Passages Magazine | Autumn 2023

Passages

Finding Purpose on the Divide

How archery hunting and the outdoors provide healing for post-9/11 combat veterans

Also in this issue: BEHIND THE TRAILS | The Gila Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico Trail Town Feature | Pinedale, Wyoming NEW

Hunt for Purpose on the Divide, a program of Warriors & Quiet Waters. Photo by Mike MacLeod - Studio MacLeod, Bozeman, MT

Wind River Range, Credit Zack Kephart

Share of the Wild

By Sharon Buccino

Finding Purpose on the Divide

By Audra Labert

The Shakedown Outdoor Threads

Behind the Trails: Gila Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico

By Audra Labert

Trail Town Feature: Pinedale, Wyoming By

Liz Schmit

Media Roundup - Music, podcasts, books, and movies for the wild and wild at heart.

The Elusive Ghost Lake

By Danny Knoll

CDTC Programs

Executive Director’s Letter

Trail Tidbits Trail Stewardship

From the Field Projects map and updates

Trail Policy Scene

Community Outreach - Many Paths Converge for Trail Days. Photos and stories from the 2023 Trail Days in Silver City, New Mexico

Ivan BanduraUnsplash

CONTINENTAL DIVIDE TRAIL

COALITION STAFF:

Zack Bumgarner (he/him)

GIS Specialist

Dan Carter (he/him)

Trail and Lands Conservation Manager

Claire Cutler (she/her)

Community Engagement Coordinator

L. Fisher (they/them) Trail Policy Program Manager

Haley Gamertsfelder (she/her) Field Coordinator

Danny Knoll (he/him) Administrative Assistant

Audra Labert (she/her) Communications Manager Passages Editor

Teresa Martinez (she/her/ella)

Executive Director

Allie McCurry (she/her)

Development Specialist

Michael McDaniel (he/him)

Field Coordinator

Lauren Murray (she/her)

Director of Development

Liz Schmit (she/they)

Community and Outreach Program Manager

Steven Shattuck (he/him)

Director of Operations

Cornell “Corey” Torivio (he/him)

New Mexico Regional Representative

Jake Warnica (he/him)

Field Technician

Jordan Williams (he/him)

Colorado Regional Representative

Jill Yoder (she/her)

Development Manager

Greg Pierce, President

Kathleen Lynch, Vice President

Don Owen, Secretary

Dean Myerson, Treasurer

Jo Pegrum Hazelett

Arthur Foley

Nick

Wyoming’s 3rd Oldest Brewery

CDTC BOARD:

Martinez

Kevin Webber

Amy McCormick

Clancy Clark

Amiththan Sebarajah

Amy Camp

Mike Ksenyak

Ben Gabriel

Sharon Buccino

–Edward Abbey

Passages

Volume 30, Autumn 2023

Editor

Audra Labert

Advertising Coordinator

Allie McCurry

Continental Divide Trail Coalition 710 10th Street, Suite 200 Golden, CO 80401 Tel: (303)996-2759

CONNECTING THE COMMUNITY THAT SUPPORTS THE CONTINENTAL DIVIDE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL

The Continental Divide Trail Coalition’s mission is to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail. CDTC is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization and donations to CDTC are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. To donate, visit our website at www.continentaldividetrail.org.

Continental Divide Trail Passages is published three times a year for the members of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. You can learn more about becoming a member here. Members are encouraged to submit story ideas and photographs for inclusion in Passages to the editor at communications@continentaldividetrail.org. For more information about advertising, please contact development@continentaldividetrail.org.

Dahn Pratt

Continental Divide Trail Coalition

“Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit.”

ACTING EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S LETTER

Greetings,

Every summer, many in our trail community look forward to new adventures on the horizon, fresh challenges to overcome, and unexpected opportunities that we can’t begin to anticipate. This sense of seeking out newness seems to fill our summers, giving us a chance to explore, to learn, to heal, and hopefully at the end, gives space to reflect back on the experiences we’ve had and the growth that got us here.

For me, this summer brought both the unexpected and the exciting, with the opportunity to work in a new capacity as CDTC’s Acting Executive Director during E.D. Teresa Martinez’s sabbatical. Much like the land all around us, we all must observe times for activity and time for rest, and after leading CDTC through its first decade and championing the CDT for even longer, Teresa’s sabbatical was a great reminder that much like the land, once we have put forth new growth, rest can follow.

Nothing made the growth of CDTC over the past ten years more apparent than the launch of CDTC’s new Strategic Visioning Survey meant to help inform the next phase of our work with the input of the wider trail community. Our trail community has achieved so much together! Since CDTC’s last strategic plan in 2018, the organization has accomplished many of the goals we hoped to achieve - including regionalizing CDTC staff, implementing community stewardship events, and building a foundation for grassroots advocacy and action. As we head into our second decade of work, I am so excited to hear more about the priorities and perspectives of the CDT community to help guide the next phase of CDT stewardship.

While we gear up for the next phase of CDTC’s stewardship through strategic visioning, the work is already happening on the ground in full force! We have welcomed new team members all along the trail, including Development Manager Jill Yoder, Muddy Pass Intern Jake Warnica, and VISTA Outreach Coordinator Claire Cutler, who are already out in communities connecting with members, partners, and volunteers. Field coordinators Haley and Michael have traveled hundreds of miles this summer already, facilitating trail adopter trainings, organizing community stewardship events, and working alongside volunteers and partners to continue to provide the on-the-ground stewardship of the CDT that is at the heart of community-led conservation. Year after year, I am struck by what a privilege it is to work with communities along the Divide who have welcomed these new faces not only into their communities, but to their dinner tables, backyard barbeques, movie nights, and even their disc-golf games, fully embracing these new members of our trail community.

Alongside the incredible work happening this summer, we also have a lot to celebrate! From a family-friendly hike in Chama for Latino Conservation Week, to community stewardship events in Steamboat Springs, to Pride on the Divide wildflower hike on the ridgelines of Leadville, it has been great to see so many new and familiar faces on the trail. And to see the many different shared stories, memories, and experiences that are being made on the CDT this summer, continues to show in new ways that the CDT Experience is not one that be uniformly prescribed, but instead is as dynamic and diverse as the landscapes the trail travels and the people who travel it. As someone who has not always seen myself represented in the outdoors, witnessing the joy that comes from the CDT for people of all different backgrounds, experience levels, and perspectives is a reminder that working on the CDT is not just about a trail, but about building a legacy of community care that steward our land, waters, wildlife, and the people who enjoy them.

As I sit in Helena writing this piece, southbounders are making their way through the state’s capitol, absorbing the grandeur of the Rocky Mountain Front, soaking in the hominess of Last Chance Gulch downtown, and gearing up for the next leg of the trail. And I can’t help but appreciate the contributions that have got the trail to where it is today. The impact of Teresa’s decade of work at the helm of CDTC, the diligent dedication of hundreds volunteers and agency staff who have worked tirelessly season after season to maintain the trail, the welcoming stewardship of locals at the gateways of the CDT, and the contribution from the entirety of our trail community who each add their own thread to the fabric that makes the CDT so unique. And I am so grateful that for a short time, I was able to step in to help weave that story together.

L Fisher (they/them) Acting Executive Director

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S LETTER

Dear CDTC friends,

Greetings from Northern New Mexico– homelands of the Jicarilla Apache and Tewa People– where we anxiously await the arrival of the Monsoon. Besides the need for rain, it is plain hot here in New Mexico, and we all could use a steady cycle of moisture to cool off and reduce the risk of large fire events. So, while we wait for the much-needed rain, here’s what we have been up to along the CDT!

Field projects will continue for the next two months, and we encourage you to check the schedule for the remaining projects and join us! CDTC field crews, led by Haley Gamertsfelder and Michael McDaniel, have hosted projects and trainings with new and old partners, and they are doing some amazing trail work! We’ve been partnering with many of the Gateway Communities along the trail for community stewardship events and Pride on the Divide hikes on the CDT, which we launched in June and will continue throughout the year. We’ve been tabling at events across Colorado, including events in Walden and Kremmling. CDTC also hosted a hike in Cuba, NM that welcomed nearly 80 youth out on the Trail! The Youth Hiking Programs have begun for the second summer, continuing with the Pueblo of Acoma. We’ve partnered with the Zuni Pueblo Youth Enrichment Program (YEP) to pilot a program on the Zuni Pueblo, and the programs are gaining interest from many other communities along the Trail! We also launched our strategic visioning process with a Community Feedback Survey in July. This process will help guide our work for the next five to ten years, and we look forward to sharing the results with the CDT community.

Although the organization has been moving at a rapid pace, I was able to take some much-needed rest and enjoyed a six-week sabbatical from late June through July. When folks learned of my sabbatical everyone asked, “Where are you going? What are you doing?” Maybe people were expecting me to have some big adventure planned or some far away destination to visit, but they were always surprised to hear that I was staying home. I planned to be unscheduled and unplanned during my time off. For the first time, I wasn’t working or traveling, and some of my closest friends and family took the opportunity to visit me. Plus, this little corner of New Mexico has so much to see and do, and I had time to set deep roots into the Land of Enchantment. I explored my own back yard and took time with favorite two-legged and four-legged companions. I enjoyed hiking on some of my favorite places on the CDT and ate some of the best food anywhere in the world– usually out of my own kitchen. I shared deep laughter and connection with

good company. When my sabbatical came to an end, I am happy to say I was ready to come back to work and dig into the next chapter of CDTC’s story.

I am grateful to the entire CDTC Team– especially L Fisher who stepped in as Acting Executive Director–for being rock stars and who I had no doubt could carry on without me! It was a great experience for me and for everyone at CDTC to know our organization has the depth and talent necessary to weather even temporary transitions, and I know will help us as we move forward into our next decade of work.

During this time, the biggest lesson was the importance of slowing down. It’s something my mother used to always tell me to do. I was reminded of the importance of finding time to be present with the ones I love, and that I can trust that the foundation the CDTC Community is built on is strong enough to weather whatever may come. I also learned the importance of an afternoon napespecially the days when it’s too hot to do much else!

After eleven years of going full steam ahead, it was a blessing to step back and away and take a well-deserved break. I am so grateful that what we are building at CDTC allows for this important balance of work and life. I remain grateful for the privilege to be part of the team that works in service of the communities and landscapes of the Continental Divide.

Thanks for taking the time to read this issue of Passages and for your ongoing and deep commitment to our work. I look forward to hearing from you over the coming months as we delve deeper into our strategic visioning efforts, and I hope to see you on the trail soon!

Teresa Ana Martinez (she/hers/ella) Executive Director Continental Divide Trail Coalition

CDTC held our first Pride on the Divide hike this year in Salida at the Marshall Pass Trailhead. Led by CDT Community Ambassador, community members hiked towards the base of Chipeta Mountain for a beautiful evening hike where they were greeted by a local moose!

TRAIL TIDBITS

CDTC Staff led a community hike celebrating Pride on the Divide and the start of Latino Conservation Week in July. It was a beautiful day to climb Cumbres Pass along the CDT and stand on the border of New Mexico and Colorado. Community members celebrated their connection to the land and shared stories while connecting.

CDTC teamed up with the Forest Service and volunteers from the Steamboat Springs area to clear the trails, spruce up the infrastructure, and install several kiosks at Fish Creek Falls, an important connector trail to the CDT in Colorado.

Another crop of CDT Trail Adopters is hitting the trails! These volunteers participated in the July training in Butte, MT, and will be able to adopt and maintain their own section of the CDT.

A shot from the Zuni Pueblo youth hiking program in New Mexico.

Two projects in July brought together CDTC, Headwaters Trail Alliance, and many volunteers in Colorado to build and fix several bridges along the High Lonesome Trail in Grand County. Two wilderness bridges were constructed north of Meadow Creek Reservoir, and just south of Junco Lake Trailhead two bridges were decommissioned and then rebuilt along with one newly constructed bridge.

Denver Environmental Learning for Kids worked with CDTC to improve the trail corridor by clearing drains and debris at Herman Gulch. This popular trail sees thousands of visitors each year from nearby Denver, Colorado, and other Front Range communities.

Youth engagement with the Youth Conservation Corps in Lordsburg, NM! CDTC spent time teaching about stewardship, advocacy, and the CDT Completion Act. The group also picked up trash on the north side of town where the CDT begins again.

SHARE OF THE WILD

By Sharon Buccino (she/her) CDTC Board Member

What are the five things you need to hunt in Wyoming? I didn’t know the answer, but I would before the weekend was over. It was Friday evening on Memorial Day weekend. I had driven a hundred miles from Laramie to Glendo, Wyoming. I found myself sitting before the altar at Circle G Cowboy Church with twelve other people for a hunter education class being taught by Kenny Jensen.

Wyoming, like most states, requires hunter education to hunt in the state. Volunteers like Kenny Jensen teach the class in a variety of formats at various locations throughout the year. Twelve of us had decided that an intense experience over Friday and Saturday was what worked best. Excitement filled the room as boys and girls eager to hunt with their parents or other relatives sat at attention with a pencil in hand.

I had come to understand and experience. Called to the wild early in life, I dedicated my career as a lawyer to protecting it. Having worked for thirty years for a national environmental organization, I knew the power of the law to protect. But I also knew its limits. I moved to Wyoming to spend more time in the wild but also to better understand local perspectives and realities that shape the wild.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1xxOxkCPYW66JmEPEUQ-VlAGbwRQAn0AK/view

Sharon Buccino

Sharon Buccino

I’ve never held a gun. But those who have – hunters– are a large part of the people working to save the wild in the world and the wildlife in it. I was curious. What was hunting all about? Why did so many of my fellow Wyoming residents enjoy it? What connections did hunting provide to nature? How did hunting motivate people to protect nature? Kenny made clear that we needed to pay attention. The class would end with a test. We needed to pass the test to get our certification. He promised to teach us what we needed to know. But we’d fail if we didn’t pay attention. I paid attention. And I learned a ton. I learned about hunting rules and regulations. You can kill a coyote or a jackrabbit in Wyoming without a license. That’s also true for a raccoon, skunk, or stray cat. As Kenny said when asked what the best gun to kill a coyote is, “It’s the first gun you can grab.” Hunters must be able to tell a whitetail deer from a mule deer because a license might be for one and not the other.

I learned a code of ethics. Hunters are responsible for their own safety and that of others. They have a responsibility to the wildlife they kill as well as preserving wildlife for future hunting. Good marksmanship and hunting skills are necessary to ensure a clean kill and a fair chase. Wildlife should not suffer and should have a fair chance to escape.

I learned why people hunt. It might be a family tradition. Others hunt to relax and enjoy nature. Some like the sense of adventure and accomplishment in using hunting skills that they have developed over many years. Some hunt to fill the freezer or the dinner plate.

I’d never sat in a room filled with guns before, and I was uncomfortable knowing their destructive power. In the wrong hands, guns do tragic harm. Yet, not everyone who holds a gun is bad. I learned in Kenny’s classroom at the Circle G that hunters can have a deep love for the wild and wildlife. They often know more about wildlife and their habitats than most others.

Learning how to keep themselves and others safe, hunters care about people as well as wildlife.

So, here they are.

FIRE AND REGENERATION IN THE BLACK RANGE

By Dan Carter (he/him) | Trail and

The intent of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail is to follow as close to the physical Continental Divide as possible. Due to land ownership and terrain, this is not always possible. However, the Black Range in Southern New Mexico is one stretch of the CDT that traverses the actual Divide, straddling the two major watersheds of the North American continent.

The CDT follows thirty-five miles of the Divide through the Aldo Leopold Wilderness along the Black Range of the Gila National Forest. This section begins at FR150, Northstar Road follows Aspen Canyon to Black Canyon, then up to the Divide at Reed’s Meadow. North from the meadow, the trail hugs the Divide.

Wildfires– a natural part of the southwestern forests–have impacted this area and the Trail significantly through the 2000s. Recent wildfires, including the 2022 Black Fire, have grown larger and burned hotter, having catastrophic results. The Black Fire was a human-caused wildfire that started on May 13, 2022, and it burned a total of 325,136 acres before the wildland fire crews and monsoons slowed the fire later in the summer.

The fire burned over the CDT, scorching the

Lands Conservation Program Manager

Dan Carter

standing, mature mixed conifer forests and clogged the creeks–home to native Gila cutthroat trout–with sediment, ash, and debris. Fortunately, USFS staff were able to relocate some of the native trout before the flooding which impacted the creeks. Like the random destruction of a tornado, some parts of the forest such as Black Canyon (where the CDT goes) were spared by the inferno and the mature mixed conifers still stand and clear creek flows.

The CDT and many other trails in the Aldo suffered from the fire and subsequent flooding from the strong monsoon season in 2022. To assess resource needs, post-fire, the USFS implements the Burned Area Emergency Response (BAER). As a Forest Service partner, CDTC’s Trail and Lands Conservation Program Manager assisted in the BAER effort by helping develop a rapid trail assessment tool in Field Maps and surveying the trail through the Black Range. The goal of the survey was to assess the trail maintenance needs so agencies and partners can prioritize where work should begin.

Considering the catastrophic nature of the Black Fire and subsequent flooding, the CDT itself was resilient. Minimal impact to the tread is a testament to good trail design and construction with regular maintenance, as the tread mostly followed contours with mild grades, and rock structures were solidly built. Much of this section of CDT was constructed and maintained by the USFS Wilderness trail crew in the 2000s. Some of the older “cowboy” trails that followed creek bottoms and steep slopes did not fare as well. Being high up on the Divide, at the top of the drainages, the CDT escaped most of the intense flooding damage that occurred below. Most of the mature trees died in the fire and there were subsequent blowdowns. Spring regeneration has already brought new growth of aspen, oak, and New Mexico locust.

The BAER process brings resources and funding to address resource needs, including trail maintenance and reconstruction. An expert USFS sawyer crew from Montana has already been clearing the trail this spring so other crews can begin tread work. Trail adopters have been installing new Trail markers, thanks to the Winchester Fund. With the completion of rapid trail assessment, USFS and partners like CDTC know where to focus efforts and will be planning trail maintenance projects in the coming years.

Check out the volunteer project list for opportunities to experience the Black Range, and help restore this special stretch of the CDT!

FINDING PURPOSE ON THE DIVIDE

By Audra Labert (she/her) CDTC Communications Manager

It’s four o’clock in the morning, and it’s time to go. Hours before sunrise, it’s still dark. There’s a steep uphill climb to find a high point where the hikers can “glass,” scanning the open hillsides through binoculars. Depending on where the day goes, it might be dark again before returning to camp.

A glowing wall tent serves as base camp headquarters, dishing out good, hot food at the beginning and end of the day. In the shadow of the Continental Divide, the days are shortened by the neighboring peaks and the coming of fall, leaving precious daylight hours to do what they came to do: Hunt elk..

This is just part of what Bethany West and Katie Megahee will experience this fall for the culmination of Hunt for Purpose, a Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation (WQW) program. The two veterans are part of an intensive program that teaches the tools and skills needed for successful archery hunting, providing tools to thrive in post-combat military life. Hunt for Purpose is in its second year, where participants and their mentors will gear up this fall and hike into the Bob Marshall Wilderness, aka The Bob, in Montana to the Dropstone Outfitting base camp on the Continental Divide.

Hunt for Purpose is the brainchild of WQW Chief Executive Officer Brian Gilman, a Butte, Montana native

How archery hunting and the outdoors provide healing for post-9/11 combat veterans

Warriors & Quiet Waters Foundation offers programming that guides post-9/11 combat veterans and their loved ones to thrive and find peace, meaning, and purpose through fly fishing and other inspirational activities in nature.

who grew up crisscrossing the Continental Divide. Gilman began hunting to connect with his father, who was more open and in his element in the outdoors. Even while on active duty in the Marine Corps, Gilman prioritized hunting to reconnect to the outdoors, even if he could only go once each year.

Upon returning from his deployment in Afghanistan, Gilman found clarity in the mountains. He had experienced combat and lost five close friends.

Mike MacLeodStudio MacL eod_Bozeman_MT

“I came home to Montana and went straight into the mountains with a bow in my hand,” Gilman shared. “I killed a bull elk on that trip, and I remember that visit vividly. I stood over that bull by myself, and I was able to make meaning, for the first time, of all that stuff that I saw. From that day forward, I was going to make the best use of my time—the time my friends didn’t get—to do everything I could to make the world a better place.”

This pattern of returning to spend quality time in wild places would ultimately become the idea for Hunt for Purpose, an intensive, 6-month pursuit for post-9/11 combat veterans to plan, prepare for, and execute a successful archery elk hunt in Montana’s backcountry. The program is built around preparation for a backcountry elk hunt, and the underlying goal is to help participants find purpose and meaning in their post-military lives. The hunt serves as the mechanism to help participants clarify who they are and what gives their life purpose and meaning.

The Continental Divide landscape possesses infamous allure, and the location of the backcountry camp in the northernmost part of The Bob is no exception. Spending an entire week deep in the backcountry is part of the appeal for Hunt for Purpose participants,

Bethany West with her bow during the summer boot camp in Montana.

putting hard-earned skills to the test against an iconic backdrop.

“Going into the Bob Marshall Wilderness was a lifelong dream of mine,” Gilman said. “I grew up in Butte on the Divide, but I’d never been to The Bob.”

Participation in the program goes further for Megahee and West. Neither previously had much experience hunting, and the program allowed them to feel more confident in a typically male-dominated environment.

“I’ve never been able to find that group of women to do things like hunting with,” Megahee shared. “I think that’s one of the exciting things about this program, connecting with other women and seeing myself as a hunter, not just the tagalog.”

West is also excited about the partner for the backcountry hunt, women-owned-and-operated Dropstone Outfitting of Choteau, MT. Co-founders and friends Yve Bardwell and Maggie Carr started the business in 2012 to make a living on the Divide landscape they love.

Mike MacLeodStudio MacLeod_Bozeman_MT

For Bardwell, whose father is also a veteran, outfitting Hunt for Purpose was a way of personally coming full circle. Her involvement gave her a deeper understanding of her father’s and other veterans’ struggles.

“It was such a positive experience and an honor to lead these [veterans] onto public lands,” Bardwell shared. She also believes that the public land system is one of the country’s crowning achievements, adding, “To be able to share that with the men and women who have served our country is very humbling.”

“The experiences provided for our participants and in The Bob were simply amazing,” Gilman added. “We’re super excited to be continuing to partner with Dropstone this year and as many years forward as we can.”

The actual hunt is still on the horizon, and this year’s Hunt for Purpose participants are focused on preparing. This isn’t the first time West and Megahee have shared a transformational outdoor experience. They went through the original fishing-based WQW program together in 2022. The program was lifechanging, and they are eager to continue that path and build on those relationships and skills. Hunt for Purpose participants from the inaugural year now serve as mentors to the current year and will accompany and support them throughout the

program and on the hunt. The sense of community cultivated in the WQW programs is another component of helping veterans find purpose and meaning.

“One of the coolest things about the first week in Bozeman was seeing all of our mentors, the people who did the hunt last year,” Megahee said. “It was just so fun watching them hanging out, and you could just tell how excited they were to be back together. That was really inspirational, and I was thinking, ‘In a few months, that’ll be us.’”

Leading up to the hunt, the program consists of an in-person orientation and summer boot camp at the WQW ranch near Bozeman, MT. In addition to learning the basics of hunting and archery, participants will focus on personal development, physical health, nutrition, and spiritual connection. West added, “It’s been an amazing experience, and we’re definitely looking forward to the hunt.”

Although the program is the culmination of a goal, it’s just the beginning for participants. Past members have been inspired to give back through mentorship, and West found that giving back to other veterans also gave her a sense of purpose.

“Warriors & Quiet Waters has given so much to me, and I feel just overwhelming gratitude for this

Mike MacLeodStudio MacLeod_Bozeman_MT

Katie Megahee fine-tuning her archery during the second in-person session of Hunt for Purpose.

THE MOST TRUSTED HIKING SOCK IN THE WORLD

CDT SOCK

opportunity,” West said. “It’s been absolutely life-changing, and it’s something that I definitely couldn’t have done by myself.”

For Megahee, the support of the Hunt for Purpose program has bolstered her general sense of well-being, and she feels healthier and happier. The program’s design to include physical and mental health has motivated her to create and sustain habits that cultivate overall wellness, even amid life changes.

“I have already seen a transformation in my life,” Megahee related. “In June, I moved and switched jobs, made big life changes, and hit a phase where I thought, ‘How do I make it all work again?’ So, I fell back on the principles from the program that had become a habit.”

Both participants are looking ahead to the fall archery hunt and beyond. The focus on preparation for the fall hunt is the context behind the program, but success isn’t measured in antler tines or points on a trophy scale. In 2022, participants spent the week chasing signs, but they never found elk. That is, until the last day when they were gathered to share stories in camp.

“One of the guides looked up from camp to the hillside, and he said, ‘You’ve gotta be kidding me.’ There was an elk, just standing in an open park,” Gilman said. One program participant, rather than feel dejected seeing the first elk at the end of the hunt, said, “I can’t wait to start this all over again.”

With purpose, resilience, and support, there is much to gain from an immersive experience and time spent connecting with the community and landscape. Hunt for Purpose creates a close-knit atmosphere for only a few participants each year to find healing. Still, the impact spreads further than that initial program footprint. The passion behind the idea and the connection to the Divide landscape are catalysts for changing individual lives, and— through ongoing mentorship, careers, and community leadership—a legacy of service is continued.

FROM THE FIELD

The mission of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition is to complete, promote, and protect the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). We see the CDT as a world-class landscape that inspires pride, passion, respect, creativity, community, and perseverance, connecting landscapes, ecosystems, and communities. Find out more about the work happening on the ground this year!

Middle Fork of the Gila - w/ Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico

Gila National Forest, NM | May 2023

Alongside Gila Backcountry Horsemen,volunteers helped maintain 5.5 miles of corridor, cairns, and treadwork as this popular Gila Alternate route winds along the banks of the Gila with tower cliff faces overhead. Read “Behind the Trails” in this issue to learn more!

Ghost Lake 2

Gila National Forest, NM | May 2023

Alongside the Reserve Ranger District and New Mexico Volunteers for the Outdoors, CDTC continues to support a multi-year project to complete a 9.1-mile reroute of the CDT through the northern Gila National Forest between 5 Springs and Ghost Lake.

Butte Adopter Training

Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, MT | June 2023

CDTC launched the Adopter Program in Montana this year with the Butte Ranger District. Upon completion of the training, volunteers are able to adopt and maintain their own section of the CDT.

Denver Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK)

Arapaho National Forest, CO | June 2023

CDTC along with Denver ELK took a group of “Colorado’s underrepresented youth” to camp to build their confidence through trail work and provide an opportunity to learn about the vast opportunities in land management.

Projects

High Lonesome w/ Headwaters Trail Alliance

Arapaho National Forest, CO | July 2023

Located on the CDT on the Front Range of Colorado, this partnership with the Headwaters Trails Alliance, worked to replace one 10-foot bridge to provide a safer water crossing for all trail users in this area.

High Lonesome 2

Arapaho National Forest, CO | July 2023

This location was the only location on the 6.5-mile mechanized section of the High Lonesome that does not have a bridge crossing. CDTC volunteers worked in collaboration with Headwaters Trails Alliance to construct a new bridge crossing in this location.

Georgetown Adopter Training

Arapaho National Forest, CO | July 2023

CDTC conducted this training near Georgetown at the Herman Gulch Trailhead. The focus was on trail maintenance such as tread specifications, installing drains, and other basic techniques that will allow volunteers to adopt their own section of the CDT.

Priest Pass Project w/ Wild Montana

Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest, MT July 2023

This rehabilitation project transformed the trail from a double track to a singletrack tread. This work included scarring the trail and hauling debris over to keep hikers on the straight and narrow.

Big Hole Pass - Salmon-Challis National Forest, ID | August 2023

After the Trail Creek Fire of 2021, the Forest Service identified the need for some significant trail restoration and rehabilitation along the CDT north of Big Hole Pass. CDTC volunteers worked to mitigate and improve conditions by naturalizing the CDT back to scenic singletrack.

Big Hole Pass Adopter Training

Salmon-Challis National Forest, ID

August 2023

This training was conducted near the Trail Creek Fire burn scar to repair the tread, install drainages, and learn basic trail maintenance techniques that will allow volunteers to adopt and maintain their own section of the CDT in the Salmon-Challis National Forest.

Brooks Lake

Shoshone National Forest, WY | August 2023

Located at the beautiful Brooks Lake in the Shoshone National Forest, this project focused on a newly constructed trail and relocation of the CDT. The purpose of this project is to reduce trail grade and install drainage structures to improve sustainability and enhance user experience.

Lonestar Geyser Basin Project

Yellowstone National Park | August 2023

Alongside the National Park Service and volunteers, CDTC supported the restoration of the trail through the Lonestar Geyser Basin.

Martinez Canyon Project

Carson National Forest, NM | September 2023

The Continental Divide Trail Coalition and volunteers return to the Carson National Forest to support our land manager friends with some light maintenance on the CDT. This project is currently full. Join the waitlist!

Silver City Adopter Training

Gila National Forest, NM | September 2023

During this event, volunteers learn basic trail maintenance such as tread specifications, installing drains, and other maintenance skills that will allow volunteers to adopt their own section of the CDT in the area. Learn more, or sign up!

Neglected Mine/Jack’s Peak Project

Gila National Forest, NM | September 2023

CDTC is back in the Burro Mountains of New Mexico! This project addresses a short but challenging 1.5-mile reroute starting at Jacks Peak Trailhead and continuing south along the Neglected Mine area.

Learn more, or sign up!

Pinedale Community Stewardship w/NPLD

Bridger-Teton National Forest, WY |

September 2023

CDTC teamed up with Friends of the BridgerTetons and National Forest Service for a weekend of community, fun, and trails! We will plan to divide into two groups- one participating in a clean-up around Green River Lakes Campground and the other doing light trail maintenance with folks from the Forest Service. Learn more, or sign up!

Bootheel Gate Installation

Bootheel Region, New Mexico

This is an ongoing project in the Bootheel Region with the Bureau of Land Management Las Cruces District Office and Conservation Corps New Mexico to install user-friendly “rollover” gates.

Silver City RD Rollover Installation

Little Walnut, New Mexico

Working with Gila National Forest and local volunteers to install rollovers where trail use is high to address gate issues in areas where ranchers have grazing permits.

Silver City RD rollover Installation

Burro Mountains, New Mexico

Working with Gila National Forest and local volunteers to install rollovers where trail use is high to address gate issues in areas where ranchers have grazing permits.

Black Range Post-wildfire Survey

Black Range, New Mexico

Assessing CDT condition surveys post Black Fire. Learn more from the Trail Stewardship update in this issue!

Pie Town Gap Trail Completion Scouting

Catron County, New Mexico

Working with Cibola National Forest and Acoma Pueblo to scout potential routes and conduct outreach to private landowners for access to complete the longest trail gap on the CDT.

El Malpais Gap Planning

Cibola County, New Mexico

Meeting with working group to identify next steps to complete the CDT through El Malpais, NM.

Muddy Pass Gap Planning

Jackson County, Colorado

These efforts involve outreach to landowners and working groups to complete the remaining gap in Colorado. The new Colorado Field Tech, Jake Warnica is helping with these efforts.

Mangas Valley Gap Planning

Grant County, New Mexico

CDTC is organizing outreach to landowners and working groups to complete this gap in the CDT outside of Silver City, NM.

The Shakedown | Outdoor Threads

By @audrajeanmt

In a recent Shakedown poll on CDTC’s Instagram, followers shared their preferred method of sourcing outdoor clothing.

17% SHOP THE LATEST NEW FASHIONS

10% WEAR DOWNGRADED “TOWN CLOTHES” FOR OUTDOOR PLAY

FIRST, THANK YOU

to the folks who love to shop the latest fashions, making it possible for the new-to-you group to reuse discarded articles.

The “other” category holds an element of intrigue. While one might assume these enterprising folks are simply making their sweaters and socks, there are other options. New ethical outdoor fashion trends and so-called eco-friendly outdoor retailers are on the rise, giving outdoor adventurers more options than ever before– plus an opportunity to lessen environmental impact.

44% SHOP USED VENUES

21% OTHER

Mat Willder, Helconia Productions @ heliconiaproductions & Visit Montana.

1. Clothing from recycled plastic waste. Clothing from outdoor brands like Patagonia has been available since the 90s and continues to catch on. But, not all recycled plastic clothing is made equally, and there is debate about the safety and long-term impacts of the plastic fibers shedding into the environment, i.e. microplastics**.

2. Clothing rental. While many outlets exist for renting clothing for everyday wear or dressing up, few options exist for outdoor wear. Could this be a new trend?

3. Clothing from natural or sustainable fibers. Wool is back in a big way. Brands are making clothing that doesn’t feel scratchy and bulky like the wool clothing of yore, and shoppers can support local agriculture through brands like Montana-based Duckworth. As many know, wool is still warm even when wet, carrying

a huge advantage for prolonged periods in wet weather. Hemp clothing has also hit the mainstream, with big brands like Patagonia, Sherpa Adventure Gear, REI, and Toad & Co. touting hemp clothing lines. Having been used for thousands of years in outdoor applications, hemp is a tough, sustainable alternative that is resistant to extreme conditions***.

4. Upcycled fashion. Whether a parka turned into a ski skirt or a t-shirt handbag, upcycling offers DIY creativity, and sites like Refleece offer upcycled pieces with a professional touch.

More and more brands offer repair and resell programs, providing options forzz ‘fixing not ditching’ minimally damaged clothing.

FOLLOW US ON INSTAGRAM AND WEIGH IN FOR THE NEXT SHAKEDOWN!

*Assoune, Alex. 7 Ethical Fashion Trends You Need To Know In 2023. Panaprium. 2023.

https://www.panaprium.com/blogs/i/ethical-fashion-trends

**Liao, Marino. Is Clothing Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles Safe To Wear? The Zoe Report. April 15, 2021.

https://www.thezoereport.com/fashion/clothing-made-from-recycled-plastic-bottles-safe

***VyvaFabrics. Outdoor Hemp Fabric. November 19, 2019

https://materialdistrict.com/material/outdoor-hemp-fabric/#:~:text=Hemp%20is%20one%20of%20the,resistant%20 to%20extreme%20weather%20conditions.

TRAIL POLICY & ADVOCACY

By L. Fischer (they/them) | CDTC Trail Policy Manager

Behind the modern CDT Experience that visitors get to experience today are decades of diligent labor, advocacy, and stewardship that have helped establish the iconic trail. This summer as you take in the sweeping vistas, bathe in the silence of the wilderness, and look forward to a meal in the next trail town, I encourage you to think about all the voices, hands, and hard work that go into its protection - and consider, How have I used my voice to advocate for the CDT?

The Continental Divide Trail Coalition participates in advocacy and policy engagement on a wide range of topics, ranging from funding for maintenance to trail completion to equitable access in the National Trail System. And there are countless opportunities for our trail community to gather knowledge, use your voice, and engage with decisions that impact the trail and the surrounding Continental Divide landscape. CDTC partners and volunteers have participated in fly-ins with their members of Congress, submitted comments to land management proposals, and tuned in to information sessions on issues facing their communities. Each time trail enthusiasts engage in advocacy opportunities, the fabric of our trail community is strengthened and the future of the CDT experience is more secure thanks to the dedication, thoughtfulness, and excitement that each new voice brings.

This year so far, the CDT has a lot to celebrate and even more ways to engage! Here are a few items we are currently watching and ways you can get involved:

Celebrating the Confirmation of Xochitl Torres Small!

• In July, the Senate confirmed Xochitl Torres Small as the deputy secretary to the Department of Agriculture. Originally from New Mexico and formerly a House member representing a large rural region of the state, Torres Small will be responsible for strategic planning for a department that operates 29 agencies and offices and employs about 100,000 people, including those that directly oversee stewardship of the CDT.

• Action: Join us in congratulating Xochitl Torres Small on her confirmation! To learn more about Xochitl Torres Small, visit this LINK.

• The CORE Act aims to preserve and protect four iconic Colorado landscapes, including the Continental Divide, the Curecanti National Recreation Area. the Thompson Divide, and the San Juan Mountains. If passed, the bill would permanently protect sections of the CDT. A recording of the bill’s hearing in the Senate subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests, and Mining can be found here: LINK

• Action: Reach out to your member of Congress to share your support!

BLM Conservation Rulemaking

• The Bureau of Land Management released a proposed rule on conservation and landscape health. The rule aims to prioritize restoration, mitigation, and prioritizing conservation to improve landscape health and connectivity. If implemented, the rule signifies a significant shift in the agency’s management and would help to optimize stewardship of the natural, scenic, cultural, and historic resources in the CDT corridor.

• Action: Learn more! To learn more about the proposed rules, visit this LINK.

The Colorado Outdoor Recreation Economy (CORE) Act

The CDT Completion Act

• The CDT Completion Act aims to prioritize completion of the remaining 160 miles in gaps of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail by the trail’s 50th Anniversary in 2028. A recording of the bill’s recent hearing in the Senate Subcommittee on National Parks can be found here: LINK

• Action: Reach out to your member of Congress to share your support!

Protections for Chaco Canyon!

• At the White House Tribal Nations Summit, the Biden administration issued a public land order withdrawing public lands within a 10-mile radius of the park for 20 years from further development. The withdrawal comes after decades of advocacy and collaboration with local communities and Tribal Nations who have an important cultural connection to the area. A significant site in the wider Continental Divide landscape, CDTC celebrates this action on the part of the Biden administration to engage with Indigenous communities in meaningful ways.

• Action: Learn more! To learn more about the public land order, you can visit this LINK.

For more information on these items and to stay up-to-date on the latest advocacy and policy priorities impacting the CDT, sign-up for advocacy alerts.

If you are interested in getting more involved in advocating for the CDT or if you have a priority you’d like CDTC to be aware of in your community, contact CDTC Trail Policy Manager L Fisher

BEHIND THE TRAILS

The Gila Backcountry Horsemen of New Mexico

By Audra Labert (she/her) CDTC Communications Manager

It’s easy to take a well-maintained trail for granted. From rocky alpine to seeping lowlands, the work that goes into making public trails passable and enjoyable takes place over many miles and much planning. Non-profit organizations work with government agencies, partners, and volunteers to form a network to maintain trails on public lands. The Continental Divide landscape encompasses five states and thousands of miles of trails, and this year CDTC partnered with Gila Back Country Horsemen of New Mexico (GBCHNM or Gila BCH) in the Gila Wilderness to address post-fire and flooding trail maintenance. Their roots date back to the early 1970s, and the Gila BCH has been contributing to a legacy of stewardship and service in the Gila Wilderness.

Melissa Green is one of the Project Coordinators for the Gila BCH, a chapter of the national organization Back Country Horsemen of America with state and local chapters throughout the country. Green works year-round to plan and execute maintenance projects in the Gila, coordinate volunteers, and collaborate with partners to keep trails open and maintained.

“I like working with other organizations because they each bring in a different experience or perspective. We can learn from each other,” Green said.

The Gila Wilderness is unique because of the regular flooding that occurs on some of the trails. Seasonality, flooding potential, and accessibility are factors that help Green decide Gila BCH priorities for trail projects from season to season. Part of keeping trails open is also making sure people use them consistently. Several trails in the Gila Wilderness that were previously impassable were reopened through the work of the Gila BCH, and now the organization is working to put the word out.

“That’s the whole reason I created the Gila Trails website, to encourage people out onto the trails,” said Green. She lamented having poured work into

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1MlMZ9atJBC8DnPMvtAZawW3__HJSmg4O/view

some trails during her previous career with the U.S. Forest Service that fell into disuse and eventually became indistinguishable again, due to the public not knowing the trail was reopened.

Access to remote, backcountry trail projects is a joint effort in the Gila, made possible–in part– by a Montana-based packer who loves the backcountry of the Gila Wilderness. Russell Lewis began visiting the Gila in 2015 when he first packed stock through the area for a documentary film called 500 Miles, part of a program called Heroes and Horses.

“We had eighteen fresh mustangs and took them on a pack trip with combat veterans along the Continental

Divide Trail through Southern New Mexico,” Lewis said, “And I was helping with the packing, trails, logistics, and camping during the film-making.”

This project was Green and Lewis’s first collaboration, and she shared her knowledge of the area and assisted Lewis and the Heroes and Horses crew throughout their travels. Lewis gave a glowing account of the help Green provided and added that he couldn’t have done it without her knowledge and experience of the Gila Wilderness. Afterward, Lewis began traveling to the Gila to work alongside Green every spring, partly to give back.

“It’s also a way to get into the backcountry in the spring when the Scapegoat and Bob Marshall Wilderness areas in Montana are covered in snow,” Lewis admitted, chuckling.

Since retiring as a school teacher, Lewis began ranching and packing full-time, and he and his wife Sandra live on a ranch in the foothills of the Rocky Mountain Front near Augusta, Montana. Lewis also travels from Canada to New Mexico to teach packing and stockmanship, and teaching is another reason for the annual Gila migration.

“Packing is a dying art for sure,” said Green, dreading the day when packers might become even more scarce. Lewis also recognizes that the skill is less popular than it was historically, and his teaching experience is now put to use teaching stockmanship and packing workshops during part of his time in New Mexico.

“Most packers are over seventy years old, and the younger folks have full-time jobs. They can only go out once a year, maybe,” said Lewis. “Plus, it’s expensive to have stock and is time-consuming. It’s something you have to love and want to do.”

Lewis doesn’t anticipate the practice growing much, but he also doesn’t see it dying out. In designated Wilderness, stock use is not simply a nostalgic practice; it’s essential. Mechanized technology is prohibited in Wilderness, meaning work is done via human and literal horsepower.

Packers provide stock support for projects and pack in gear and for a growing number of volunteers. Green sees a shift to more hiking participants as a way to bolster support for the organization and educate trail users. Hikers can

Gila Back Country Horsemen packer Russell Lewis with his pack string.

Russell Lewis enjoying a moment of relaxation in camp with his dog.

1/1

CDTC Field Coordinator working with Gila BCH on a project in the May of 2023. Photo credit Haley Gamerstfelder.

Melissa Green

learn about stock use and their benefits, and packers can interact more with hikers.

Green recalled one instance of a particularly wet, muddy hike into a project area. The hikers were following the packer support, and some grumbling began about divots that the stock’s hooves were creating, making walking in the mud even more laborious.

“I took it as an opportunity to educate the hikers and shared with them some of the benefits of having stock travel these lesser-used trails,” said Green. “I’ve seen cases where trails nearly disappear from infrequent use. When the stock go through, they pack down the loose soil on the trail, especially when it’s muddy. Over time, the surface is smoothed out, and the trail is nice and clear for hikers.”

A common thread between Lewis and Green is their dedication to a labor of love. Lewis has poured himself into preserving the art of packing, and both have a passion to preserve the Gila landscape. It’s a partnership grown out of mutual appreciation and fed by the desire to share the experience of the landscape.

“She would never talk about herself, so I’m going to,” Lewis shared about Green. He emphasized her relentless efforts to fundraise, plan projects, and recruit support for the Gila.

“Melissa is the driving force to keeping the Gila open,” Lewis added. “From desk work writing grants in the winter to taking trail crews out, she is easy to like, quick to smile, and people want to work because of her love for the Gila.”

There’s more work to do, and organizations like Gila BCH and CDTC both rely on maintaining a network of people who share a passion for the land and the desire to get their hands dirty. The energy and efforts of people like Green and Lewis are a testament to the impact even one person can have to preserve a landscape.-

Continental Divide Trail Coalition proudly partners with Gila Backcountry Horsemen of New Mexico. For more info about Gila BCH, visit: Gila Trails & Equines | Gila BCH. For trail information, learn more here: Gila Trail info | Gila Trails Info

Hiking into a project in the Gila Wilderness. Photo credit Haley Gamertsfelder.

Melissa Green performing trail work.

MANY PATHS CONVERGE FOR TRAIL DAYS

by CDTC Staff

In April 2023, CDTC held our annual Trail Days celebration in partnership with Gila Earth Day in Silver City, New Mexico. This fun three-day event celebrated the kick-off of the thru-hiking season and featured both on-trail and off-trail activities for all ages.

The weekend started with a Cultural Connection Speaker panel of young indigenous leaders, a thru-hiker panel, and a presentation from Advocates for Snake Preservation about snakes in the Gila National Forest. The first day concluded with a presentation by the Her Odyssey Duo. The two-woman multi-sport, endurance athlete team of Bethany ‘Fidgit’ Hughes and Lauren ‘Neon’ Reed have completed a human-powered expedition traveling the length of the Americas while connecting the story of the land and its inhabitants.

Following the speaker series, CDTC staff held a party and the Little Toad Brewery & Distillery in anticipation of the Trail Days x Gila Earth Day event the following day. Over seventy vendors came out to support the community of Silver City and danced all afternoon to local music played in Gough Park. Thru-hikers even had a chance to camp overnight at the town’s old water works building, which is being transformed into a cultural site and space for all to enjoy.

CDT Thru-Hikers 2023 in Silver City

CDTC Staff Welcoming folks to Friday’s Cultural Connection Speaker Series

CDTC staff and local partners were thrilled to end the weekend by getting out on the CDT with seven locally-led community hikes. It’s always a great time to be in Silver City to celebrate the stewardship and community of the trail. We look forward to celebrating Silver City’s ten-year Gateway Community designation in 2024!

Community Members Enjoying Trail Days 2023

Participants at the Readywise Cooking Challenge during Trail Days

Teresa Martinez and Cultural Connection Speaker Panelists Amanda Grace Santos, Kiana Etstate-Gashytewa, Shandiin Nez

Valery Serrano-Lopez holding up a CDT blaze created at Trail Days!

TRAIL TOWNS

By Liz Schmit (she/her)

Welcome to Pinedale, a CDT Gateway Community nestled in the heart of Wyoming’s picturesque Wind River Range. Located in Sublette County, Pinedale is known for its breathtaking natural beauty and warm hospitality. Surrounded by vast expanses of pristine wilderness, including the Bridger-Teton National Forest, outdoor enthusiasts flock to Pinedale for its abundant recreational opportunities and its embrace of CDT thru-hiking and section hiking culture.

Tyler Hofer, an avid backpacker and the owner of the Jackalope Motor Lodge, talked to us about what it means when thru-hikers and community members converge.

THE JACKALOPE MOTOR LODGE | A LEGENDARY STAY

Pinedale, Wyoming

Pinedale is in Sublette County. The town sits high in the Bridger Wilderness Area, which encompasses the Wind River Mountains, about a 10-mile hike to the nearest Continental Divide Trail access point.

Ancestral lands of the Cheyenne, Shoshone-Bannock, Eastern Shoshone, Crow, Cayuse, Umatilla, and Walla Walla

Population: 2,242

Elevation: 7,182 ft

Economy: Ranching, outdoor recreation, tourism

Tyler Hofer and his family were living in San Diego when they traveled to Pinedale for the first time to visit friends. Immersing themselves in the small town, they felt connected to the community and the outdoor recreational opportunities it had to offer. Having lived in California, Hofer grew to love the world of backpacking, mountaineering, and being outside. When COVID-19 changed the scope of his work, Hofer and his wife decided to get creative. During Hofer’s visit to Pinedale, he saw the Wagon Wheel Motel for sale and his friends jokingly suggested he and his family purchase it.

When the Hofers returned to California, buying the Wagon Wheel Motel grew from a dream to reality after thorough research and finding inspiration from other businesses – including the Amigo Motor Lodge in CDT Gateway Community Salida, Colorado. Hofner and his family decided to go for it.

In the spring of 2021, after a period of back-and-forth negotiations, Hofner acquired the business and moved to Pinedale for two months to get the property operational. He painted the walls, placed TVs in each room, and noted it was still in rough shape. Yet, he was surprised by the number of clientele being none other than the CDT trail users. “Hikers really loved what we had to offer because it was the lowest price in town. They just wanted a hot shower and place to rest,” he shared. The newly named Jackalope Motor Lodge has 15 rooms in total, and that first summer in 2021 was overrun with hikers. “We had 8 rooms open, there wasn’t even water hooked up yet. We let hikers crash in the rooms because they came into town and word spread we were a cheap place to stay.” Hofner listened to the hikers and took notes of what they wanted when they look for lodging in town. “Hikers are our passion,” he said.

At the end of that summer, they gutted the property with hikers in mind. They took two of the open rooms and made them hiker-style bunk spaces to keep prices low for those

CDTC Community and Outreach Program Manager

Simple bunk-style rooms help keep costs down for thru-hikers and families. Photo courtesy of the Jackalope Motor Lodge.

passing through on the CDT. In the winter, they are turned into private rooms for families, snowmobilers, hunters, and others enjoying the winter in Pinedale. The Jackalope has a back area with a patio, shower, washing machine, hiker bin, fire pit, and place for hikers to hang out. The hostel also has loaner bikes for hikers to use to try and make their stay in Pinedale as comfortable as possible.

“We have been welcomed by the community and are lucky to share resources in a community-driven environment; it really is a team effort in Pinedale, there is no ego,” Hofer shares.

When asked to share his favorite CDT hiker story, he pauses. “Thru-hiking is a communal thing. What I noticed about CDT hikers is that they hop around a lot; they don’t necessarily stay the course. Oftentimes, we will have hikers come back several times in a season because of weather, but sometimes they simply want to be back in Pinedale!”

One hiker in particular came through town and hitched northbound to complete a section after leaving her car parked in town. She kept coming back to the Jackalope, then doing different sections. Luckily for Hofer, the hiker was telling everybody about his property and the amenities they have to offer.

“I learn a lot from the hikers about the CDT. Last summer, I was finally able to be on trail and started asking folks where they were planning to stay as they neared Pinedale. One hiker told me he planned to stay at the Jack Rabbit. I asked, in response, do you mean the Jackalope? I hear that’s a really great place.”

COMING TOGETHER

“There certainly is a friendliness and eagerness to help out,” shares Sublette County Visitor Center Executive Director, Peter Paulin. “The ranchers have a big heart, there are outdoor recreation and gear shops, bike shops…everyone really leans on each other.”

Paulin echoed that the community of Pinedale rallies around CDT thru-hikers and section hikers. He spoke of locals going out of their way to help an injured hiker in the summer of 2022, driving almost 15 miles outside of town to bring someone to their local clinic. “The town really comes together to support hikers and encourage our tourism extension.” The Sublette County Visitor Center serves as a hub for information and a newly appointed hiker box, named after Finis Mitchell, so folks feel welcomed before enjoying local businesses. Paulin shared that they even have loaner clothes while hikers stop to do laundry in town and offer “pitchfork fondue” at the local fairgrounds for hikers and locals to enjoy during the summer months. What exactly is pitchfork fondue? “It’s a cowboy cookout, complete with pitchforks to skewer the steaks,” Paulin says with a laugh.

Aside from the hiker amenities Pinedale offers, the town evolves as the season transitions. “There’s summer Pinedale and there’s winter Pinedale,” Tyler Hofer shares. He really likes winter Pinedale and always tells hikers at the Jackalope to come back in the winter to enjoy the local ski mountain, ice skating, or world-class snowmobiling. Not to mention, the town does a pretty good job at hosting events.

The annual winter carnival, backed by Mainstreet Pinedale, is said to host skijoring and a cardboard sledding contest. “People go all out and make these elaborate sleds,” said Hofer. It must be this creative spirit and intuitive connection that makes Pinedale so special for locals and visitors alike.

Contact CDTC Community & Outreach Program Manager Liz Schmit about Trail Town Features or for more information about CDTC Gateway Communities: lschmit@continentaldividetrail.org.

The Jackalope offers hostel accommodations for thru-hikers. Photo courtesy of the Jackalope Motor Lodge.

MEDIA ROUNDUP

Even when you’re loving the wilds, sometimes home starts calling. Here’s what came in when we asked followers, “What songs feel like home when out on an adventure?”

Trail Tunes

Rivers and Roads

The Head and The Heart

Misty

Caamp

Burgers

Les Jones

Sister Golden Hair

America

You’re Gonna Go Far

Noah Kahan

Quite a Feelin

Barna Howard

It’s My Party

Lesley Gore

Morning Light

Josh Garrels

The Stable Song

Gregory Alan Isakov

To Go Home

Danjo Harris

PODCAST | The Lightest Tread: Hiking in the context

Listen on Spotify

Featuring CDTC Board Member, long-distance hiker, and ‘recovering academic’ Amiththan “Swami Bittergoat” Sebarajah to gain his perspective on thru-hiking and discuss how he frames that perspective against the complex and nuanced backdrop of his life experience as a first-generation immigrant and a person of color.

BOOKS | CAMPFIRE STORIES

Includes a diverse range of writers Inspired by America’s beloved national parks, Campfire Stories Volume II is a collection of modern prose, poetry, folklore, and more, featuring commissioned, new, and existing works from a diverse group of writers who share a deep appreciation of the natural world.

MOVIES & FILMS | HUNT FOR THE WILDERPEOPLE

If you’re in the mood for family-friendly fun, this New Zealand-based movie is a gem. Hunt for the Wilderpeople is a 2016 New Zealand adventure comedydrama film written and directed by Taika Waititi, whose screenplay is based on the book Wild Pork and Watercress by Barry Crump. The story: A national manhunt is ordered for a rebellious kid and his foster uncle who go missing in the wild New Zealand bush.

CDT SUPPORTERS

Members are the core of our organization and its efforts to protect the Continental Divide Trail. By being a member, you support the protection of the CDT and our work to build a broad-based community of people who love and support the Trail. Thank you!

CDT EXPLORERS

CDT Explorers support CDTC with donation of $100 or more. We wish to thank the following individuals for their generous donations between May 1 and July 25 of this year.

$100-$499

Edward Lefferts

William Schumann

Russell Fory

Richard Garlie

Dick Blue

Karl Luce

William McCalister

James Wright

Eric Katkow

Joseph & Donna Morris

Timothy O’Rourke

John Gorske

Robert Willis

Vi Schweiker

Lee Gruber

Kenneth Laufer

Steven & Jill Briggs

Tracy Love in memory of Don Davis

Martin & Joyce Treat

Amy Ehrhart

Deanna Montgomery in memory of Don Davis

Richard Hill

Zack Bumgarner

Michael Wollenberg

Benjamin Mihlfeld

Thomas Dillon

Donald & Kathy Siebe

Anonymous in honor of Michael Swartz’s Hike

James Snavely

Mary Lou Shean in honor of John Rowland for Father’s Day

Allmuth Perzel

Wes Plate

Colin Dundas

William & Elisabeth Shults & Maislen

David & Janet Bebell

Thomas Holz

Lynne Mosbaugh

Rob Ibison

Tom Phillips

Steven Fishback

Allmuth Perzel

Allmuth Perzel

Laura Shriber de Cuevas in memory of Hallie Owsley

Kelly Nelson

Michael Miller

Emilie Kelly

Marc Laliberte

Danielle Longo

Marc Levesque

Richard Brooks in memory of Don Davis

Gregory Biggs in memory of Don Davis

Wade Osborne in memory of Don Davis

Randall Hall in memory of Don Davis

Debora Dexter in memory of Don Davis

Lindsay Malone

Patricia Spitzmiller

James Harrold

Steve Gibbs

Terry Flamboe in memory of Don Davis

Jim Hansman

Ryan McKnight

Alex Kate Halvey

Rick Lively

Greg Spencer

Daniel Dosedel

Curtis Savoie

Jason Romero

Scott Hollister

William & Annie Henzel

Greg Hersh

Suzanne Batiste

Michael Aamold

Nate Pham

Jenny Primm

Cory McDonald

Nathaniel Anderson

Babak Rastgoufard

Kara Rourke

Brendan Trimboli

Gabrielle Harris

Sam Woodside

Sarah Hodges

Peter Troast

Hudson Munoz

Anne Pike

Emory Atterberry

Kelsy Been

Summer Igo

Laura Noll

Lydia Rios

Stephen Gnoza

Kayde Anderson

Tyler Fox

Tricia McKeown

DC & Buttons Ward

Leanna Joyner

Anonymous in honor of Michael Swartz’s Hike

David Kessler

Susan Coe Brown

Stuart Paulus

Duncan Legg

Chet Dixon

Gary Berg

Jim Slayers

Christina Jesse

John Hall

Eli Zabielski

Barbara Nash

Stuart Paulus

Art Krieg

Julie Russillo

Robert Gersten

Jospeh Brady

Paul Gilmore

Elizabeth Blair-Broeker

William McIntyre

Ricky Short

Brian Micheletti

Joseph Havis

Brent Ramsey

David Fishback

Craig Rice

Gregory Wiseman in honor of Michael Swartz’s Hike

$500-$999

Jeremy Howes

Richard Williamson

Sharon Buccino

Vera Moritz

McClure Family

Joe Keeton

Anonymous in honor of Michael Swartz’s Hike

Albert Ruggles

Doug Watkins in memory of Don Davis

$1,000-$9,999

Arthur & Denise Foley

Douglas Shaw

Chris & Mary Alonso

$10,000+

Susan Coe Brown

Thank you to the following sponsors who contributed to CDTC between May 1 and July 25, 2023.

TRAILBLAZER

YETI

ULA Equipment

EXPLORER

Buff

Eno

Big Agnes

Zpacks

Honey Stinger

Woolrich

Oboz Footwear

Six Moon Designs

REI

Osprey

Backpacker Pantry

PATHFINDER

Hyperlite Mountain Gear

Monarch at the Crest

Sawyer

The Trek

Montbell

Far Out Guides

LEKI

Mountainsmith

Dueter

TOAKS Outdoor

CO Native

Gossamer Gear

AllTrails

Melanzana

Blackfoot River Brewing

The Tent Lab

Readywise Meals

PACT Outdoors

Desesh

Katabatic Gear

National Geographic

Darn Tough

BearVault

Farm to Feet

Gossamer Gear

Snowy Mountain Brewery

SCOUT

Vasque

GoldenMill

Taos Ski Valley Resort

Big Sky Resort

Point6

Sole

Seek Dry Goods

The Base Camp

HomeLight

Triple Crown Coffee

Hiiker

One in a Million

Vacation Home

Town Shirt Co.

Vapur

Storm Peak Brewing

Access Wild

Enlightened Equipment

BUSINESS MEMBERS

Backslope Brewing

Blackfoot River Brewing Company

Bosque Brewing

Darkhorse Band

Downtown Helena, Inc

Dry Point Distillers

Gulch Distillers

Helena Business Improvement District

HKM Employment Attorneys

Inscription Rock Trading/Cabins

Beneath the Mesa

Integrity Tattoo

Kevin League Photography

Lamber Goodnow

Last Best Supply Co

Lazy Acres Campground

Linked Adventures

Little Toad Creek Brewery & Distillery

LOCAL

Loft Helena

Michael Underwood Photography

Miller’s Boots and Shoes

Morning Star Sports

MST Adventures

Murray Hotel

Pintler’s Portal Hostel

Point S Tires

Power and Light

Rinconada Adventures, LLC

Salida Mountain Sports

Seeley Lake Montana Vacation

Snowy Mountain Brewing

Storm Peak Brewing

Ten Mile Creek Brewery

The Base Camp

Tierra Wools

Triple Crown Coffee

Twin Lakes General Store

Vigilante Shuttles & Tours

Wood’s High Mountain Distillery

Yampa Sandwich Company

CHARTER MEMBERS

CDTC Charter Members helped build the base of support necessary to help launch CDTC’s efforts in 2012. CDTC owes an incredible debt of gratitude to these important supporters.

Rex Alford and Alice Pierson

Gene Allen

Vince Auriemma

Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club

Mark Bankey

Chris and Sanne Bagby

Mike Bates

Susan Bates

Lyndon Berry

Jim Boeck and Vivian Wilson

Jerry and Helga Bell

PAUL Breed

Bob Brewer

Jerry Brown

Chris Burke

Kevin Burns

Jeremy Burton

Clare Cain

Elisabeth Chaplin

Paul Corbeil

Carolyn Crump

Mike Dawson

David Dolton

John Dufour

Bob and Shell Ellinwood

Dianne Evans

Brian Fahlstrom

Allen Filson

Mark Flagler

Arthur and Denise Foley

Dana Foulks

Sara Glasgow

Paul Griffith

Lawton Grinter and Felicia Hermosilla

Tambi Gustafson

Jim Hansman

Frank and Jean Anne Haranzo

James Harrold

LEGACY MEMBERS

Tim Hart

Jack Haskel

Deb Hayes

Josephine Hazelett

Jesse Hill

James Hlavaty

Olivia Holmes

Thomas Holz

Nancy Huber

Peter Karnowski

2013 FB CDT hikers/Lisa Karst

Matthew Kaufmann

Karen Keller

Copper Kettlle Brewing

Christine and Brad Klafehn

Duane Koss

Dick Kozoll

Robert Kristoferitsch

Whitney LaRuffa

David Lattier

Kevin Linebarger

Rebecca Louden-Louden Family Foundation

Reese Lukei

Paul Magnanti

Lydia Mahan

Barney and Sandy Mann

Bryan and Sally Martin

Alex Martinez family

Nicolas Martinez

Teresa Martinez

Chris McMaster-ULA Equipment

Gary Monk

Janie and Randy Moore

Peter Necarsulmer

Jean Neely

John and Lisa Nelson

Jim O’Brien

Pat O’Donnell

Shane O’Donnell

Stephen Olson

Richard Ostheimer

Don and Amy Owen

Taylor and Nancy Owen

Greg Pierce

Brad Pierson

Bill and Debra Pollick

Bruce Prior

Miguel Quinones

John Rowland

Erin Saver

Carlos Schomaker

Kerry Shakarjian

Steven Sheppard

Josh and Lisa Shusko

Mal Sillars

James Sippel

Dave and Sandy Slowey

Chris Smith

Morgan Sommerville

Steve Staley

Philip Storey

Rebecca Sudduth and Daniel Weber

Robert Sylvester

George Szeremeta

Michael Tam

Olli Tam

Avelino Tamayo

Don Thompson

Kathy Trotter

Daniel Weber

Gary Werner and Melanie Lord

Scott Williams

Bernard Wolf

Mike Wollmer

Bill Youmans

Tim Zvada

Legacy Members make a lasting impact to protect the CDT for future generations by including CDTC in their will or estate plan. Contact CDTC Development Manager Lauren Murray at lmurray@continentaldividetrail.org if you are interested in becoming a Legacy Member.

Teresa Martinez

Jean Ella

Roger & Cindy Carpenter

Tom Lefferts

Bart Lami

Dick Vogel

Trevor Twose

Bill Murphy

Barney and Sandy Mann

Josephine Hazelett

CDT Sustainers help us protect the trail all year long by giving monthly donations. Join them by signing up on our website for as little as $5 per month!

Adrian Harrison

Aletheia McCurry

Alexander Asai

Amy Aloe

Amy Buchanan

Amy McCormick

Andine Gilmore

Anitra Kass

Anne Simonsick

Annette Sanders

Aubrey Renfroe

Barry Reed

Ben Sweeney

Benjamin Gabriel

Brent Lindon

Brian Deames

Carol Martin

Cayce Roach

Chad Ferguson

Christina Osmon

Claire Wilcox

Clayton Smith

Clifford Savage

Cody Miller

Connie Mahan

Daniel Stenziano

David Giese

David Nowak

David Schlewitz

Dayna FiskWilliams

DC Ward

Debbie Reinschmidt

Debra Calhoun

Denise Hasskamp

Dennis Solo

Derek Sherry

DiAnna Corden

Don Thompson

Donna Siefert

Elaine Geouge

Elizabeth Corliss

Erik Schultz

Erin Capron

Erin Lucero

Erin Woodrow

Ernesto Fuentes

Frances Galvin

Gabriel Smith

Garrett Delmas

Gary Van Horn

Gerald Nielsen

Gerald Retzlaff

Gretchen K Walker

Hannah Green

Harry Bicycle Company LLC

Healing Hearts & Horses

Heather Farrell

Heather Stabler

Heidi Jones

James Fowler

James Hunter

James N. Wise MD PLLC

James Spellman

James Williams

Jason Harley

Jessica Suhowatsky

Jim Boeck

John Kuebler

Jon Geilhufe

Jonathan Smith

Joni DuPre

Jordan Williams

ENDOWMENT CHARTER MEMBERS

Amanda Wheelock

Amiththan Sebarajah

Amy Camp

Amy Mccormick

Andrew Linger

Arthur and Denise

Foley

Barbara Nash

Barney And Sandy

Mann

Ben Gabriel

Clancy Clark

Dean Myerson

Don & Amy Owen

Emilie Kelly

Greg & Jan Winchester

Greg Pierce

James Hlavaty

James York

Jena Thompson

Jim Hunter

Karen Loveless

Karl Schults

Katherine Moore

Kathleen Johnson

Kathy Kessler-York

Keith Lippwe

Keith Wagner

Kelly Flynn

Kevin Soderman

Kyle Svoboda

Lauren Murray

Leslie McCurry

Lisa Cook

Lynn Andenoro

Lynne Krulich

Marianna Young

Mark Mitford

Mark Swanson

Martin Smith

Martin Welch

Marty Leake

Mary McNeill

Mary Stoecker

McLean Smith

Melinda Bise

Merrill Glustrom

Michael Clason

Michael Lang

Michael Sweitzer

Mrs Monsen

Patrick A. Madison

Patrick Foley

Paul Tennery

Rachel Danczyk

Rachel DeHoyos

Randy Walker

Raymond Brown

Renee Patrick

Rhonda Ronan

Richard Sayre

Robert Boulis

Robert Flynn

Robert Mabry

Robert Reeves

Robert Romanoff

Robert Thurston

Robin Proffitt

Ronald Parry

Samuel Waterman

Sara Bishop

Sara Eder

Sarah Estrella

Sarah Gude

Sarah Wustrack

Scott Piddington

Shaun Bechdol

Stephen Dodson

Steve Falconer

Steve Moffitt

Steven Meyer

Tawnee Smith

Ted Olson

Teresa Ellis

Thomas Holz

Thomas Phillips

Tom Philips

Tracy Lanktree

Troy Lawson

Wendel Hann

William Hamrick

William Welch

John Mclarty

Josephine Hazelett

Josh And Lisa Shusko

Kathleen Lynch

Kerry Shakarjian

Linda Spaulding

Matthew Lindelow

Michael Schechtman

Mike Ksenyak

Nicolas Martinez

Paul Magnanti

Randy Welsh

Rich Blitz

Rob Hutchinson

Robert J. Weggel

Steven & Grace

Shattuck

Teresa Martinez

Tom Phillips

Thank you to the following sponsors who contributed to CDTC between December 2022 and April 2023.

SCOUT

EXPLORER ($5,000-$24,999)

PATHFINDER ($1,500-$4,999)

Photo by Haley Gamertsfelder

THE TERMINUS THE ELUSIVE GHOST LAKE

By Danny Knoll (he/him) | CDTC Administrative Assistant

This Memorial Day weekend I had the opportunity to join CDTC’s field team on the Ghost Lake reroute project in the Gila National Forest. The project is aptly named after a dry lake bed that we fittingly never saw. The area has been rarely visited, partly due to lacking maintenance over the years. But priorities have recently changed, and members of various youth corps and CDTC volunteers have begun construction of a nine-mile reroute of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT), to help build and restore tread after a recent wildfire. The new path is intended to avoid excessive rocky areas and uphold the scenic nature of the trail.

The crew consisted of a handful of volunteers from various parts of the Southwest and two CDTC Field Coordinators, Haley Gamertsfelder and Michael McDaniel. Haley and Michael are accomplished trail builders and backpackers with years of experience constructing trails, and thousands of miles under their feet hiking.

The volunteers included trail maintenance veterans, and rookies like myself, who were eager to spend the weekend in the woods, get our hands dirty, and give back.

Danny Knoll pictured hard at work with the CDTC staff and other volunteers at the Ghost Lake project (New Mexico).

This multi-day project had three primary goals:

1) Establish a foundation for future crews by clearing the access road of blowdown.

2) Hide the existing trail by covering it with dirt, branches, and rocks.

3) Cut a new trail along the route established by the Forest Service.

We established our base camp on a saddle 9000 feet above sea level, where Haley and Michael set up the kitchen, wash station, and latrine. This placed us a short two-mile hike away from the work site, which became a habitual morning warmup before spending most of our days limbing branches, unearthing boulders, and cutting tread with various hand tools. The work was strenuous at times, but our crew leaders kept us well-hydrated, fed and rested. We were aided by a cooler full of beer donated by La Cumbre Brewing Company that we enjoyed each evening back at camp.

The group met a lone hiker attempting a thru-hike of the entire CDT. After reporting poor trail conditions up to that point, making it difficult to navigate, he was grateful for the work we were doing. This encounter served as a reminder that there is still much work to be done.

By the end of the project, we had cleared the road, covered the old trail, and built roughly 900 feet of brand-new CDT tread. The good news is that with added funding, CDTC will be able to return to the area in the coming years to complete the segment, thanks to the foundation we laid over the weekend. My only wish for next year is to finally find the project’s namesake, the elusive Ghost Lake.

CDTC Field Coordinator Haley Gamertsfelder cutting a tree with hand tools.