Starting on Saturday, July 7th

[wandering_bob]

Busker:

Be advised - the Denver REI is in downtown Denver; nowhere near the airport.

It is very easy to reach the Platte River on day one. The first 6.5 miles along the road in Waterton Canyon are essentially flat or only gradually rising, but you are out in the open, so start early if it's going to be hot. The next 6 miles are uphill under tree cover; the last 4.2 miles are all downhill, again under the trees. There is a great campsite at the top of that hill (on yourr left) butit is dry. Better to go all the way down to the river, where there are campsites across the bridge. Your body will thank you the next day when you're faced with the burned area in segment 2 (actually, almost ALL od segment 2 is burnt area.

Segment 2 is all uphill and out in the sun. You'll want an early start so as to reach the trailhead parking lot at the end without being fried. The only water in segment 2 is at the fire station near the road crossing. Your next water is a few miles into segment 3.

Breckenridge is 105 miles from Waterton Canyon and can be done comfortably in 6 days. Even if you think it will take 7 days, only carry food for six. The free Summit bus stops right across the highway and to the left at the end of segment 6. The little enclosed shelter is readily visible. If memory serves, the bus comes about every 45 minutes.

[Cookerhiker]

First of all, I don't think he wants to hike 16.8 miles on his first day - not when he's spoken of averaging 10 mpd. Secondly, camping is prohibited by the Platte. The guidebook doesn't mention this but the signs all around do. Thirdly since he's just arriving, I wouldn't think he'd get a very early start on Day 1.

I'd recommend he camp the first day at the Bear Creek crossing at 8.7 miles. Get an early start on Day 2, arrive at the Platte, camel up, fill up, cook your main meal, and then pack an extra liter for a dry camp partway through Segment 2. Get up early on Day 3 and he should get to the road before the heat of the day. The road marks the end of Segment 2 with the fire station within eyesight to fill up your water.

Oh by the way, Segment 2 isn't all uphill - it rolls a lot.

[StubbleJumper]

20 to 25 lb of food (11 kg to us Europeans :-) ) is a wee bit excessive to my mind. Thats why I am saying 7 days and it will probably be closer to 10 lb if I can get some sandwichs, snacks and crisps on the way (so now I am sure everything will be OK) - the more I carry the less chance I have of doing it but each day I walk the load gets lighter anyhow. I always tend to pack heavy anyhow (35 lb) which is maybe why I only average 10 mpd. The water I can live with but the heat could be difficult espically if its high humidity as well.
Maybe I will try the PO forwarding as a back up as it wouldnt hurt sending a few lb of food - but I am always a bit nervous about relying on this though.

"Hey ho, onwards and upwards apart from the downhill parts" was what my old headmaster used to say - mind you he died on Mont Blanc when he fell of.

You are leaving Denver with 10 lbs of food for 7 days? That's 1.5 lbs or 24 ounces of food per day. Personally, I have trouble finding foods that have sufficient calorie density to carry only 24 ounces per day. I need a minimum of 3,000 calories, preferably 3,500 (even at that, I began my CT hike last year at 189 lbs and finished at 168 lbs). Taking into account food preferences, I find that I need about 2 lbs per day (ie about 32 ounces of food at 110 or 120 calories per ounce).

A stop in Jefferson will certainly help. A 200 gram bag of potato chips has a lot of calories!

Why the aversion to sending a mail-drop? The US Postal Service is pretty reliable and a re-supply box costs about $5-6 to send up the trail. I mailed myself new socks and a whole re-supply to Twin Lakes and was quite pleased by the experience. You just need to be sure to arrive in town when the post office is open (ie, you might need to wake up and start hiking early in the morning to be sure to arrive in time). Ultimately, if everything goes completely awry you can simply abandon your re-supply box by never picking it up and all you lose is perhaps $15 of food and $5-6 of postage...you don't want to waste $20 but it's not exactly the end of the world if it happens.

[Busker]

I'd recommend he camp the first day at the Bear Creek crossing at 8.7 miles. Get an early start on Day 2, arrive at the Platte, camel up, fill up, cook your main meal, and then pack an extra liter for a dry camp partway through Segment 2. Get up early on Day 3 and he should get to the road before the heat of the day. The road marks the end of Segment 2 with the fire station within eyesight to fill up your water

That seems like sound advice to me and will probably take it on board as I dont really see that I am going to start until 12:00 at the earlyist (if thats a real word).

I will also give the postal drop a go, not being from the USA I have no idea how reliable it is. I am doing a couple of weeks with my brother on the AT just before the CT and will try it out there by posting some of my dead weight forward - if it works then I will post the food out at the same time as I pick the dead weight up from my finish point PO. Any pointers on how to do this would be apreciated (how to go about the posting that is)

[Don H]

Papa D, This sounds like a great hike! Enjoy yourself and stay safe.

[Cookerhiker]

That seems like sound advice to me and will probably take it on board as I dont really see that I am going to start until 12:00 at the earlyist (if thats a real word).

I will also give the postal drop a go, not being from the USA I have no idea how reliable it is. I am doing a couple of weeks with my brother on the AT just before the CT and will try it out there by posting some of my dead weight forward - if it works then I will post the food out at the same time as I pick the dead weight up from my finish point PO. Any pointers on how to do this would be apreciated (how to go about the posting that is)

If you're resupplying in Jefferson at Mile 72.2 (Kenosha Pass, US Rt. 285), then mail your supply box to Jefferson Market, 38600 Highway 285, Jefferson, CO 80456. Address it to yourself i.e. your name and write "hold for CT Thruhiker" in large lettering on the side. The people in the market are very friendly.

When you reach Kenosha Pass, the market is to the left, about 4-5 miles down in the valley. It's not a bad hitch.

Good luck!

[StubbleJumper]

That seems like sound advice to me and will probably take it on board as I dont really see that I am going to start until 12:00 at the earlyist (if thats a real word).

I will also give the postal drop a go, not being from the USA I have no idea how reliable it is. I am doing a couple of weeks with my brother on the AT just before the CT and will try it out there by posting some of my dead weight forward - if it works then I will post the food out at the same time as I pick the dead weight up from my finish point PO. Any pointers on how to do this would be apreciated (how to go about the posting that is)

Mail drops are dead easy. Just go to the post office, and buy a fixed rate priority post box. The small boxes (perhaps 20cm x 15cm x 5cm) cost $5-6 and for that fixed price you can jam in as much stuff as you like and send it anywhere in the USA. Once you've jammed the box full of food and other supplies, just take it to the post office and post it. The normal approach is to address it to yourself:

Your name
General Delivery
Bailey, Colorado
zip code

Hold for Colorado Trail hiker, expected arrival date July XX, 2012


Once you've sent your package, the only trick is to be sure that you arrive at the post office during its hours of operation (check USPS.com for each town's post office hours and their zip code). When you get to the post office, tell them that there is a package waiting for you. You'll need to present some ID (your passport) and then they'll give you your package. Dead easy.

When evaluating your re-supply options, you should consider using a mail-drop for Twin Lakes as the town is only about 1 mile off the trail which is really convenient, but the store has a very limited selection of food.

[SunnyWalker]

All of you: Have a delightful hike! I hope your days are peaceful and filled with beauty and wonder. Your evenings, star studded and eloquent. I will be a year behind you starting in 2013. I jus changed my plans from NB to SB and so will be following in your footsteps. Be careful and have a great time.

[Busker]

Thanks everyone for your great advice, greatly appreciated and hopefuly will meet all of you on my stroll across the mountains ;-)

[Busker]

Hi,
had to cancel at the very last minute due to family problems - will have to plan again fro next year. Enjoy yourselves everyone.


Regards


Patch