley's maps sufficient or do I need Wolf and/or Yogi's guidebooks?
             Is there a CDT equivalent for the PCT data book?
If I wanted to maximize miles and minimize heat and snow with a mid may start to a 10 week hike, where would I start and which direction would I go?
Is it crazy to jump on the CDT without any planning/prep?


It sounds crazy to me to undertake such an endeavor without substantial planning but it worked out last time.
What do you think?


Thanks,
Andrew




            
  		 	   		  
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