Everything Thru-Hikers Need to Know About the CDT: Continental Divide Trail Q&A

Рет қаралды 3,148

2 ай бұрын

Today I wanted to answer as many questions about the Continental Divide Trail as possible. After thru-hiking in 2022, I remember all too well the feeling of overwhelm that can come before taking on this extremely exciting but daunting trail. It certainly is a beast with more unknowns and logistical concerns than the other triple crown trails, so in hopes of helping prospective thru-hikers I wanted to share a little bit of what I know about the Continental Divide Trail.
This video goes over a lot of common CDT questions, including: Should you hike the CDT nobo or sobo? When’s the best time to start the CDT? What is resupply like on the CDT? Where should you send boxes on the CDT? What gear do you wish you’d brought on the CDT? What are the water sources like on the CDT? What alternates should you take on the CDT? How do you find alternates on the CDT? What are the trail towns like on the CDT? What are the BEST trail towns on the CDT? How do you prepare for the CDT? How do you stay motivated on the CDT? How do you deal with bears on the CDT? AND SO MUCH MORE.
If you have any MORE questions, please leave them in the comments and I’ll do my best to answer.
Getting the Jonathan Ley maps:
Download the Avenza Maps App from the App store. Search for “Jonathan Ley” and download the map sets you’ll need for each section. The maps are available for free, but I encourage you to donate to Jonathan to thank him for all of his meticulous work. You can do so by sending money via PayPal to his email: jonathan@phlumf.com.
Getting the Farout CDT Alts:
Download the FarOut app: bit.ly/3Km90wY from the app store and purchase either the CDT maps or a FarOut subscription. Alts will be obvious once you are looking at each section.
New videos every WEDNESDAY!
Blog version: www.eliseott.com/backpacking-...
My CDT Series following my 2022 thru-hike: • Continental Divide Tra...
My favorite CDT alternates: • Beyond the CDT: Must-S...
*These links are affiliate links which means I receive a small commission if you use them to purchase, at no cost to you! Thanks for your support!
CDT Gear List: www.eliseott.com/cdt-gear-list
Specific gear mentioned in this video:
Ursack: app.rockporch.com/prd/2frX2zksbW
Sun Umbrella: bit.ly/4afF3J8
Remember to always follow LNT!

Пікірлер: 49

@canesrock82 23 күн бұрын

Good coverage. Great input. This is a great year going, NOBO. Over 400 on the trail to date.

@eliseott 18 күн бұрын

Love to see it!! thanks for watching!

@nathanseago3467 Ай бұрын

Great overview. Thanks for answering all those questions.

@Glazehikes 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Sauce. Really enjoyed the motivation portion and breaking things down into small mental chunks like I can do anything for a half a mile. I have certainly struggled on bad days over the years, so always love hearing how people deal with the harder mental days. Peace and happy trails to you and Kid

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

It's interesting how we all handle those differently! Happy trails! :)

@lenisteingen3036 2 ай бұрын

Thank you so much for this. It’s exactly what I needed.❤

@Josephhikes 2 ай бұрын

I always enjoy your videos, you do an excellent job with really good content information.

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

thank you so much!

@ocaphoenix5347 2 ай бұрын

PERFECT!! - many thx! come & see us when u come thru Lordsburg - anyone reading this! ENJOY! x

@eliseott Ай бұрын

A native Lordsburgian! That's so kind of you!

@jessicakennedy1742 Ай бұрын

Sauce, thank you so much for the validation! I am heading to Crazy Cook on April 7th. I'm also hiking the CDT to show myself that I can and to show that women belong on the trail. I hiked the CT in 2022, and it was such a rewarding experience. You've been such an inspiration for me, and I'm very excited (and nervous) to get out there!

@eliseott Ай бұрын

SO SOON! YAY!! I'm tearing up at this comment. You are going to ROCK it. The nerver are normal, I was a total wreck before the CDT, but Colorado is honestly one of the hardest parts and you already have that experience! Have so much fun!

@canesrock82 23 күн бұрын

Why shouldn't women be on the trail?

@eliseott 21 күн бұрын

@@canesrock82 they should be! Backpacking can be a more male dominated activity but I think that’s changing.

@canesrock82 21 күн бұрын

@eliseott to be fair, I think she was trying to say something more. I live in the PNW. I've been hiking since the 90s. There are definitely more women on the trails now. The issues start when other women attack other women for hiking solo. I'm active on several blogs, and it's other women discouraging solo hiking instead of support and just encouraging them to be prepared. I've followed several women that thru hiked or section hiked the CDT. I wish they were acknowledged more.

@PaulEgges 2 ай бұрын

I really liked having my umbrella for doing the Colorado Trail. Both for sun and rain. I was really skeptical when I decided to get one, but was really happy that I did. Thanks for the video. While I have done the Colorado Trail I have resisted the idea of doing the CDT or PCT. The PCT just seems like a hassle, and the CDT very long. But I'm rethinking this and perhaps I'll do the CDT next year.

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

Umbrellas are one of those controversial pieces of gear that people either hate or love. I'm definitely in the love camp! Why does the PCT seem like a hassle? And the CDT definitely is long, but I would say for most people it's more like 2,700 miles instead of the 3,100 you often hear.

@PaulEgges 2 ай бұрын

@@eliseott It seems to me that permits are required and the trail seems to vary depending on closures for fires. It also seems a lot more crowded than the Colorado Trail. I did the Colorado Trail from South to North. I found this interesting as not many people go that way. I would say probably roughly only 5-10 percent. Of course for CDT people the opposite may hold true. Good luck with your channel!

@kevinmcguire7670 2 ай бұрын

Great Job! Thanks for sharing.

@markgreen6437 2 ай бұрын

This is great I feel like I see so much about the pct and AT but not this detail for the CDT! Thank you for posting!

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

yay!! you're welcome! I've noticed that too, just tyring to help out my fellow backpackers! thanks for watching :)

@ThompsonBearden 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for this. I’m downloading for future reference. Totally enjoyable and informative presentation.

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

awesome! thanks for watching!

@dillydally1991 2 ай бұрын

Thank you for doing this! I'm starting NOBO in late April and this is very helpful/validating. Thank you.

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

YAY!! have so much fun!! it's an awesome trail. Glad it was helpful!

@abz6848 2 ай бұрын

This is amazing, thank you!!

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

thanks for watching!

@Mari_World 2 ай бұрын

Very informative 👏🏻 thank you

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

thank YOU for watching!

@jakeva9802 2 ай бұрын

Good sound advice

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

thank you!

@Muffin1280 2 ай бұрын

Had the same experience leaving Grants. Only 2 liters but I continued to follow the road and a few cars stopped and gave me water and some gatorade.

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

I feel like walking out of town lulls you into a false sense of security that you'll be able to get water, but then all of a sudden you can't. That's great some cars stopped though!

@samsammmm470 2 ай бұрын

starting cdt 7th april, thanks for all the tips.

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

yay!! congrats and have a blast!! it's a fantastic trail!

@Swimdeep 2 ай бұрын

Great tips for CDT hikes. 🌿

@Swimdeep 2 ай бұрын

P.S. My longest food carry is 28 days in the Sierra. Started off with a 72 lbs pack. Brutal. 🌿

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

thank you! and OMG!!! Honestly being out for that long sounds fantastic but I bet that first week was brutal.

@Swimdeep 2 ай бұрын

@@eliseott When we came down off and finished at Mineral Springs, you could have busted a 2x4 over my body, I was so solid. At age 62 now, I continue to reap the benefits of an always active lifestyle. As a female, a lifetime of physical exertion has made many of the foibles of getting older far less dramatic.🌿

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

@@Swimdeep that’s amazing! I love that feeling of being so in shape you feel invincible. I hope to stay as active as you throughout my life! I know that load bearing exercise is good for the bones.

@Swimdeep 2 ай бұрын

@@eliseott It totally is. Keep doing you forever Elise. 🌿

@AndyShepard 2 ай бұрын

Everybody loves sauce!

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

Idk if that's true but I'm blushing!

@DS-pj3hu 2 ай бұрын

Do you have a video like this for the PCT? Starting in 3 weeks 😬

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

I don't currenlty, I'm a little worried some of my info would be too outdated (since it's been since 2019) but I'll try to do one and answer what I can! If you have any burning questions in the meantime feel free to ask or message me on IG (I get to DMs there pretty often).

@ranahanani7625 2 ай бұрын

How did you get the trail name 'Sauce?'

@eliseott 2 ай бұрын

It was originally 'SOS' which stood for Soup On Sand, after I spilled my dinner of soup on a sandy creek bed. It was my last dinner so I still ate most of it, buried the rest. Then it just started being pronounced phonetically and after a few situations where I realized "SOS" wasn't the best thing for people to shout to me in the woods, I started just going by Sauce.