Resupply along the CW

[BensMusicHiker]

Hey folks, so I know a lot of peoples thru-hikes are in the last planning stages and if y'all are anything like me your insanely pumped!!!!!d I was curious if anyone was opting to take the new CW route rather than the normal CE. If so where do you plan to resupply? I will be picking up a box at Twin Lakes and hope to make it the end of the CW before I resupply. Just curious as to where some of you might be sending your packages and or resupplying.

[Coffee]

I'm planning to send a box to Twin Lakes with a little over four days of food which should get me to Monarch Pass where I'll hitch into Salida. There is also a possibility of sending a package to the Monarch Crest store which was my original plan. However, by planning to hitch into Salida instead I give myself the option of diverting to the Collegiate East if the weather forecast looks particularly bad. The Collegiate West is much more exposed than the Collegiate East. I'm really hoping to hike the CW however, since the rerouted sections look awesome.

[BensMusicHiker]

Monarch Crest Store is right off the trail correct ?

[K6VOI]

We are resupplying at Twin lakes and then Salida - we are taking 5 days/4 nights through the CW - We are contemplating on our first resupply being Breckenridge or jefferson - the difference being a 7 day carry compared to a 4 day carry ...

Here is our current resupply plan: (we may toss Jefferson in there - not sure yet - I hear the general store has homemade fudge though....yummmm)

Breck
Leadville
Twin Lakes
Salida
Creede
Silverton

Starting on July 26 - can't wait!

[bearcreek]

We are contemplating on our first resupply being Breckenridge or jefferson - the difference being a 7 day carry compared to a 4 day carry ...

It's 32.7 miles of good trail from Kenosha Pass to Breckenridge. If you can get to Jefferson in four days, you can get to Breckenridge in six. Breck is a much better place to resupply than Jefferson. Free buses, great rec center for showers, good stores, restaurants, etc. Jefferson is fairly far off-trail and you will waste a lot of time hitching there and back. Good BBQ place, though.

[Coffee]

Monarch Crest Store is right off the trail correct ?

Yes, according to the data book.

[Coffee]

I'm also thinking about Jefferson as a way of slightly lightening my initial load. it should be possible to resupply for the day and a half to Breckenridge in the small store based on my understanding of what's there. Supposed to be an easy hitch. I'll make a final decision once I weigh my fully loaded pack. It's a pretty minor difference either way...

[32ozgatorade]

We are resupplying at Twin lakes and then Salida - we are taking 5 days/4 nights through the CW - We are contemplating on our first resupply being Breckenridge or jefferson - the difference being a 7 day carry compared to a 4 day carry ...

Here is our current resupply plan: (we may toss Jefferson in there - not sure yet - I hear the general store has homemade fudge though....yummmm)

Breck
Leadville
Twin Lakes
Salida
Creede
Silverton

Starting on July 26 - can't wait!

THis is pretty much my plan, but I may throw Buena Vista in there as well.... Hitting the trail on June 26th...

[K6VOI]

wel, I suppose on Day 4 - and my hunger, homemade fudge might be the deciding factor about a hitch into Jefferson! lol - I hope everyone reports back with water reports and trail conditions and just let us know how awesome your trip was!

[Cookerhiker]

I'm also thinking about Jefferson as a way of slightly lightening my initial load. it should be possible to resupply for the day and a half to Breckenridge in the small store based on my understanding of what's there. Supposed to be an easy hitch. I'll make a final decision once I weigh my fully loaded pack. It's a pretty minor difference either way...

We resupplied at both Jefferson and Breckenridge because we wanted to keep our packs light in the first quarter of the hike. Our round trip between Kenosha Pass and Jefferson took less than 45 minutes. Admittedly we lucked out because the guy that picked us up offered to take us back to the Pass after we picked up our maildrops at the Jefferson store and bought a few things.

[Venchka]

We are resupplying at Twin lakes and then Salida - we are taking 5 days/4 nights through the CW - We are contemplating on our first resupply being Breckenridge or jefferson - the difference being a 7 day carry compared to a 4 day carry ...

Here is our current resupply plan: (we may toss Jefferson in there - not sure yet - I hear the general store has homemade fudge though....yummmm)

Breck
Leadville
Twin Lakes
Salida
Creede
Silverton

Starting on July 26 - can't wait!

This thread prompted me to do a bit of poking around for additional information regarding food and resupply on the Colorado Trail.
I found this extensive food list and resupply strategy. A few of my essential food groups are missing-it is a vegan list. These folks omitted Leadville & Silverton. They went to Creede to visit friends. I think that I would return to Lake City.

http://urbyville.com/resupply-and-town-review/

Oh yeah, this couple are not your normal hikers. Very strong indeed.

Wayne

[colorado_rob]

Aha!!! That's where I've seen them before (Matt and Julie Urbanski), "Between a Rock and a White Blaze". Good link Wayne, thanks.

[Venchka]

You're welcome.

Wayne


Sent from somewhere around here.

[LeadZeppelin]

My current plan is similar to the last link posted to urbyville. I'm trying to do the trail in 21 days, so I need to move pretty quickly. I don't want to waste a lot of time getting back and forth from towns and trying to find my way around them while I'm there. I'm currently planning on four town stops:

Breckenridge
Twin Lakes
Salida
Creede

I'm not sure if I'll be able to take the CW. It'll depend on several factors--most notably whether I'm on schedule and if I think the weather will be okay for me to pull 23+ mile days on the higher ridge line. I figure if I plan on making a stop in Salida, I can do that from either the CE or CW. I'll probably send a maildrop to Twin Lakes. The others should have sufficient groceries.

[handlebar]

Lead Zeppelin, Recommend you replace Creede with Lake City from Spring Creek Pass. LC has a good hostel run by CDT thru hiker "Lucky" and a couple grocery stores good for full resupply. Outfitter has gas canisters.

[LeadZeppelin]

handlebar, thanks for the recommendation! I don't know how I missed Lake City in my plans, but it seems to be a much better pit stop for my hike. I'll be planning that as my last stop now. Thanks again!

[K6VOI]

we are looking forward to a zero in Salida and Creede - from what I have read, these are very cool towns. Actually, I am looking forward to all the towns - only 46 more days! Headed out into the Sierra's next weekend for a 4 day 50 mile loop. Gettin' our backpacking on before the CT!

[Dogwood]

On the CW route I resupplied at Twin Lakes and in Salida, hitching from Monarch Crest/Pass(zero day). You could add in Tincup or a sketchy hitch to Princeton Hot Sprgs too on the CW route.

[Dogwood]

Also rec LC Hostel. It wasn't a hard hitch from Spring Crk Pass into LC and back to the CT for me in Oct of last year. Got a ride into LC in 15 mins at the parking lot and got a two ride hitch back to the pass within 10 mins of starting to hitch on Main St in LC.

[Dogwood]

Salida is a great trail town w a great hostel and not hard to reach from Monarch Pass.