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<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Wow, there's more
feedback on this than anything in the past 4 months! Here's my 2
cents...<br>
</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><br>
First, I have some thoughts on this on the FAQ on my site
at:<o:p></o:p><br>
<a href="http://www.phlumf.com/travels/cdt/cdtfaq.shtml">http://www.phlumf.com/travels/cdt/cdtfaq.shtml</a><o:p></o:p><br>
(see the bottom)<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"><o:p></o:p>But, this
isn’t exactly the question you asked…
Here’s more of my take…<o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Both of these trails are
spectacular and wild, and I doubt
you’d regret either experience. The PCT is a more consistent trail. The
tread is generally always good, it’s nearly all actual trail, the
views are almost always superb, the weather (at least in <st1:state
w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">California</st1:place></st1:state>) is
often consistently nice
during the summer, the grade of the trail is never too steep, and it’s
easier to find your way around. That said, it is certainly a wilderness
experience, and very tough challenge – if nothing else, simply for the
walking. There are a couple areas (stream crossings & mosquitoes
for
example) that can be more of a challenge on the PCT than CDT (depending
on the
year). The weather in <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:city w:st="on">Northern</st1:city>
<st1:state w:st="on">WA</st1:state></st1:place> can often be a real
challenge
too. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">The CDT generally has
higher highs, and lower lows. Some of
the scenery is really mind-blowing (<st1:place w:st="on">Wind River
Range</st1:place>,
Glacier NP, San Juans), but there are also stretches of walking on
(usually
remote, gravel or dirt, and traffic-less) roads, or through forested
tunnels,
or across relatively uninspiring landscapes. Often, the trail is
well-graded,
well-marked, and well-maintained… sometimes, it’s none of these. The
weather can be a real challenge… it’s generally a colder
experience (at least it was for me – I was wearing warm clothes more
often on the CDT vs. PCT). I cowboy-camped (i.e. went without
tarp/tent) a lot
more on the PCT than on the CDT. And navigation can be more of an
issue… The “weather window” either
NB or SB on the CDT is narrower as well. That tends to “bunch-up”
the population of hikers… at least at the start. Then again, there is
a lot more variety of
routes and “approaches” (i.e. flipping, NB vs. SB, etc) on the CDT,
which has a mitigating effect on the bunching. <o:p></o:p></span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">As for the people, you’ll
encounter other hikers on
either trail… and in either case, since the “thru-hike window”
is narrow, there will be others on a similar schedule as yours. On the
PCT
there will be more people – this can be good and bad… It’s
good because it can be really nice to hike with someone; the people are
generally very interesting and kindred souls. But, if you really want
to hike
alone you can. It's just that it might mean saying adios to some
friends you've made... that can be the harder part of it. That said,
there will be plenty of opportunities to
find solitude and a wilderness experience without too much effort. I
think it’s
a good mix. On the CDT, there are fewer people… that’s again good
and bad. It’s good if you want to hike alone more. But, if you do want
to hike with others for occasional companionship, there are
fewer people to pick from. Luckily, most of them will be very cool
&
interesting people, but it’ll more likely be a small pool of them…</span></font><font
face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Everyone has a different
style and pace, so if you want to hike with others, it helps to have a
larger pool.</span></font><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;"> One
other thing – there is more of an established community along the PCT
(i.e. more trail angels, more day-hikers & week-enders, easier
hitching to
towns, and more planning/logistical resources, etc.).<br>
</span></font></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">Also, the PCT has better
stickers. They're silver/shiny, and look cool on your car bumper. The
CDT ones that I've seen aren't quite the same. ;-)<br>
</span></font></p>
<font face="Arial" size="2"><span
style="font-size: 10pt; font-family: Arial;">So, which trail is "right
for you"? I have no idea.<br>
<br>
-Jonathan<br>
</span></font><br>
Roger Nussbaumer wrote:
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type="cite">
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Hey folks, </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">I guess many CDT
hikers on this list have done either the AT or PCT before. That’s why I
come up here with my questions. I have been planning to do the PCT in
09 for several months now, but some weeks ago I was beginning to lose a
part of my eagerness, because, mainly, I heard of the CDT. After some
researches I think the CDT is the more “extreme” and remote of the two.
I also got disappointed when I subscribed to the PCT-L and read
discussions about the “herd” and the masses who hike the PCT. For me,
it makes the adventure less special and attractive when so many do the
same thing as I do and it’s just not what I expect from a trip in the
wilderness (I hope you get the point here …).<span> </span>There are
other facts that make the CDT more attractive for me, for example more
freedom in choosing the route (I think for the PCT you don’t even need
maps) and I even read from a thru-hiker that the landscape/ nature is
more beautiful on the CDT (what personally surprised me a bit…). Coming
to my questions:</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Which trail is more
worth to thru-hike in your opinion? </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Am I wrong with all my
concerns about the PCT? Is it really crowded on the PCT when starting
in late April? Which of the two trails has more rewarding landscape/
nature? What kind of trails can I expect on the CDT (percentage of
small hiking trails, bushwhacking, jeep roads, roads and in comparison
to the trails on the PCT)?</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Is it the right choice
to start thru-hiking the CDT, not having done other thru-hikes before
(my longest was two weeks through the Swiss Alps…)?</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">I hope you can help me
a bit in choosing the “right” trail for me. I know that’s not possible,
but hearing different opinions about this subject can’t harm. Actually
I don’t think I can go wrong with any of the two trails, but I’d like
to know what to expect in case I would go for the CDT. Thanks in
advance for your answers!</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Greetings from
Switzerland,</font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3"> </font></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0cm 0cm 0pt;"><span lang="EN-US"><font
color="#000000" face="Times New Roman" size="3">Roger (<a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="mailto:ronussbaumer@hotmail.com">ronussbaumer@hotmail.com</a>)</font></span></p>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<br>
<hr>Hol dir noch heute die neue Beta des Windows Live Messengers! <a
moz-do-not-send="true" href="http://download.live.com/" target="_new">Hier
klicken!</a>
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