Starting the last week in June.

Big 3
pack
pack liner (trash bag)
pack rain cover
tent, stakes, footprint
sleeping bag + liner
sleeping pad + air pump
small pillow

Clothes - worn
shoes
socks
hat
pants
shirt

Clothes - packed
pullover
silk bottoms
silk top
shorts
watch cap
mittens
extra socks
rain jacket

Electronics
headlamp + batteries
phone

First Aid
Benadryl
ibuprofen
acetaminophen
irrigation syringe
Pepto Bismol
Immodium
nitrile gloves
hydrocortisone cream
burn cream
rehydration packets
first aid booklet
gauze roll
gauze pads
bandaids
Neosporin
tweezers
alcohol swabs
moleskin
safety pins
magnifying glass
scissors
knife
ziplock baggies

Toiletries
toothpaste
toothbrush
eyeglasses + case
contact lense solutions + case
comb
camp towel
dental floss
toilet paper
sunscreen
eyeglass repair kit
bug repellent
camp soap

Kitchen & water
3L Platypus
Aqua Mira
stove + fuel
pot + lid
lighter + matches
fork, spoon

Misc.
compass
hiking poles
carabiners
maps + town info
whistle
bear bag rope + rock sack
pen + paper
duct tape
signal mirror
mosquito head net
sunglasses

Looking to do Molas Pass to Junction Creek in 7 days, taking my time and enjoying the scenery. I'm acclimated to the altitude as I live about an hour out of Durango. For aesthetic value and logistics (1 re supply), would you recommend sobo or nobo? Thanks!

A store in Lake City e-mailed me about top ten items to stock for CT hikers.


This would be for a grocery / general store. So limited gear items and mainly hiker-type food.

I really don't know the top ten, so I figured I'd ask everyone.

Off hand, my first few thoughts are

1. HEET
2. Fuel canisters
3. Ramen
4. Cous Cous
5. Starbucks Via (hey..a little luxury that's light and easy to pack)
6. Jerky -protein can be hard to get in a packable form
7. Snickers
?????

Other suggestions welcome!

was searching for some info about how much snow is on the ground in Colorado mountains, via the CTF.
http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/reportG...ue,TAVG::value

I think I can get 3 weeks off this summer, so I'm looking at doing a fast-ish CT thru hike. I did a pretty fast AT thru a few years ago -- I'm obviously not in that kind of shape, but I'm a distance runner, so I think I should be able to hit the trail doing pretty big miles. So, here's what I was thinking about for an itinerary (knowing that all long-distance hiking plans are made in pencil):

Days 1-4 Start to Breckenridge -- 105 miles (average about 26 miles/day)
Depending on how things are feeling, possibly take a 0 in Breckenridge
Days 5-9 or 10 Breckenridge to Salida -- 148 miles (average 25-29 miles/day)
Days 11 - 15 Salida to Silverton -- 156 miles (31 miles/day)
Days 16-18 Silverton to Durango -- 76 miles (25 miles/day, probably end mid-afternoon)

Something like that. Maybe start off a bit slower. I should be in the 8-10 lb base weight range, and I'm thinking about starting sometime late June. I hike a lot of miles because I like to be moving, and don't mind hiking long hours (but would rather not hike too much in the dark). Given the length of the days, I don't think daylight will be much of a constraint. A couple questions:
(1) How is altitude going to affect me and the pace at which I can go? I've never done much hiking at higher than about 6k. Going west, this is what I'd be starting at, and easing in, right?
(2) For those who have experience with the AT, how does the trail compare, as far as how well-graded, etc., and how fast you can expect to go? Is it something like Shenandoah (really easy), southern ME (insane), or somewhere in the middle?

Thanks a lot in advance for any help you can provide.

Hey all. I'm new to the cite and planning a CT thru hike starting late this June. I've been wandering through the CT Forum and haven't found any info on the mountain lion activity surrounding the trail. I'm going to be solo hiking (not too many people willing to take six weeks out of their life to go backpacking;)), so I figured it would be worth checking up on. So: any stories? Close encounters?

(I know that's far off the CT but this seemed the most relevant forum, mods please move if I'm wrong)

I plan on doing some hiking near Aspen in September. I want to go into town for a mail drop and groceries. I was actually planning in taking a zero there, maybe see a movie or something, but the hotels are Aspen-pricey. It looks like there are four campgrounds within 5 miles or so of town (Difficult and Silver Bar/Bell/Queen) but I don't have hard dates so making campground reservations isn't an option and it looks like they fill up quickly in the summer.

The ARC (Aspen Rec Center) lets you use their facilities (including showers) for $20/day. Is it possible to stealth near the river around there? I don't want to inadvertently tent in David Geffen's backyard or something.

Just got the app for my macbook and ipad. Pretty cool features. I like it. I already have the maps and guidebooks and data book so Im all set but some of you may want to check it out. Its the Colorado Trail App in Google store.

So when are all you guys starting? I am starting quasi-early, sometime in early July maybe even last few days of June.

So when do y'all plan on starting? Hopefully I'll see some of you guys I trail, always nice to have someone to talk to.

Clint

I'm starting to plan my thru for the summer, I should be starting sometime around July 1st.

Are any of you guys using a bounce box and/or food drops? And if so can you share the info on it? I've never done either and am curious about how to do it.

Thanks.
Clint

I'm thru-hiking the CT this summer and I need info if you have hitched from the CT to Leadville. I tentatively plan to arrive in Leadville during mid-week.

I realize there are two options from which to hitch into town. Option 1: North of town, Seg 9, Tennessee Pass (on Hwy 24). Option 2: Timberline Lake Trailhead (Seg 10) which is on the west side of Turquoise Lake (Turquoise Lake Rd) and west of town.

My guess is that the hitching is better mid-week on Hwy 24 from Tennessee Pass. However (question), what was your experience with the traffic and opportunities on Turquoise Lake Rd (how long did it take for a hitch)? So, which road--inputs/comments?

"When you come to the fork in the road--take it!"--Yogi Berra. (But here's why, when giving directions to friends going to his house they would arrive at a fork in the road. He would tell them to take the fork because the right or left would both end at his house.

Zuman

Slack Pack Seg 15 Marshall Pass
I'veheard of people slack packing segment 15 up to Marshall Pass.
My husband and I are hoping to get a shuttle to the top of Marshall pass andhike the segment all the way down. Then get a shuttle back the next day tostart segment 16.
Has anyone had experience with this?
Also, can anyone recommend a shuttle service in the area? Price?

Monarch Pass Campground
Hasanyone stayed at the Monarch Spur Campground on their thur. Its only a mile offthe trail and me and my husband thought it would be an easy place to find ashower and get some food.
We are hoping to send a drop box to the campground and stay their one night andmaybe slack pack Monarch Pass back down to the campground..