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  1. #1
    Registered User Stephen M.'s Avatar
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    Default Hiking partner for Colorado Trail 2012 l

    I am a 51 year old male, married with three grown children. I live in Colorado and am planning to do either a through hike of the Colorado Trail in the summer of 2012 or do sections 1 thru 14 in 2012 and sections 15 - 28 in 2013. Anybody else planning to hike the Colorado Trail next summer and would like a hiking partner, please let me know.

    Stephen

  2. #2
    Registered User Papa D's Avatar
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    Private message me - I'm interested

  3. #3
    Registered User garbanz's Avatar
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    I thru hiked the AT this year and the CT is on my list for late summer 2012. That is if I can get someone to watch over my 70 acres here in southern Indiana. I just retired before starting in Springer so Im a fit 61 and have hiked the LT, JMT, Isle Royale, and Wonderland Trail. A partner from Colorado would be great for the CT.

  4. #4
    Registered User Stephen M.'s Avatar
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    Hey Garbanz,

    That is an impressive list of miles you have racked up!

    I have hiked and backpacked in Colorado for many years, though my backpacking trips have been limited to long weekends. After doing section 6 of the Colorado Trail a few years ago with my kids I have decided I want to hike the entire trail.

    I am wanting to do sections 1 thru 14 during the summer of 2012 and sections 15 thru 28 during the summer of 2013.

    Are you planning on hiking the entire trail in 2012 if you can get someone to watch your land? Are you thinking of a July or August start?

    Even if you are plannining on hiking the entire trail. I could hike the first half of it with you.

    Let me know if it looks like it will work out for you and you would like a hiking partner.

    Stephen

  5. #5
    Peakbagger Extraordinaire The Solemates's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by garbanz View Post
    I thru hiked the AT this year and the CT is on my list for late summer 2012. That is if I can get someone to watch over my 70 acres here in southern Indiana. I just retired before starting in Springer so Im a fit 61 and have hiked the LT, JMT, Isle Royale, and Wonderland Trail. A partner from Colorado would be great for the CT.
    i hope to have your dilemma some day
    The only thing better than mountains, is mountains where you haven't been.

    amongnature.blogspot.com

  6. #6
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    In beginning stages of planning thru hike, my first. Planning on starting in Denver late June, July 1st at latest. Have some friends and a wife that will be with me for some, hopefully most segments but always enjoy additional company on trail. Maybe we can meet up if mileage is similar.

  7. #7
    Registered User Sensei's Avatar
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    I'm planning on starting in Denver July 5-10, and I have a few hiking buddies from my AT thru last year that might join me. Can't wait to get back on the trail!
    This is an adventure.

  8. #8
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    I'm just now finalizing gear and really starting to plan my trip as well. First time long distance backpacker, but I'm 23, recently unemployed and don't see a better time in my life to do this. I hadn't thought of doing the CT with a stranger, but some company would surely be welcomed (even if for short periods). I hadn't set a departure date yet due to the weird snow season we're having (and the fact that I have no time constraints on the end of the trip). I assume I'll be wanting to head out in early/mid July, just like most people.

    I'd love to get some emails from people looking for potential trip partners (be it longterm or short)

  9. #9
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    I too have just recently found myself to be of the unemployed nature. Gov't. cutbacks have hit the contracting world pretty hard..

    I'm a 33yr old, male. 10+ year Military Vet who's looking at the possibility of an "adventure of a life-time" experience. I'll be hiking with my German Shepherd possibly starting from Durango to make the return trip to Southern New Mexico a little easier. I have yet to nail down a start date, but it'll likely be in late May-early June.

    I'm a man of few words and one who prefers solitude but I am open to the possibility of hiking with someone whom obviously doesn't mind the presence of my dog.

  10. #10
    Registered User Papa D's Avatar
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    It is looking like I'll probably do all of the CT that I can between the dates of July 6 and July 24 - - I'll show up in shape and ready to roll. I've just ordered the guidebook and am getting excited about it. I know that we private messaged a bit and I was un-sure - I'm still not positive, but I have clearance from the family - who will be at the beach - I would like to hike with you but I've always felt that solid (we're hiking in lock-step) partnerships tend to mess-up people's hikes. If we were to hike together which would be fun, I'd like to keep it loose. I'll probably hike 16 actual days - 20 miles per day wouldn't be a too far fetched average for me - I'd love to get over 300 miles done - this would set-up such that I could finish the CT in '13 in "a couple of weeks."

  11. #11
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    Hey There,
    Im in the same boat as you are with the job situation. Ive recently moved to Co and have always wanted to live off the land and have a meaningful journey thru the Rocky Mountains. I have a friend that said he would want to go, but unfortunatly im not surehow reliable his answer was. Even if he doesnt come with me on my journey, i am still gonna set forth. I had planned on starting my trip around the 1st of may. This will be my first time backpacking, esp this far. If your interested in making the trip, please contact me. Also, im not sure if once i get to the end if i might just head back north or east and venture to other places. That will all depend on how the first few hundred miles go. So please if your interested let me know

  12. #12
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    Dates
    June 9-17 (segments 1-6)

    Resupply on day 7 @ end of segment 5

    Day
    Date
    Segment
    miles/day
    Cumulative miles
    Elevation
    1
    Sat. 6/9
    1
    14
    14
    7200
    2
    Sun. 6/10
    1 & 2
    2.8+10.7=13.5
    27.5
    7600
    3
    Mon. 6/11
    2 & 3
    .8+9.1=9.9
    37.4
    7900
    4
    Tues. 6/12
    3 & 4
    3.6+8.7=12.3
    49.7
    10200
    5
    Wed. 6/13
    4
    6.4 @ 14.4 pt.
    56.1
    10880
    6
    Thurs. 6/14
    4 & 5
    2.2+11.3=13.5
    69.6
    10200
    7
    Fri. 6/15
    5 & 6
    3.1+11.2=14.3
    83.9
    11600
    8
    Sat. 6/16
    6
    11.6 @ 22.8 pt.
    95.5
    11000
    9
    Sun. 6/17
    6
    10.1 @32.9 pt.
    105.6
    9200
    Mon-Tues. 6/18-19
    Leadville
    Wed-Mon. 6/20-25
    Telluride

    June 26-July 7 (segments 7-14)

    Resupply on day 3 @ end of segment 8, on day 5 @ end of segment 10, on day 9 @ 6.5 mile mark

    Day
    Date
    Segment
    miles/day
    Cumulative miles
    Elevation
    1/10
    Tues. 6/26
    7 & 8
    12.8+1.7=14.5
    120.1
    9760
    2/11
    Wed. 6/27
    8
    12.5 @ 14.2 pt.
    132.6
    11000
    3/12
    Thurs. 6/28
    8
    11.2 @ 25.4 pt.
    143.8
    10424
    4/13
    Fri. 6/29
    9
    13.6 @ 13.6 pt.
    157.4
    10040
    5/14
    Sat. 6/30
    10
    13 @ 13 pt.
    170.4
    10080
    6/15
    Sun. 7/1
    11
    11.3 @ 11.3 pt.
    181.7
    9200
    7/16
    Mon. 7/2
    11 & 12
    9.8+4=13.8
    195.5
    10900
    8/17
    Tues. 7/3
    12
    11.2 @ 15.2 pt.
    206.7
    10280
    9/18
    Wed. 7/4
    12 & 13
    3.3+9=12.3
    219
    8900
    10/19
    Thurs. 7/5
    13
    13.8 @ 22.8 pt.
    232.8
    8360
    11/20
    Fri. 7/6
    14
    9.9 @ 9.9 pt.
    242.7
    9600
    12/21
    Sat. 7/7
    14
    11 @ 20.9 pt.
    253.7
    8840
    Sun-Tues. 7/8-10
    Leadville







    July 11-July 18 (segments 15-21)
    Resupply on day 4 @ start of segment 18?

    Day
    Date
    Segment
    miles/day
    Cumulative miles
    Elevation
    1/22
    Wed. 7/11
    15
    14.2 @ 14.2 pt.
    267.9
    10880
    2/23
    Thurs. 7/12
    16
    12.8 @ 12.8 pt.
    280.7
    10800
    3/24
    Fri. 7/13
    16 & 17
    2.4+10.5=12.9
    293.6
    10920
    4/25
    Sat. 7/14
    17 &18
    9.9+1.7=11.6
    305.2
    9680
    5/26
    Sun. 7/15
    18 & 19
    12.1+.4=12.5
    317.7
    9600
    6/27
    Mon. 7/16
    19 & 20
    13.3+1.3=14.6
    332.3
    10360
    7/28
    Tues. 7/17
    20 & 21
    11.4+2.4=13.8
    346.1
    12000
    8/29
    Wed. 7/18
    21
    12.4 @ 14.8 pt.
    358.5
    10898
    Thurs-Fri. 7/19-20
    Creede

    July 21-August 1 (segments 22-28)
    Resupply on day 5 @ end of segment 24- Silverton

    Day
    Date
    Segment
    miles/day
    Cumulative miles
    Elevation
    1/30
    Sat. 7/21
    22
    8.7 @ 8.7 pt.
    367.2
    11700
    2/31
    Sun. 7/22
    22 & 23
    8.4+5.5=13.9
    381.1
    12200
    3/32
    Mon. 7/23
    23 & 24
    6.7+2.7=9.4
    390.5
    10900
    4/33
    Tues. 7/24
    24
    13.2 @ 15.9 pt.
    403.7
    9060
    5/34
    Wed. 7/25
    24 & 25
    6+5=11
    414.7
    11520
    6/35
    Thurs. 7/26
    25
    7.3 @ 12.3 pt.
    422
    11640
    7/36
    Fri. 7/27
    25 & 26
    8.6+.6=9.2
    431.2
    11400
    8/37
    Sat. 7/28
    26
    9.4 @ 10 pt.
    440.6
    10700
    9/38
    Sun. 7/29
    26 & 27
    .9+11.7=12.6
    453.2
    11000
    10/39
    Mon. 7/30
    27
    7.7 @ 19.4 pt.
    460.9
    11640
    11/40
    Tues. 7/31
    27 & 28
    1.2+11.2=12.4
    473.3
    9600
    12/41
    Wed. 8/1
    28
    10.3
    483.6
    6960

  13. #13
    Registered User
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    here's my schedule, will have others with me but all are welcome to join the community

  14. #14
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    Hey ya'll! I would love to get a group together for a late trip, say, sometime around the first week of August. I would go with an earlier group but I'll be finishing my last semester at my university through July. So if you're at all interested please pm or email me so we can chat and see if we can get something together! =)

  15. #15
    Registered User StubbleJumper's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by trailnametba View Post
    here's my schedule, will have others with me but all are welcome to join the community

    Just as an observation, 41 days to hike the CT is probably a fair bit longer than average. Now some people are primarily campers who backpack from camp site to camp site, while other people are primary backpackers who happen to camp when they can't hike. That being said, the CT is a pretty easy trail and somebody in his 30s who is in okay shape (not great shape, just ok shape) can easily do 15 miles per day and complete the trail in 32 days of actual hiking.

    If you're one of those guys who is primarily a camper, then you'll love a 41 day trip. If you are primarily a backpacker, then you'll be done hiking by about noon on several days during your hike and you might go stir-crazy from sitting around in camp.

    Do what suits you best, but those are my observations.

  16. #16
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    It is really odd trying to figure out ones daily mileage and planning ahead. Some days I have done 7.5 miles and been about dead and some days done 13.5 or so and still had plenty more in the tank. I am also planning a thru this summer beginning June 25 and ending about august 4...my schedule includes 3 zeros and 3 "1/2" days (neros?). I hope to have a day and a half in the three towns in which we stop.

    I would like to plan longer days but after my experience last year on sections 20-21, I am not sure. We had about 10 inches of rain in 4 days. From noon on each day we made minimal progress. 3 of the 5 of us had some altitude issues for a few days. I am hoping for 10 to 13 miles a day til salida....then hopefully we can pick up the pace. There are so many variables when you hit high altitude, you never know what can happen. Luckily I have a 10 day window as to when to end.

    I guess all trips are this way. On the AT it is about 7.5 miles from the Hawk Mountain shelter to Gooch shelter and when I was done, I was shot. Next day it was 15 miles or so to Blood Mountain and no real issues. The most I ever did in a day is 21, but I know I could not hike that on sections 20-21 of the CT last year. Rain starting at 1 and going past dark can just destroy a days hike. 2 of our 4 days last year, we were putting up tents in pouring rain by 3:30, first day we did not start till noon and had rain and altitude issues by 4 so we stopped. Finally last day we had rain from noon til about 4 intermittenly, but mostly light so we did 13 miles. It sure makes it hard to put a schedule on paper.

  17. #17
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    thanks for insight. yeah, i'm 35 in good shape and live at 10,000 ft...i could blast through the trail if time was concern. if i do more milage than schedule then it's all good. i'll rest when tired and hike more if i still have it in me. i have a friend doing alot with me and he's in his 60's so that may slow me down a bit in some segments...on the other hand i have a wife training for a 50 mile race who will do some segments with me and i might not be able to keep up with her. guess i'll see, one day at a time

  18. #18
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    Hi - I off on July the 2nd from Denver - but not really looking for a partner but willing to spend a couple of days in company at some point.
    I have to catch a flight home on the 17th August so hopefully I have left enough time for a thro hike. I am planning on starting at around 10 miles a day average - hopefully I can speed up a bit to do it all in one go but not that bothered to be perfectly honest. Sounds like lots of people we be around which is always nice in the evenings.

    See you all on the trail.

    Regards

    Patch

  19. #19

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by StubbleJumper View Post
    ...the CT is a pretty easy trail and somebody in his 30s who is in okay shape (not great shape, just ok shape) can easily do 15 miles per day and complete the trail in 32 days of actual hiking....
    On the one hand, I agree that "somebody in his 30s who is in okay shape (not great shape, just ok shape) can easily do 15 miles per day and complete the trail in 32 days of actual hiking."

    But I can't characterize the CT as an "easy" trail.

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