Hey ya'll. I'm planning a start date of either June 1st for the CT but starting at segment 10/11 in hopes to complete the trail going southbound from there in about 3 weeks. I'm curious if anyone has some snow updates for this time of the year on the CT and if there is anyone else out there whose itineraries line up. I'm expecting snow of course, but am trying to balance hopeful and downright foolish.

Hey team, former AT and PCT thru hiker here, I need some guidance on nailing a decent mileage plan.

My partner and I only have about 4 weeks to hike, our current float plan puts us doing 18 miles a day with ONE zero. We're in decent shape, but far from having real thru-hiker trail legs. How close are we cutting it with this pace? I feel prepared to embrace the suck, but also don't want to sign us up for a brutal pace, considering this is my partner's first thru. Thoughts?

Hello! I am in my mid 20s(f), am graduating college this May! I plan on driving out to CO from the Midwest late July, putting things in storage, hiking the CT sobo fully - then crashing with a friend until securing a job/space to live afterwards :)

I’m also doing this just with my dog! He’s a 4yo mid size rescue mutt who comes hiking, running daily, 2-3 night backpacking, and climbing with my (hiking and camping mostly and then always leashed at the crag when anyone is climbing, I’m a firm believer in crag-dog safety lol).

This will be his and my first long thru hike! Any gear or prep recommendations (esp with planning resupplies) are welcome/needed!

Thought I would make this more visible and searchable by making it its own post instead of just a comment in unrelated posts.

Just FYI for all Colorado Trail hikers: there is now (as of June '23) a food storage order for basically the first half (SOBO) of the trail.

The order states that you have to have a bear can or hang food. How it is worded indicates that there is not an exception for Ursacks, they must also be hung.

That also leaves bear cans as the only viable option in areas such as Collegiate West, being above tree line with no option to hang.

“If you can’t carry it in your soul or on your pack, you don’t need it.”

I am planning on doing the CT this summer but was wondering if anyone knows what is the longest water carry, I know there are some areas where there are cows and I don’t know what is the water condition? How many liters of water was the most I should expect to carry? Thankyou!!

I have the CT maps in FarOut and the physical version of the databook, but I don’t want to be carrying that. Anyone know of a way to get a virtual version of the databook? The FarOut maps are great, but I also like the way the info is presented in the databook.

In June I want to do segment seven of the Colorado Trail between Breckenridge and Copper Mountain.

I'm looking for suggestions on how I can best arrange a ride back to my car.

Like, would Uber be an option, or is there some other way you would suggest I prearrange that ride?

I can do the hike from either direction, so whichever works best. Like, if I start at Copper Mountain and end at Breckenridge maybe booking an Uber or taxi is a legit option?

I'm on my own so I can't arrange a ride from family.

** Edit **

Follow up question. Are there water sources on this hike and, in general, what app/tool identifies water sources on these kinds of hikes?

Hey y'all I had a quick question for those of you who know the area well. How easy is the hitch from monarch to Salida (and back)? I did the collegiate loop last summer and passed by the store, didnt really see anybody hitching. Was planning on doing the entire CT this summer and wanted to check out Salida because I've heard good things. I am planning on doing the Collegiate West again and was going to carry food from twin lakes so highway 50 would be my easiest access point and convenient next resupply. Appreciate the info!

Hello! I walked the whole camino frances this mars, its kind lf the same lenght, and i am thinking of doing the whole colorado train in july! Is there anything i have to think of thats different? Apart from bringing my own tent.

Background in the comments.

Lighter: https://lighterpack.com/r/gdys16

Lazier: https://lighterpack.com/r/2ox1hq

OK, I've bought all the gear, studied the maps, endless youtube sessions, lightning safety background etc, I'm ready to go. The part that still confuses me is this: there are warnings all over the place (I'm looking at you CTF) about being above tree line in the afternoon during monsoon season. Fair enough, a place like Snow Mesa is probably crossable in a morning. But further south in Segments 21-24 (at least) the trail is up top for more than 50 miles so there is no getting below tree line. It seems the bottom line guidance for thunderstorms up there is 1. don't be on a ridge or a peak, 2. don't be the highest thing, 3. don't be unlucky. I think I have 3. right but I'd love to know if I'm missing something.

I have 2-3 months of PTO I can take this summer and want to hike the entirety of the CT. I am from CO but live in San Diego now, so my hiking has dwindled over the past few years. I did complete a full Ironman 6 months ago, but I haven't been keeping up with my cardio as much as I would like. I am a late 20's female.

1. How much time do I need to allocate to hiking the CT (especially at a slower pace)? What milage can I expect in a day?
2. What would be the best training between now and mid-July (or please share if you think I can get away with starting earlier) to ensure I am in shape to successfully hike the CT injury-free and knowing that I won't be able to train in CO much prior to the trek?
3. Any advice for a solo woman hiker?
4. I need to update a bunch of gear... any suggestions or resources on what to pack?
5. Any general advice in taking on this endeavor?

Thank you in advance for your wisdom and insights! :)

Hey good morning anyone have any advise for segments 7,8,9 planning on doing them in a total time of 6 days fitness leave is not great.

In your experience, what is a good goal spot to reach if I only have 3 weeks to hike and would like to have access (train, plane, hitch, etc.) to Denver to fly back home? I’m flying in from Chicago and would like to knock out over half of the trail if possible.

https://forms.gle/4kxsUBZrhUuMfFbx5

My name is McLin Sanders and I am an Entrepreneurship Major at the University of Mississippi. I am starting an outdoor company and would love your feedback. The idea for my company is to prepare an aspiring thru hiker to successfully undertake a thru-hike. I have hiked 3,300+ miles over the past four years.

My website with my adventures: mclinduke.com

My first thru-hike was the Appalachian Trail. While on the trail, my father helped me out logistically. I could shoot him a text to schedule a shuttle driver pick up from the trail or to book a room ahead for me in a hostel. This helped me immensely on my thru-hike because hiking 2,193 miles is hard enough, and if you have to plan out everything in-between, it can be even more difficult. With the stress of planning out town stays alleviated, and with the peace of mind starting the trail knowing you have the correct gear + how to use it, I believe we can make completing a thru-hike easier and subsequently we can expand the long distance hiking community.

I am currently looking at starting my thru hike around the middle of June due to a few things that I can't miss later in the summer and school starting back up in the beginning of September. With that being said I have a few questions regarding what that hike would look like.

The first question relates to the amount of snow that I will encounter and if I will need microspikes or something similar to deal with that. And if so what do y'all recommend when it comes to microspikes. Second, what is the snowpack looking like this year? I have tried to look at the different graphs for it but since I am not from a place that generally gets snow the information just doesn't make sense to me.

Another thing I was wondering about is food storage. I have seen a lot of people talking about how they were using Ursaks and others just sleeping with their food. On my last hike I used a hilltop packs food bag and was able to hang it each night (I know this isn't an option due to lack of good trees). Are the mice and other animals that bad that I need to be seriously worried about them chewing into my tent?

Finally, I need a pack shakedown for the trail. The stuff I have labeled with green stars I still need to purchases and the items labeled with red stars I am looking at replacing to save some weight. Is there anything that y'all see I can replace to save some weight or just cut out completely? And is there anything I don't have on there that I need to add for this hike?

also what would the weather be like during the trek? do I need more clothing to keep warm while in camp/ morning time or would a jacket and some base layers be warm enough?

Thanks for any input/ help in advance. I can't wait to get back on a trail and start knocking out miles again.

https://lighterpack.com/r/agc7g7

I am unfamiliar with hiking in Colorado. How likely are August summer storms above treeline to be life-threatening? And how do you know? What if a storm turns nasty and you are way up there and it will be a long time before you can get low? Sorry if these are dumb questions.

Hey all, I’m planning on finishing up the northern Washington sections (~200 miles) of the PCT and the Colorado Trail SOBO this summer. It’s too early to predict the dates this point, but does anyone have thoughts on which to hike first given the bugs and weather in Washington and Colorado? Seems like late July or early Aug start for the CT is ideal. I’d want to be done hiking both trails by the beginning of September

Budget:

$600 USD if I need to but I prefer to replace the least amount possible

Non-negotiable Items:

I would prefer to keep my bear can for simplicity and because of lack of good hangs on the trail

Additional Information:

• In my lighterpacks I have labeled currently unpurchased Items I am thinking of getting with a red star and items that I already own but am deciding between with a yellow star.
• The amount of food I estimate I need may be exaggerated because I am unsure of the pace I will be hiking. There is much more elevation on this trail compared to my local trails so I assumed I would be hiking at a slower pace than normal (roughly 14-16 miles per day).

Questions:

One of my biggest concerns as of now is if my clothing and quilt will hold up to nights at high altitude, Is a 30 degree quilt enough as long as I'm willing to wear some of my extra layers to bed?

Lighterpack Link: https://lighterpack.com/r/jlllt1

Maybe I'm buzzing from the extra coffee I just had but I can barely contain my excitement for this summer hiking season!! I am SO DONE with winter I just want the snow to all melt.

I'm planning to continue segment hiking, I've done 1-5 in the past couple years and I'm itching to hike 6 & 7 from Kenosha to Copper Mt over a long weekend. Maybe early June depending on snowpack.

I understand the walk through Waterton Canyon is along the South Platte River; is that an easily available source, or are the banks and/or vegetation to severe to allow access?

SNOTEL program run by USDA: SNOTEL

Postholer.com, interpreting the SNOTEL and other data: Postholer

I’m planning to section-hike the CT in 2024, returning to my home in northern NM between sections. The period from July 10 through August 27 is mostly open, but with trips back home and my expected daily mileage of about 10 mpd, may need to hike earlier and later. I would like to see if anyone can recommend specific sections for late May through early June, or early to mid September. Thoughts?

First time section hiking CT in mid August. I was wondering what the common method for food storage is? Can I get away with doing a PCT hang in a Dyneema bear bag or are ideal trees with suitable branches limited?

I’ve seen people tie ursacks to tree trunks or do you hang your ursacks PCT hang aswell?

Reading through the official guide and there was a blurb in there asking people to bring a pocket chainsaw for use on downed trees on the trail. “Only” 5 ounces, but how many of y’all actually bring a saw for spontaneous trail maintenance?

Hello! Looking for recs for a tent for the CT this summer. Want something that a person can sit up and and not be crammed (single person, but maybe a 2p tent?) and would love for it to be supported with hiking poles to avoid extra weight. Any help is greatly appreciated!

I'm thinking of trying to do a few section hikes on the first half dozen segments over the next few weeks. Has anyone done any day hikes there and have feedback on trail conditions? Are these segments hikable yet?