Continental Divide Trail, America 2017

Another big challenge after the Te Araroa, This time in America walking 3,000 mile over 5 months from Mexico to Canada
I made it, The Canada border 

I made it, The Canada border 

CDT126 28th August  Monday Feeling tired from the late finish last night at 9:30 in the evening, even the sleeping untill 7am wasn't enough to energise me. Upper Waterton border Once on the trail with the knowledge of the border being only 15 miles away, I know...

read more
No bear sightings except one beer

No bear sightings except one beer

CDT125 27th August  Sunday 28 miles Swiftcurrent Motor Inn to Kootenai camp site. Early start of 6 this morning, well that was the plan anyway until we decided to have a quick coffee at the cafe first.  We thought about having a big breakfast at the...

read more
Piegan Pass, one of the last big climbs, untill tomorrow

Piegan Pass, one of the last big climbs, untill tomorrow

CDT124 26th August  Saturday 30 miles Our next camp site was 30miles away, so it's a 5am start this morning.  Total darkness with stars above and only our headlamps to show the way. Passing a couple of lakes that we couldn't see but could feel the coldness,...

read more
Red Eagle Lake campground

Red Eagle Lake campground

CDT123 25th August  Friday 25 miles Started early at 5:30am, dark for the first half hour where headlamps came in use.  It was a great morning walk with a lot of climbing with views of many lakes below. Mountains,  their colours and waterfalls made...

read more
Zero day

Zero day

CDT122 24th August  Thursday Lazy start for the day in my bunk bed at Brownies cafe, the hostel is upstairs at the back of the cafe/bakery,   The ceiling is low and the walls and floor was made of wood but carpeted, however there were signs at the start of...

read more
Town day

Town day

CDT121 23ed August  Wednesday Zero miles Getting off the trail and hitching into town, really lucky with a lift, on the side of the road at 6:30am and in half an hour a car passed us by and returned to pick us up. Magic thumb. Found a hostel and booked in for the...

read more
Leaving Bob Marshall Wilderness  park

Leaving Bob Marshall Wilderness  park

CDT120 22ed August  Tuesday 41miles, (But we took alternatives) Going was good this morning, up and down but I'm feeling tired from all the walking in the last five days. Bees sleeping on the plant in the cold morning After second breakfast, which I ate twice my...

read more
Bob Marshall Wilderness Park and the Chinese Wall 

Bob Marshall Wilderness Park and the Chinese Wall 

CDT118 20th August  Sunday 30 miles Alarm was set for 5am, sure it went off but it was just too cold, another half an hour I thought.  Finally when the sun was out we packed and started back on the trail at 7:30. Look, it's the Chinese wall It's a 4 hour...

read more
Move over hiker, we are coming through

Move over hiker, we are coming through

CDT117 19th August  Saturday 29 miles Windy last night and this morning the air was clear and free of smoke.  The forest we walked through this morning had been burnt out, the whole valley was dead with skinny trees and new growth on the ground and bush...

read more
Forest fires, but only smoke for us

Forest fires, but only smoke for us

CDT116 18th August  Friday 27 miles Blowing this morning at 6 o'clock, sun isn't visible yet but Czech Mix and myself started the morning with a steep climb.  Smoke was thick from the surrounding fires which didn't make my photos turn out the best. We...

read more
Czech Mix getting in the photo

Czech Mix getting in the photo

CDT115 17th August  Thursday 13 miles With zero day finished, it's time to hit the road but not before a hot breakfast and a relaxing coffee at Lambkin's Restaurant.  It opened at 7:30 and I repeated the order i had yesterday, hotcake and an omelette...

read more
Zero day in Lincoln and food for 7 days

Zero day in Lincoln and food for 7 days

CDT114 16th August  Wednesday Breakfast at Lambkin's Restaurant  after I made my way to the RV park, cost was only 8 dollars to camp which was discounted for hikers and cyclists.  Long hot shower with a face cloth and a clean towel makes a pleasant change instead of...

read more
Water

Water

CDT113 15th August  tuesday 27 miles Heart starter this morning with a good half hour hill climb, thankfully the mountains are becoming more manageable as I head north, hopefully no more silly sections like the four challenging passes I had not long ago in one...

read more
Dana Springs, cattle trough

Dana Springs, cattle trough

CDT112 14th August Monday 28 miles Alarm on my phone woke me this morning, I can no longer rely on the birds waking me first thing in the morning, as it seems that it's taking longer to get light now days. Laying in my sleeping bag, the wind was blowing hard going by...

read more
A day in town

A day in town

CDT111 13th August  Sunday 5 miles Resupply day in Helena, all keen and eager to get into town I was at the highway at 6:30 waiting for a kind driver  to pick me. It took a while but about 90 minutes later Jeff coming back from a 10 day skydiving event...

read more
Lazy day

Lazy day

CDT110 12th August  Saturday 18 miles Real lazy start this morning at 8am knowing that I only had about 18 miles to walk before I reach the highway. Easy does it, but still a lot of smoke about from the forest fires in Montana  The plan is a common plan that...

read more
CDT109

CDT109

CDT109 11th August  Friday 25 miles Lucky deer as I was no hunter After the four days of resting in Anaconda, I kind of feel it in my joints, knee and hip was a little sore this morning and even though I made camp yesterday early, I struggled to get going this...

read more
Back on the trail

Back on the trail

CDT108 10th August  Thursday 27miles Nothing open at 6am as I walked through town, it took me another half an hour to get to the edge of town where I knew there was a McDonald's, I ordered their standard coffee but it was so terrible that I went back and paid the...

read more
Four zero days, what a treat

Four zero days, what a treat

CDT104-107 9th August Wednesday I guess  I just needed a rest from the trail.  The Hikers association and Anaconda business community had set up a place where hikers like me can relax. Its a building that reminds me of my office back in PNG  where I...

read more
Town day, shower, Laundromat and good food.

Town day, shower, Laundromat and good food.

CDT103 5th August  Saturday 25 miles Leaving behind Storm Lake where I camped for the night, the problem with camping next to the lake is that the tent gets extremely damp. It was a really nice walk this morning, the trail differed from what I had on my map and I...

read more
Anaconda Route 

Anaconda Route 

CDT102 4th August  Friday 29 miles It only took an hour to get up to Rainbow Pass climbing 1,500 feet and at just after 6 o'clock, there was a thick haze of smoke all about and the sun still hasn't risen over the surrounding mountains. I did a long walk this...

read more
Never too old for the trail, just adjust your pace 

Never too old for the trail, just adjust your pace 

CDT101 3ed August  Thursday 24 miles, So far I've walked 2,467miles (3,970km) I just didn't want to get going this morning, I felt damp and cold but yet the tent wasn't wet.  Once I unziped my sleeping bag, I was packed up, and ready to go within 20 minutes...

read more
Wow, one hundred days on the trail.

Wow, one hundred days on the trail.

CDT100 2ed August  Wednesday 26 miles 5 o'cock start this morning, a little chilly which reminds me of what  one of the firefighters had said yesterday, "it's going to get cold as you head north" Not something I really wanted to hear. Always nice first thing...

read more
Fire fighters gave me the OK to continue

Fire fighters gave me the OK to continue

CDT99 1st August  Tuesday 17 miles Big Hole Pass I slept in this morning, or more likely I lay comfortably in my sleeping bag until 6:30.  I knew I had to wait until I got an update to see if it was ok for me to continue my journey north along the CDT, the...

read more
Forest fire

Forest fire

CDT98 31st July Monday 26 miles I just cannot believe the great weather I'm having with a gentle breeze to make my uphill walks that much more pleasant. More traffic on the trail today, a couple with their dog that had it's own backpack, not sure if they are doing the...

read more
So many South Bound Hikers

So many South Bound Hikers

CDT97 30th July Sunday 27 miles , (2,374 miles so far) Last night I got a bit of a fright just finished dinner and was getting comfortable and slowly drifting off to sleep, I then heard what sounded like a herd of horses crashing through the bush heading towards my...

read more
Leaving Lemhi Pass

Leaving Lemhi Pass

CDT96 29th July Saturday 26 miles Water seems to be the theme  today, I knew that there's some distance between streams so I started the day with what I thought plenty of water. Second breakfast, no problem, lunch, getting  low.  Now that the weather...

read more
Back on the trail, zero day finished

Back on the trail, zero day finished

CDT95 28th July Friday 27miles Leadore to Lemhi Pass. There was a power cut in Leadore yesterday afternoon so the town come to a standstill. While I was sitting on the front veranda using my needle and thread to mend the many rips and tears on my pants, locals...

read more
Zero day in Leadore

Zero day in Leadore

CDT94 27th July Thursday 2,295 miles (3,693km) so far I need a break, next segment is going to be long so a rest is needed first,  9 days to Anaconda  (225miles) Thank goodness I'm getting rid of my gore tex boots, I thought they would be great going through the snow...

read more
Rest day coming real soon

Rest day coming real soon

CDT93 26th July Wednesday 20 miles   Every time I push myself and do like a 30 miles walk the day before, I'm slow in getting going in the next morning even though I know I should hit the trail early. So at 7am I finally  got going and within half an hour I come...

read more
Lima to Leadore 101miles , it should take four days

Lima to Leadore 101miles , it should take four days

CDT90 23st July Sunday 26 miles Lucky lucky, the hotel owner offers CDT through-hikers a free drop off to the trail head.   Unfortunately at 7:30 it was too early to walk over to the Cafe for a hot breakfast before going on the trail for the next four days. There...

read more
Lima resupply and a hot breakfast

Lima resupply and a hot breakfast

CDT89 22st July Saturday 8 mlles   Made it to the highway and I  was standing out there at 6 o'clock, being a Saturday, the small town post office would be open only a few hours in the morning so my plan was to hitch a ride into Lima, hot breakfast and coffee and...

read more
Thirst

Thirst

CDT88 21st July Friday 20 miles Lazy start of 7am, it just goes to show you that if I push myself one day I pay it back the next. Water points were far and few between, I filled up and filtered  everything along the way.  My last stream I drank over a litre...

read more
Over here guys, its a mess.

Over here guys, its a mess.

CDT87 20th July Thursday 28 miles Restless night sleep where at two in the morning I was being constantly attacked by either flies or mosquito where later I found that I had left the fly of the tent open. Come four o'clock I was restless and decided to pack camp and...

read more
Ordered new trail runners and a big breakfast 

Ordered new trail runners and a big breakfast 

CDT86 19th July Wednesday 23 miles Up before first light to get WiFi to update my blog and order new trail runners, lucky for me that the laundromat was open and i stripped down and with only my rain pants and jacket on, I washed everything. WiFi was very good and did...

read more
Buffet breakfast made me lazy, but it was nice

Buffet breakfast made me lazy, but it was nice

CDT84 17th July Monday 16 miles Just noticed that I was only 4.1 miles from Old Faithful Geyser and Village, so at 5:30am I was up and packed and heading for the Old Faithful Inn where a Buffet breakfast was waiting for me, after doing an hour and a half on an empty...

read more
Yellowstone national park, what a treat.

Yellowstone national park, what a treat.

CDT83 16th July Sunday At 2,040mile mark, only 1,000 to go Seven o'clock I had my thumb out to hitch-hike to the entrance to the Yellowstone national park and by 8, I got a lift with Dale, a retired ex border security guard, in his pickup and lucky for me, I had an...

read more
To dangerous to cross the river, back I go.

To dangerous to cross the river, back I go.

CDT82 15th July Saturday 32 miles Easy start  this morning, packed my gear up and walked 30 metres where my food bag was hanging with my ready made breakfast of cold oatmeal soaked overnight. First half an hour of the day was tracking through swamp so my dry...

read more
Resupply, shower and meet good people

Resupply, shower and meet good people

CDT81 14th July Friday Easy hitch hike into Dubious, I got to the edge of the highway  and probably after the fifth car, I got my lift to the town for resupply and decent hot meal.  The driver works for the Ranger (forestry department) maintaining and...

read more
Green River Pass Then Gunsight Pass

Green River Pass Then Gunsight Pass

CDT79 12th July Wednesday 29 miles 4:45am I was on the trail, headlamp was required and down I went from an elevation of 10,400 feet and within 2 hours I was walking at 8,000feet . First hour was on snow and then I left all that behind but not the wetboots with...

read more
River crossings, big challenge 

River crossings, big challenge 

CDT77 10th July Monday 19 miles Rain came down on me in the early morning while I was still in the tent, wasn't a hard downpour but just enough to make thing difficult  while packing. 6 o clock  on the dot I was on the trail with my rain coat on walking in...

read more
Brutally cold river crossings

Brutally cold river crossings

CDT76 9th July Sunday 25 miles . Not a good start this morning, I was attacked by mosquitoes while having breakfast.  I had my  oatmeal that I had left to soak overnight with raisins in an old peanut butter container.  But the mosquitoes were relentless...

read more
Dark clouds and I got dumped on.

Dark clouds and I got dumped on.

CDT74 7th July Friday 11 miles Bridger National Forest This section I plan to do in one go, that means I walk through the Winds River Mountain Range,  from one highway to the other, a 166 mile (267 km) where I hope should take 6-7 days.  Most hikers stop...

read more
Made it to Lander to rest and resupply

Made it to Lander to rest and resupply

CDT72 5th July Wednesday Start 1737 28 miles Wearing my knee height gaiters today to avoid  the problems with the ticks, I've heard that if one that has the Lyme disease bites,  then it's a course of antibiotics. This I've heard on the CDT Facebook page...

read more
Slow day with only doing 16 miles

Slow day with only doing 16 miles

CDT70 3rd July Monday 16 miles Still in bed at 6am, and to my surprise, Sara came over with a hot coffee.  What luxury. After packing up my tent , I went over to Andy and Sara where I said my good byes to mother bear  and the three of us set...

read more
The landscape is hot, dry and featureless.

The landscape is hot, dry and featureless.

CDT69 2ed July Sunday 26 miles Last night I got just passed Rawlins town and walked until dark, must have been just before 10 o'clock I stopped and setup camp. The trail with no shade Real slow start this morning, 6am and within two hours of my walk,  water is...

read more
The long dusty road was a bad decision

The long dusty road was a bad decision

CDT68 1st July Saturday Start at 1,585 mark this morning 28 miles Resting on top of a hill having my second  breakfast, with an undisturbed view of what's ahead. The landscape has change significantly, no more mountains with snow but rolling hills with green...

read more
Losing weight making my backpack  uncomfortable

Losing weight making my backpack  uncomfortable

CDT67 30th June Friday 30 miles. Morning birds woke me this morning where it's becoming a habit  of starting on the trail just before 5:30. Going was difficult when leaving Pipeline trailhead, it seems that as soon as I stepped  over into Wyoming,...

read more
Made it Wyoming border

Made it Wyoming border

CDT66 29th June Thursday Colorado-Wyoming border 29 miles Frost and cold hands rolling up my tent, but the dark clouds  are gone and I'd  expect a blue sky day. I pushed myself today to get to Wyoming border, I forgot to check out the water supply up further...

read more
Buffalo pass and more snow

Buffalo pass and more snow

CDT65 28th June Wednesday Buffalo pass. 24 miles Just after five this morning I was back on the trail after resting at Summit lake campsite for two nights.  Cost nothing and if I didn't have the tummy bug, I would have kept going. It feels I have recovered...

read more
I’m totally off Mexican food now

I’m totally off Mexican food now

CDT63-64 26th June monday 17 miles Left my campsite  nice and early with the hope that when I get back into town there would be a cafe open for breakfast.  Last night I walked about 40 minutes out of town until I found a vacant property  with trees and...

read more
44 USD for a single camp site, no thanks

44 USD for a single camp site, no thanks

CDT62 25nd June Sunday 00 miles Still woke up early but used the time to call Eunhwa in Thailand. Easy day with a visit to the shopping centre to shop for 7 days worth of food.  Big breakfast all from the shopping centre, fruit, yogurt  nice bun and coffee...

read more
Fresh trout and a shower, paradise 

Fresh trout and a shower, paradise 

CDT61 24ed June Saturday 26 miles Probably wasn't such a good ideas camping so close to the stream last night, half of the tent was frosted and the outside of sleeping bag was very damp. By the time  I'd finished packing my fingers were frozen and i was thankful...

read more
Morning birds woke me early

Morning birds woke me early

CDT60 23nd June Friday 23 miles+ 4 miles off trail. The morning birds woke me early this morning and by 5:30 I was back on the trail.  It's getting easier to get started in the mornings now days, it isn't so cold as long as I camp below 10,000 feet. Nice views...

read more
No more ice axe and crampons

No more ice axe and crampons

CDT59 22ed June thursday 19 miles Start 1413 Passed a single moose that blocked my path, I had to wait 15 minutes until it decided to move on but then it returned to the path  to stop and stare at me. Finally it ran into the forest  but I walked wide of the...

read more
Moose are like hippos in Africa, dangerous

Moose are like hippos in Africa, dangerous

CDT58 21th June Wednesday Passed through Fraser which was a bigger place than I expected. Looking on the map it looked like the size of Twin Lakes which had nothing  except for a couple of shops which one was a trading post that doubled  as a service...

read more
Leaving Leadville

Leaving Leadville

CDT56 19th June monday 16miles Leaving Leadville Slow start this morning with a huge breakfast of scrambled eggs and followed up with the rest of my cereal and yogurt washed down with coffee. Great feeling to get rid of 2kg  I wasn't  in a rush as the post...

read more
Zero day at last, I’m so tired

Zero day at last, I’m so tired

CDT54-55 17th June Saturday I got eaten alive last night with the local mosquitoes, strange, they were everywhere but I found a lot of bites on my shoulders. Where I camped there was another person camping, I'd seen many day hikers yesterday, as the trail head wasn't...

read more
Hot breakfast but nothing there

Hot breakfast but nothing there

CDT52 15th June, Thursday 17 miles What a great night sleep, yesterday, I was half way up the pass (Hope Pass) with about two more hours to go, but there was a perfect campsite calling for me to stop and rest. A stream nearby and just enough room for two tents with a...

read more
Two Peaks in one day was too much. 

Two Peaks in one day was too much. 

CDT51 14th June Wednesday 20miles Leaving my little campsite this morning, I had dry socks and frozen boots even though I kept them in the tent.  The stream I camped next to, there was no problem crossing without getting wet, however, further on and I mean just 5...

read more
Man my socks stink

Man my socks stink

CDT50 13th June Tuesday 22 miles Collegiate West low Route (Mirror Lake alternative) Fortunately there are a few alternatives along the CDT, the one I'm taking today is the low route where this avoilds the high mountains passes which would require long climbs of up to...

read more
Monarch Crest to Tincup Pass Road

Monarch Crest to Tincup Pass Road

CDT49 12th June monday 25miles Monarch Crest to Tincup Pass Road My backpack is so heavy, why do I keep buying to much food?   Admittedly we thought it was going to be slow going with plenty  of snow about, sure there is snow but a lot less than I first...

read more
Made it to Monarch Crest for resupply.

Made it to Monarch Crest for resupply.

CDT48 11th June Sunday 24 miles Made it to Monarch Crest for resupply. The trail was easy going for most of the day,  I looked closer on the map and found a jeep trail that saved me a big climb as it took the lower path.  While there on the Jeep path I meet...

read more
Hawkeye the trail angel 

Hawkeye the trail angel 

CDT47 10th June Saturday 31miles Hawkeye the trail angel  Where I camped last night it was in an open field with a stagnate pool of water where I got my water for cooking, I had woken a few times during the night thinking it was time to get up but it was only the...

read more
Noodles or Pasta?

Noodles or Pasta?

CDT46 9th June Friday 24miles Noodles or Pasta? With the snow behind me, for now, the walking was through rolling hills and farming properties.  My feet were getting tired from the hard farm track but it was a welcome releif from the hard climbing in snow from...

read more
950 miles and I’m  need for new shoes

950 miles and I’m  need for new shoes

CDT45 8th June Thursday 29 miles 950 miles and I'm  need for new shoes Frozen tent, i wasn't as fast as Ken with getting everything packed and ready to go.  So he was ten minutes ahead of me, we were 10 miles from Creede which is a small town where  I...

read more
Green grass at last, I’m so over snow

Green grass at last, I’m so over snow

CDT44 7th June Wednesday 24 miles Green grass at last, I'm so over snow Early start of 6:30 where our goal is to get to the junction on the Creede shortcut. We followed foot prints again today which makes navigation  much easier, the prints we followed this...

read more
Comes in threes? Thankfully not this time

Comes in threes? Thankfully not this time

CDT43 6th June Tuesday 9miles Comes in threes? Thankfully not this time Leaving Pagosa Springs today but first breakfast. Walked into town from the camp site which was all down hill and only took 30 minutes.  A local I met yesterday morning said that the best...

read more
Pagoda Springs, Wolf Creek Pass

Pagoda Springs, Wolf Creek Pass

CDT42 5th June Monday Pagoda Springs, Wolf Creek Pass I'm  alive, full of energy as it's a town day.  6 o'clock and I was all packed and ready to go, even before Ken  and that's a first. Usually I'm 10 minutes behind him and it doesn't  matter how...

read more
It’s rough out there 

It’s rough out there 

CDT41 4th June Sunday 16miles Finally today it's becoming much easier on the trail, the snow covered ground has become much less where I'd say 50 percent of the walking was on hard ground which means, finally we can do greater miles in the day and reach the highway...

read more
One slip and it’s a long ride down

One slip and it’s a long ride down

CDT40 3ed June Saturday 11 miles One slip and it's a long ride down Two big climbs for today, so it's going to be low mileage. Each day the sun has been kind to us, it's relaxing sitting in the sun thawing the cold frozen feet after hours of pushing through hard...

read more
Tent location is prime importance

Tent location is prime importance

CDT39 2ed June Friday 9miles Tent location is prime importance Snow was frozen on my tent, it was almost like cardboard rolling it up, and my sleeping  bag was wet probably because I touched the side of the tent during the night, but overall I survived the...

read more
Up to my waist in snow

Up to my waist in snow

CDT38 1st June thursday 15 miles Up to my waist in snow Doing our calculations this morning to know how long it will take us to get to Pagosa Springs, which is our next supply stop, we couldn't decide on how many miles we would do each day. The unknown factor  is...

read more
Cumbras Pass and Wolf Creek.

Cumbras Pass and Wolf Creek.

CDT37 31st May Wednesday 12 miles Cumbras Pass and Wolf Creek. The owners of the hotel were kind enough to give us a lift into town where at 10 o'clock  we were due  to board the train. But first we found a nice cafe and had our last coffee and special...

read more
Two days of rest and relaxing

Two days of rest and relaxing

CDT36 30th May Tuesday Two days of rest and relaxing It's the second night in Chama in a real soft comfortable bed with hot running water for a shower. Yesterday I relaxed, spent the morning and part of the afternoon in the dinning room where the hotel supplied...

read more
First shower in nine days.

First shower in nine days.

CDT34 28th May Sunday Cold, it was cold last night.  We ate the last of our food and drank the last of the coffee. Last night it was overcast but not enough for it to rain.  This morning the tent had frost and as the sun hit the tent I started to get drops...

read more
Getting tired

Getting tired

CDT33 27th May Saturday It was a slow wakeup this morning, as the sun hit the tent, I was just too comfortable to get motivated or maybe I'm feeling tired from being on the trail for so long, eight day from last town. Just below among the trees is where we...

read more
Chipmunks ate my walking stick

Chipmunks ate my walking stick

CDT32 26 May Friday 22 miles During the night, it was windy with just a small  bit of rain but not enough to get the tent wet  by the morning.   The sun took a long time to reach us thanks to the mountain that blocked out the first rays of...

read more
porcupine  on the run

porcupine  on the run

CDT31 25th May Thursday 17miles Leaving behind our lake side picnic area that gave us a very comfortable nights rest.  Just 200 metres into the trail I  spotted  a porcupine, slowly I approached it hoping to get a good photo, I was surprised how close I...

read more
A warm start

A warm start

CDT30 24th May Wednesday 22miles (35kms) Last night we camped next to a waterhole  where cattle drink, early morning it became cold and on the outside of my sleeping bag it was damp, Ken  reckoned it's because of the nearby water, I was thinking it was...

read more
Easy day 6 miles on a full stomach

Easy day 6 miles on a full stomach

CDT29 23 May Tuesday What a sleep in I had this morning, but still we were on the trail by 8am heading to GhostRanch. AYCE which I learnt to mean, All You Can Eat and that is what I did. Spaghetti lunch, two serves, two salads, cakes, coffee and a milk chocolate all...

read more
To much sleep

To much sleep

CDT28 22ed May Monday Going to sleep too early last night resulted in waking up at 3:30 this morning unable to sleep again.  I reached for my phone and did about 45 minutes of study of my Thai vocabulary.  I reflected on my last conversation with my...

read more
My new sleeping bag

My new sleeping bag

CDT 27 21st May Sunday 18 miles (29 kms) My first night in my new sleeping bag  was fantastic, I was warm and I slept very nicely. Weather wise it couldn't have been better, we arrived on top of the mountain at 10,300 feet, was surrounded with pine trees ...

read more
My socks are filling apart

My socks are filling apart

CDT26 20th May Saturday 15miles Leaving Cuba town after checking  at the post office for the GhostWhisper jacket that should have arrived a couple of days back. It hadn't arrived yet.  I asked the postmaster if they can forward it onto Chama when it arrives....

read more
Cuba, and my new sleeping bag 

Cuba, and my new sleeping bag 

CDT 25 19th May Friday 10 miles https://youtu.be/luhffX1QHzk I was keen this morning to get going, I'm  not sure if it was the cold or the thought of heading into Cuba town for  hot  breakfast  that woke me before the set alarm of 4:30. We walked...

read more
Another trail Angel, Thank you 

Another trail Angel, Thank you 

CDT 24 18th May Thursday 28 miles (45 kms) Just past  9am and we come across a Cache  "Trujillo Main Cache"  this is where trail angels help the hikers like myself with water and in the icebox, some goodies.  Just what I needed, there were raisins...

read more
I’m tired, too much walking yesterday

I’m tired, too much walking yesterday

CDT23 17th May Wednesday 26miles Ken was kind enough to allow a sleep in this morning due to the early start yesterday.  But even with the sleep in we still packed up and  hit the trail  before 7am.  Truth to be told, we both wanted a later start...

read more
What a view but then the cold

What a view but then the cold

CDT22 16th May Tuesday 27 miles (43 kms) Start 4:15am to 5:30pm Mt  Taylor  and extream cold 3:30 this morning my alarm clock woke me, then moments later Ken asking me if I was awake yet.  Surprisingly it was easy to get motivated,  I kept warm...

read more
Useless sleeping bag

Useless sleeping bag

CDT21 15th May Manday 16 Miles Posting food to our next destination which is Cuba. Cost of posting is about the same as the content itself, in fact I think it's more expensive but we need that 5 days of food waiting for us. Grants monument for the mining town Along...

read more
Zero day in Grants Town with Elvis

Zero day in Grants Town with Elvis

CDT20 14th May Sunday Zero day today with total rest https://youtu.be/SxkNklH6Lhc Late start in the morning and finally I got motivated and I emptied my bags to get the dirt out that I had collected over the last three weeks since I have been on the trail.  Sure...

read more
Mothers day in Grants Town

Mothers day in Grants Town

CDT19 13th May Saturday Mothers day, in NZ anyway. Slept in this morning until 6:30 then coffee in bed. Our camp site for the night, visited last night by a herd of cows We slowly rose as there was no hurry to make our way to the highway that was just under a mile...

read more
Dusty road, sore feet

Dusty road, sore feet

CDT18 12th May Friday Long dusty road along Pie Town Road 27miles (43km) The morning start was at 6:45 with only a distant cloud on the horizon and nothing but blue sky.  The bad weather the previous couple of days were two storm fronts that came through which we...

read more
Pie Town

Pie Town

CDT17 11th May Thursday: total 424 miles 25 miles Pie Town and a hot shower, what a treat It's another night that I have been cold, the sleeping bag should have kept me warm as it's a "hand me down" from Ken that he has used on other and colder trails.  I'm thinking...

read more
Another tough  night on the ground

Another tough  night on the ground

CDT16 10th May  Wednesday 26 miles The ground was rocky and hard last night, I couldn't remove all the rocks from my camp spot so I put my ground sheet and tent on the best spot available and hoped the air mattress would hide the rocks.  Well it didn't, the...

read more
Drinking Cow water

Drinking Cow water

CDT 15 9th May Tuesday 25 miles Just checking, yep we are on the right trail Sleet hit us on top of the maintain, which blanked the ground around us.  It came apon  us quickly and fortunately  I had my weather jacket and  pants  at the ready....

read more
Snow

Snow

CDT14 8th May Monday 26miles Wild animals Last night was really cold, but the strange thing is that my thermal top and long johns  were damp from sweat but come one o'clock in the morning it was really cold.  During about that time there was a lot of...

read more
Moonshine  Canyon

Moonshine  Canyon

CDT13 7th May Sunday 22 miles Started out the usual time of 7:15,  Ken was ahead of me as he seems to be more organised in setting up and packing his gear away.   Maybe it's because  of his military  training in the past.  His habits ...

read more
Snakes close call.

Snakes close call.

CDT12 6th May Saturday 18miles (29kms) Middle Fort trail 157, Little Beer Canyon According to our maps, we follow the river on one side and crossed maybe twice in the day, so we took our shoes off and used our camp shoes, crock.  However this wasn't to be, so we...

read more
Great canyon  walk

Great canyon  walk

CDT11 5th May Friday 17mile (27km) tent Gila River trial. No 724 Murtox hole was our first rest stop to have our second breakfast.  I didn't  have my hot green tea this morning, as last night  I realised that having 9-10 more days to travel, it's time...

read more
Catholic hermit

Catholic hermit

CDT10 4th May Thursday 20miles today 7to7 a long day The morning was cool when we started off today.  I'ts the tenth day on my trail and the first time camping next to a stream.  It was good to have a decent  wash after a long day.  A change...

read more
Leaving Silver City 

Leaving Silver City 

CDT9 3nd May Wednesday 16 miles (26kms) Leaving Silver City  behind with a full belly after our last decent  breakfast  for at least 9 days. With well rested feet we spent the first couple of hours doing road walking to get to the trail head. Ken was...

read more
40kms walking today, feet are tired now

40kms walking today, feet are tired now

CDT7 1st May Monday 25miles today. 40km Woke up early and did about 30 minutes  of study while laying in my sleeping bag, Thai language  is a bit harder  than I thought, but I'll  keep going. Camp site last night Ken started to head the way we came last night and when...

read more
Thank you trail angel

Thank you trail angel

CDT6 30th April Sunday Camp on Burro Mountain at 118 miles (walked 18 miles , 29kms) Last night was a cold night, the sleeping bag should have been a warm one but last night I was really cold.  After dark I found my head lamp then dressed myself with warmer clothes....

read more
Broken tent again

Broken tent again

CDT5 29th April Saturday 100 mile One hundred miles today Leaving Lordsburg behind after a healthy  American breakfast and many coffees. It was good to rest in a room with soft bed and an air conditioned room. Just after midday we exited the small dusty town not...

read more
Day four and we are back in Lordsburg 

Day four and we are back in Lordsburg 

CDT4 28th april Friday Three hours it took us to drive to our start point from Lordsburg  and 4 days to walk back Early start of 6am with a red light sky of the sun rise. It was cooler today walking but it was a long day. My water supply along the way, I used a...

read more
Sharing water with cows

Sharing water with cows

CDT3 27th April Thursday Camped at 61 miles ( walked 23miles, 37km) Early start of 7am where  we're one of the last to leave the waterhole with the broken down windmill.  We wanted to top up our empty  bottles but the pump had stopped working, maybe there was a timer...

read more
Busted my tent 

Busted my tent 

CDT2 26th April  wed Camped at 38miles next to cow waterhole. (21 miles 33.8km today) Terrible night in the tent, winds were strong and gusts pushing the tent about. Admittedly I didn't position the tent in the right direction  to avoid to direct force but it was...

read more
First day on the trail

First day on the trail

CDT1 First day on the CDT, 25th April  first day  CDT 1 Tented at 17 miles (27km) Left Lordsburg just after 6:30 this morning for our three hour car trip to the border of Mexico, Crazy Cook. First hour was easy going on sealed roads but the next two hours was rough...

read more
Shopping for food

Shopping for food

Travelling from L.A. airport to the starting point of the CDT by rental car,Greyhound bus and then a minivan. Four days before we start the trail. Saturday Leaving Blythe early after coffee and breakfast  at McDonald's.  Plan is to get to Tucson where we...

read more
Please let me into America

Please let me into America

Todays I arrived into LA , travelling from Thailand which took a couple of days with stop overs in Bangkok, Singapore and incheon. Arriving into the airport about an hour ahead of schedule probable due to a tail wind. I was third in line with immigration but then my...

read more
Continental Divide Trail

Continental Divide Trail

No rest in my retirement days, A month from finishing my Te Araroa walk in New Zealand, my America walking friend, Ken, planted a seed in my mind to do another long walk, but this time in America   The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is a United States National...

read more