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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-US link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Jim and Dan: <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>IMO, even more basic (and probably more important) than that……..one would first need to define precisely what constitutes the one and only official CDT route before crews go out nailing up CDT emblems. That routing uncertainty is part of the joy (and the bane) of any CDT hike; there are lots of options; way more than there are on the PCT. For example:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>Does the Creede Cutoff become the official CDT route when heavy snow in the South San Juans makes the high route impassable or life-threatening?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>For the Purists out there, which trailhead is the “true” southern (or northern) terminus?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The list of alternates gets long quickly.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'>The CDT brings new meaning to the popular phrase “Hike your Own Hike” (aka HYO Route).<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='font-family:"Verdana","sans-serif"'><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>