Continental Divide Trail

 *This is one of many trips that didn't get posted when I all but abandoned this blog back in 2015. It's now 2019 and I'm adding in that missing content in a more photo-based blog post, this trip was from 2016*

After last years poor showing on the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), which ended in a fractured foot, it's now time for a 2nd attempt. Like last year I would hike south which I'm convinced is the best way for any CDT hike. Why? Well, a northbound hike will likely hit heavy snowpack, leftover from winter, forcing a compromised route through some of the best hiking that the CDT has to offer in Colorado. 90% of hikers will head north and securing permits can be an issue for the busy Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. However, for me, the main reason for my southbound hike was I didn't want to experience an overcrowded trail like I had on my previous hike across the USA, on the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT). I love hiking in the USA because of the true wilderness that we just don't have in Europe and large numbers of other hikers can spoil that for me. 

CDT early exit

Sometimes hikes just don’t turn out as planed and unfortunately that’s been the case with the CDT. Regrettably I’ve been back in the UK for 3 weeks, with a fractured foot, after only covering 307mi of Montana (around 1/10th of the total CDT). Things had been going so well and I was already a couple of days ahead of schedule, conditions were perfect with snow levels throughout Glacier National Park the lowest they'd been for years. 

2015 hikes

My 2015 hikes have been planned for a while but I’ve just never got around to updating the blog, sorry! This should be a great year and because it has been almost 7 months since my last trip I’m starting off with a nice easy warmup hike along the Scottish National Trail (SNT). That will be followed, almost immediately, by my main hike the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). After such a long time off the trail I can’t wait to get started!