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BRAVING THE CDT

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TRAIL TOWNS

TRAIL TOWNS

By Audra Labert (she/her), CDTC Communications Manager

Simon “Odin” Eklov was called to wander the wild from an early age. His latest adventure spanned from Mexico to the Canadian border in 2023 when he set out to thru-hike the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT). Amidst the awe of the experience, Eklov captured stunning images of the landscape and wildlife. While his photos emanate that feeling of awe, the beauty is not without the beast. The raw challenge and ethereal beauty of the Continental Divide intertwine in an extraordinary experience.

Growing up in Sweden, Eklov– like many others in the country– participated in fast-paced outdoor challenges called orienteering. Picture a crosscountry meet combined with map and compass skills for an image of this activity that originated in Sweden in the late 19th century. Although the pursuit started with military and military-organized competitions, orienteering has gone mainstream in the country with over 75,000 registered practitioners.1

“It’s not very big in the U.S., but it’s basically like running with a map and getting to certain checkpoints in a specific order,” Eklov shared. “I’ve done that since I was ten years old, and I grew up quite active. I’ve always been kind of adventurous.”

From his time as an aspiring child staring at peaks to climb, the desire for adventure grew and eventually led to Eklov’s Pacific Crest Trail hike in 2017 after finishing his education in biology and biotechnology. The five years of “time off” since that first U.S. thru-hike included preparations for another cross-continental hike, and Eklov started the CDT northbound on April 26 and finished on September 18– just under five months.

As anyone who has planned a long walk will attest, part of the challenge is the planning. Having at least one long thru-hike on the resume before the CDT can help, and Eklov used some of the insights earned on the PCT on his 2023 hike.

“From my experience on the PCT, I knew that what I had planned before was probably going to come apart,” Ekvlov said with a laugh. “The best thing is to treat it as one day at a time, plan your first stretch as your trip, and then go from there.”

While some have called it ‘brutality’, braving the CDT includes both challenge and choice–a ‘choose your own adventure’ approach. In addition to the official FarOut app ‘red line’, there are official alternate routes (like the Big Sky and Gila Alternates), unofficial routes taken, and the obligatory meanders associated with trail closures, high snow, or other unforeseen obstacles. The redline is considered the route by some, but others– like Eklov– offer a more generous perspective on which trails get hikers to the Terminus.

“Whether you take the shortest route possible, or do the whole thing on the red line, it’s gonna be a big, big challenge,” he said. Eklov emphasized that the trail challenges on multiple levels, regardless of the final mileage. “It’s physically demanding. It’s mentally demanding. You have to tackle so many things.”

Regardless of the challenge, it’s clear that Eklov remained enamored with the beauty of the landscape and the thrill of the unexpected. With an eye for stunning imagery and a lifetime of adventure-seeking, Eklov’s story and photos provide a glimpse into the magic of the Continental Divide landscape–both the rugged and the splendid.

CAPTURING THE BEAUTY

From Simon Eklov

One of my favorite parts on the whole trail was the part just before Cuba [NM], through the mesas–very beautiful. There were just so many places: Colorado is absolutely beautiful- very challenging, but beautiful. I also love The [Great] Basin [WY]; I am a person who loves sunrises and sunsets, and you get some really beautiful sunrises and sunsets [there]. The Wind [River Range, WY] and Yellowstone [National Park] are amazing. I mean, every part of the trail was just super beautiful.

One of my favorite parts on the whole trail was the part just before Cuba [NM], through the mesas–very beautiful. There were just so many places: Colorado is absolutely beautiful- very challenging, but beautiful. I also love The [Great] Basin [WY]; I am a person who loves sunrises and sunsets, and you get some really beautiful sunrises and sunsets [there]. The Wind [River Range, WY] and Yellowstone [National Park] are amazing. I mean, every part of the trail was just super beautiful.

I’ve always been attracted to picking up a camera and taking photos, so that’s how it started. I’ve done a lot of photography and video stuff, so for me, it was a no-brainer to bring my camera on the CDT. The only question was: Would I take my larger camera that gives a little bit better quality, or should I take the old one that I used on the PCT? I decided to take the larger one and carry some extra weight. I think that was definitely worth it. It gives me a little bit more flexibility with the lens, but I really enjoy using the Fujifilm X-T3. For most of the CDT, I used Fujifilm X-T3. Towards the end, I couldn’t use the touchscreen, so I decided to just buy a new camera: A Fujifilm X-H2.

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