[pct-l] Hi all

[Jay Bruins]

On Sat, Jul 11, 2020 at 12:06 PM marmot marmot <marmotwestvanc at hotmail.com>
wrote:

> It seems that the CDT-L does not exist anymore so I’ll ask my questions
> here. Most people do the Gilla River alternative. It appears ,from Guthook,
> that the official route has water ( at least part of the way-I’m not
> completely sure).
> * Why do people choose the alt route? Fording the river countless times
> does not appeal to me. But I’ll do it if that’s only way with water.
>

The Gila is beautiful. The sandstone cliffs are quite spectacular, and
totally worth it. You can also make a side-trip to the Gila Cliff Dwellings
NM. Crossing a river once is a pain. Crossing it 147 times in two days is
entertaining. I had just come back from New Zealand so I was looking
forward to it!

As a compromise, do the southern half. Where the Gila High Route crosses
the river, follow it instead. The river north of there isn't noteworthy.


> * have any of you done the official route?
> * is there water?
> *is there a reasonably clear route on the ground or  enough Waypoints that
> it isn’t just wandering around semi-lost for days?
>

If you're talking about the Gila Alternate, there is mostly a trail on the
ground. The geography makes it such that if you lose it, you'll find it
again. Plenty of other spots on the CDT that are much harder to follow.


> * will I be forced to be on  Facebook to get this info? That I have
> avoided so far.
>

I've found the class-specific FB groups for most long trails have great
real-time information. I know plenty of hikers that use their trail name +
some other time (e.g. a first time) to create an account that is not tied
to their full name. The mobile website is reasonable (as opposed to the
bloated-as iOS app).


> A lot of this will be new for me. In ‘96 I used Wolf’s guidebook and list
> of maps and I followed Ray and Jenny’s route though New Mexico. It’s been
> so long since I did the CDT that even the parts that are the same will feel
> new. And I’m going to hike most of it the opposite direction. It will be
> exciting to see actual trail. If they exist. I’d like to have paper maps
> that have the route on them in addition to Guthook? Maybe if anyone knows
> of a better app —-let me know. Are Jonathan Ley’s maps still accurate? Is
> there something out there of which I am unaware?
>

I used Guthook with skimming JLey for the day or so ahead. (Guthook
comments often refer to JLey where it matters most.) Some of his alternates
are excellent, such as La Ventana Natural Arch. Others, not so much.
(Should I step over this fence in front of a game camera and a no
trespassing sign? 🤔) This was last year (2018).


> I won’t be on trail until next April. ‘21.  The first time I had piles of
> forest service and BLM maps in every resupply. So this time I was hoping
> for info that was little more compressed and simpler. Maybe even had a
> trail on the map.


Large swaths of the trail are being completed, but it's actually more
important to be aware of when you must *not* follow the trail even if it's
signed. I recall an 8 mile dead end in NM (that will eventually connect to
something) and a few routes in CO/WY that were clear as mud (easier just to
not follow the signed trail).


> I’m not expecting anything as obvious as the AT or PCT but I have hopes
> that it will be less of me just heading from Canada to Mexico with map and
> compass whatever  random, stumbling way I can figure out.
>

Choose your own adventure is still alive and well on the CDT. Embrace it!


> I plan to buy some sort of GPS messaging device before I go. Which one I’m
> not sure. Spot? INREACH?
>

InReach is useful for two-way messaging. If you like multi-functional gear,
it's an obvious call. (Yes, Spot X is a thing, but I don't have much
confidence in it. Iridium works well.)

InReach weather is pretty worthless, IMO. Its spot forecasting isn't good
enough to be accurate (I've stood in falling snow with a 0% chance). Worse,
specifically because it's trying to be a spot forecast, it misses the big
stuff (think all the things weather.gov would warn about if you had access
such as flooding, windstorms, or lightning). A concerned friend at home
sending you updates would be more helpful.