Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Hi all...
I made some fairly major updates to the my guide since this was last posted.
Added :
- Town info. Though a very hard hitch, there were questions about Saguache and Gunnison. Added the info. Could provide a good bailout point or break up the section for hikers going at 10-15 MPD pace. Other town info has been added as well.
- Canister info. Canister stoves are more popular. In Colorado, there are enough stores on the CT where they should be fairly easy to get (thanks to WB user Rick Armstrong for doing the heavy lifting on getting this info!)
- Dogs - There is an alt route not far from the start/end of the CT in Waterton Canyon that allows dogs access. It is slightly shorter than the Waterton Canyon portion and is off a fairly major road. I have the directions to get to the TH along with a link to a rudimentary map provided by the CTF. Note how the Western Trail orgs recognize and encourage alt routes.
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Thanks for the info MAGS,,, very helpful.
Thanks so much for this guide Mags. I recently thru-hiked the CT from Durango to Denver and really appreciated your guide. Definitely all you need as far as towns go. I lucked out and on the "notorious" hitch into Creede I was picked up within 15 minutes or so. Another fun side trip I took was to Aspen (where I decided to move after the trip to pursue my dream of being a ski bum). The hitch to Aspen over Independence Pass from Twin Lakes was really easy and there's a good grocery store in Aspen. Lodging is expensive of course though, but there's camping options. Anyway, awesome guide, thanks so much!!!
Deluxe
AT MEGA '07
PCT Mexico to Aqua Dulce (stress fracture) '09
CT NoBo '09
Hiking guide looks great Mags, as a follow resident of that great state, thanks for putting the time and effort into making a great guide.
"I told my Ma's and Pa's I was coming to them mountains and they acted as if they was gutshot. Ma, I sez's, them mountains is the marrow of the world and by God, I was right". Del Gue
Hey Mags, I know this is an old thread. Just looked at your CT guide, and your gear list.. Man, I wished I was brave enough to get my weight down that low.. I did look at the tent you had listed, but i just cant seem to get away from having a floor. I even took alook at the tarp and ALMOST bought one. hehe...Nope, not me.. Ill stick with my tarp/tent. But i like your list.. I finally got my base weight down to just over 7 pounds. I think that is apretty good job, myself..
Good information. good work...Could be usefull in the near future..
Graywolf
"So what if theres a mountain, get over it!!!" - Graywolf, 2010
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Thinking about hiking the CT? Do NOT leave home without it!
This is a work of art (labor of love).
Sincerest appreciation, Mags, from those that knows and thems that will.
Happy skiing on the new boards, buddy.
McPick
See ya!
When you get to those unexpected situations in life where it’s difficult to figure something out, just ask yourself, “What would MacGyver do?”
See ya!
Rickles McPickles
Great info. Thanks
Thanks a lot, Mags
I used your CT guide to plan my thru hike this year. It is simple and clear without too much deviations from what I've experienced on the trail. I printed out the town/resupply table doubles-sided on papers and carried it only. They're pretty handy for my night reading.
Hitches to the towns were almost all fabulous except for at Rt. 50 to Salida. I waited for nearly one hour with a burnt neck under the sun. Going into Creede at Spring Creek Pass was incredibly easy only to have waited less than 10 minutes. But it cost me more to stay in the motel and get shuttled back to the trail. I would make it to Lake City next time if I do it again.
I appreciate your excellent work.
Thanks for the kind words all...
All my docs are labors of love. I've been lucky over the years to see some cool things...and I believe in giving back. I also love to share, write and maybe make others enthusiastic over their own outdoor pursuits, too!
Hitching is hit or miss it seems! Spring Creek Pass is difficult for many people. Salida (due to all the MTBers) is usually easy. But, well, usally does not mean always!
Who woulda thunk it...
As for skiing..IT IS SNOWING IN TOWN!!!! WINTER IS ALMOST HERE!!!! WOOT! WOOT!
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Thanks Mags! This doc has been a great help. It stands as one of best single CT references online that I've found so far
P Mags "end to end" guide
trails illustrated maps
CT data book
Are all you need to plan a CT hike.
I knew Yogi is..
Power to them. I like to KISS..in planning and how I do trails. (Or maybe I am just simple minded? )
I don't know Eric at all, but Yogi is a good friend of mine (I stayed at her house on the way back from the BMT).
The Colorado Trail is definitely more popular than years past, so I could see why people would want a comprehensive town guide.
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Still no other guidebooks yet..but I did revise my KISS guide to the Colorado Trail.
http://www.pmags.com/colorado-trail-end-to-end-guide
Has a little more transport info and info on the Roxborough alt route (thanks given at the end of the doc!)
The 8th edition of the CT guidebook is now out and it is quite nice! Pick it up! Lots of expanded resupply info.
http://www.shop.coloradotrail.org/NE...ion-GUIDE8.htm
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
BUMP.
Revised it again.
http://www.pmags.com/colorado-trail-end-to-end-guide
More info for the increasingly popular Durango start (directions to TH, long term parking, etc.), info about long term parking for a Denver start now that Waterton Canyon is closed and the whole article is better organized. Check it out. Thanks to the CTF for a Colorado gem!!!!
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Another bump. Added some more alt routes, added some section hiking info. There is now (atually, as of Jan 2011) a shuttle from Leadville to Frisco on the Summit County transit system for $5. Makes section hiking easier! Also have info about a new map that could be used if you are interested in some of the alt routes and 14ers.
Check it out...
http://www.pmags.com/colorado-trail-end-to-end-guide-2
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Bump!
Updated to reflect new resources from Postholer.com and Erik the Black. The big change is the fact that Waterton Canyon will be open in time for thru-hiking season. Hurray!
http://www.pmags.com/colorado-trail-end-to-end-guide-2
Paul "Mags" Magnanti
http://pmags.com
Twitter: @pmagsco
Facebook: pmagsblog
The true harvest of my life is intangible...a little stardust caught,a portion of the rainbow I have clutched -Thoreau
Mags' guide helped us tremendously in planning last year's CT thruhike along with this WB thread on resupply: http://www.whiteblaze.net/forum/show...esupply-points