We miss the trail. A lot. But as much as we'd like to hike another long trail, we can't really take the time to do it right now. So, after much discussion, we've decided to hike the Colorado Trail this summer.
The Colorado Trail passes through the Colorado Rockies and several other Colorado mountain ranges as it travels from Denver to Durango. The trail is approximately 480 miles long with an average elevation of over 10,000 feet. Thru-hikers traveling from Denver to Durango (the "uphill" direction) will climb 89,354 feet along the way! So while the trail is relatively "short" compared to our 2012 PCT thru-hike, it will still provide plenty of challenge.
We will start hiking the Colorado Trail in late June. I am hoping the snow will melt from the high passes by then. Sierra, who was disappointed by the lack of snow on our PCT thru-hike last summer, is hoping it won't. If all goes as planned, we will complete the trail in late July.
Exciting plans! We're hiking the JMT this year with a 12 & 9 year old and are very curious about your current gear list - especially how the sleeping bags worked for you and if you'd choose something different this year. Thanks so much for inspiring our girls to hike more! Christina & Chet (Fremont, CA)
ReplyDeleteWe're excited for your trip! The JMT is incredibly beautiful. We will be using most of the same gear on our Colorado Trail hike: the same packs and the same tent we ended the trail with (Mountain Laurel Design cuben fiber Duomid). Sierra will be using a different sleeping bag. The Nunatak Alpinist custom bag worked well, but she has outgrown it. This summer she will be using a Western Mountaineering Ultralite 20 degree bag, an early birthday present from her grandparents. We've already taken it on two hikes, and she LOVES it! Her bag is the women's size (5'6" length), which should work well for at least the next few years, if not the rest of her life.
DeleteYou may already have your shelter picked out, but if not, the Black Diamond Megalight is a great, lightweight shelter for 3-4 people.
Have a wonderful trip!
Sounds like a great plan! I look forward to the pictures and details of your adventure. Colorado it's on my bucket list. The climbs are pretty intimidating to me. Go forth and conquer!
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