Passages Continental Divide Trail Coalition
Volume 13, Summer 2018
connecting the community that supports the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
President's Letter The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail means many different things to different people. For some, it is the once-in-a-lifetime challenge of completing the whole trail. For others, the CDT is a memorable weekend or week-long adventure with friends and family. For others it is a solo day trip in a wilderness area to reconnect with nature. As one of the most iconic trails in the country, the CDT has the power to inspire, to call to action, and to bring people together. This issue of Passages celebrates that power by looking back at the first 40 years of the CDT, as well as what we think may be to come in the next 40 and beyond. The National Trails System that we enjoy today did not come about by accident. An immense amount of volunteer labor, public agency support and private resources have transformed what was once a dream into a vast network of trails connecting communities, landscapes and individuals across the country. This has been a very busy summer for CDTC staff, volunteers and board members with trail work projects, celebrations of the trail, and new trail supporters across every trail state. As we continue to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System and the 40th anniversary of the CDT, we know that an increasing amount of effort and resources will be necessary in order to keep these trails around for the next 40 years and beyond. When you donate to or volunteer for the CDTC, you are making a commitment to future generations that they may also be able to enjoy the trail in the many ways that people enjoy it today. Protecting and managing this legacy project has always been a focus for CDTC. Since the inception of our strategic planning process two years ago, we have worked hard as your board of directors to build a strong foundation and organization to carry forward the mission of CDTC. My thanks to our amazing staff, committed agency partners and dedicated volunteers for their service to the trail. As I step away from my role on the board of directors, I look back at how far we have come in a short time, and I see an even brighter future. CDT hikers and volunteers from near and far gathered at the Seedboat Gallery to celebrate the CDT during the 4th annual Continental Divide Trail Days festival. Photo by Tom Boblett.
Josh Shusko President, CDTC Board of Directors 2
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In This Issue 5
Trail Administrator's Update
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Trail Tidbits
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Trail Story: Hiking Through My Home State
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No Car? No Problem!
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Excerpt: The Continental Divide Trail: Exploring America's Ridgeline Trail
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Ask Wizard
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The Tortoise and the Hare
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Gateway Community Spotlight: Salida, CO
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The Terminus
CDTC Staff Teresa Martinez Executive Director Morgan Anderson Field Programs Manager Lauren Murray Development Plan Manager Amy Van der Kamp Finance Manager Gabriel Etengoff Field Programs Coordinator Dan Roper Gateway Community Coordinator Amanda Wheelock Marketing & Communications Specialist Slide Kelly GIS & Mapping Specialist Rachel Brown Membership Services & Trail Information Manager
CDTC Board
Josh Shusko, President Barney Mann, Vice President Kerry Shakarjian, Secretary Chris Nesset, Treasurer Greg Pierce Don Owen Tom Phillips Jo Pegrum Hazelett Nicholas Martinez Arthur Foley Spread Photo: Johnny Carr Cover Photo: Brenda Yankoviak Back Cover: Felicia Hermosillo
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 donatiions to CDTC are tax-deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. 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. Membership begins at $5 per year. Members are encouraged to submit story ideas and photographs for inclusion in Passages to the editor at awheelock@continentaldividetrail.org ďťż
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When we say “we sleep in the dirt”, we mean it.
Somewhere around mile 150 during the Big Agnes thru-hike of the Colorado CDT
4 Photo by Devon Balet
Learn more about our CDT thru-hike at bigagnes.com/bordertobackyard
Trail Administrator's Update In October, we will celebrate the 50th anniversary of the National Trails System Act and the 40th anniversary of the Continental Divide Trail’s designation as a National Scenic Trail. The first 40 years of the CDT’s management were focused on development of a continuous route from Mexico to Canada. While we refer to the CDT as a trail, it is actually made up of many trail and road segments, as the CDT was originally placed on existing trails and roads as much as possible in order to provide a continuous route. Agency staff, partners and volunteers worked tirelessly for the past decades to construct new trail tread where there were gaps and to relocate the CDT off of roads where feasible. Due to the efforts of so many dedicated and passionate agency staff, partners and volunteers in the first 40 years, the CDT is now mostly (95%) located within public ownership, and mostly (85%) located off of roads! This is a huge accomplishment to be proud of! The CDT provides for a wide range of recreation opportunities across these diverse trail and road segments as it traverses the deserts of New Mexico, the high ridgetops of Colorado, the Great Basin in Wyoming, and the forested mountains of Montana and Idaho. The trail leads travelers through some of the most remote and pristine places in the country, as well as right through the middle of towns like Grants, New Mexico, and Grand Lake, Colorado. This mix of landscapes and recreation opportunities is what makes the CDT unique - it is not only a challenging long-distance trail for the few hardy hikers who attempt to walk its length, but also a backyard trail for people of all levels and abilities living in and visiting the many communities along the trail. Over the next 40 years, we will continue to refine the trail’s location to ensure it is environmentally sustainable, located off of roads and motorized routes where feasible, and routed through the most scenic and least developed areas possible. We will work to identify and catalogue the nationally significant resources associated with the trail corridor to help inform future projects that may affect the views from the trail or affect the experiences of trail users. The coming decades will also mark a new phase of life for the CDT. A diversity of voices, perspectives, skills, and backgrounds within the CDT community will be critical to ensuring that the trail remains relevant and well-protected in the future. Moving forward, we will focus our efforts outward to raise awareness of the CDT and engage these voices. We will develop trailheads and improve signage so that the trail is more accessible to the American public. Efforts like CDTC's Gateway Community and Trail Adopter programs will be critical to building a strong and diverse trail community that values and helps support the CDT and the public lands it traverses. It is truly an honor and a privilege to help shape the future of this national treasure. I look forward to continuing to work with partners like CDTC to help connect people to the outdoors and ensure that the CDT long outlasts all of us.
Brenda Yankoviak Continental Divide National Scenic Trail Administrator U.S. Forest Service
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Trail Tidbits Sharing the CDT in New Mexico This summer, CDTC launched a new program in New Mexico that aims to encourage and equip local residents from New Mexico’s Gateway Communities to spend time on the CDT and share their experiences with their community. We’re calling it the CDT Community Ambassador program, and our goal is to help those who live closest to the CDT experience the natural beauty, wildness, and inspiration of the Trail and the amazing lands it traverses. Community Ambassadors will hike 100-mile sections of the CDT, lead hikes for their communities, and share stories about their experiences. These volunteers will increase awareness and support for the CDT in Gateway Communities and help us grow and diversify the community of public land and trail supporters. This program is the first of its kind along the CDT, and was made possible through a grant from the North Face Explore Fund. We hope to expand the program trail-wide in 2019.
REI
New Gear Celebrates the CDT
REI and Brooks Running Company recently launched a new National Scenic Trails Collection of footwear, camping gear, and apparel to celebrate and protect the trails that outdoor enthusiasts love to explore. Available exclusively at REI and on rei.com, the collection celebrates three of the U.S.’ most renowned national trails - the Appalachian Trail, the Continental Divide Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail - with one-of-akind designs inspired by each trail. 5% of sales from the collection will be donated to CDTC and other National Scenic Trail organizations. You can shop the collection here.
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Blaze the CDT volunteers
SILV E R C I T Y, N E W ME X ICO Students and volunteers from the Aldo Leopold Charter School pose in front of the new mural they created at the Silver City Visitors Center. 6
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blazes and cairns installed in July and August
CDT 40th birthday cakes eaten (so far)
Dogs of the CDT This month, CDTC launched the Dogs of the CDT photo contest to celebrate the CDT's 40th birthday and raise awareness about the Trail! The contest encourages people to get out and enjoy the CDT with their pup. Thanks to a donation by the Wyoming Office of Tourism, the grand prize winner will receive a trip to Wyoming for two people and their canine companion! Voting runs from August 26-31 - head to bit.ly/dogs-of-the-cdt to check out the cute puppy pics and vote for your favorites!
"At Big Agnes, it’s our job to show how our public lands can be used, and how important they are to everyone—from the thru-hiker to the family who’s car camping on a weekend. -Big Agnes' Garrett Mariano, on why their staff is hiking the CDT through Colorado
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Drink in the adventure.
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hiking through my home state
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by Amanda "NoDay" Goldstein 
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HIS past April, I stepped out of a CDTC shuttle and onto the New Mexico/Mexican border. "Dern you, Land of Entrapment, you’ve got me again!" I thought. Land of Entrapment is a New Mexican slur of the state’s slogan, Land of Enchantment. Despite having grown up in New Mexico, I wanted to use my CDT thru-hike to discover my home state. I wanted a new perspective. I had changed, and surely there was more to New Mexico than my memories of growing up in Farmington, my hometown. “Where are you from?" is one of the most common questions I get asked on the CDT. "I'm from New Mexico," I say. I am usually quick to add, “But I haven't lived there in 10 years." Some people, usually other hikers or folks familiar with the CDT, will ask the follow up question, "What’s it like hiking through your home state?” I've been asking myself the same question. Now that I'm in Wyoming, I've had some time to reflect. Farmington, a town of 40,000, is considered the metropolitan area of the Four Corners Region of the Southwest. It is a blue collar town presided over by big coal, oil, and natural gas interests. Indeed, Farmington has its own amateur baseball team aptly named the ‘Farmington Frackers.' Oil field jobs are the natural progression for high school graduates in the area, that is, if one graduates.
Thirty percent of my high school class dropped out. From a young age, I felt a pressing need to get out of Farmington and out of New Mexico. So I tried hard at school, and I did well. I was going to be urban and successful, maybe live on the East Coast. I refused to fall victim to the Land of Entrapment. When I turned 18, I packed my car and high-tailed it east to a small college in Ohio. I was so excited, though I will never forget the sinking feeling I felt as the land got flatter and flatter. I never realized how much I loved big open skies. Four years later, I high-tailed it back to the Southwest. Ohio had left me yearning for Colorado's alpine, Utah's canyon country, and Arizona's Sonoran Desert. In fact, in the last eight years I have lived in all three of those environs. But in Ohio, and even afterward, I did not yearn for New Mexico. New Mexico was brown. Ugly. Backwards.
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As I began to plan my CDT thru-hike, I wondered if I was being too hard on my home state. I began to see my hike as an opportunity to experience New Mexico through an older (and maybe wiser) lens. Here is what I can tell you, 1500 miles from the southern CDT terminus: the CDT did not give me a new perspective on New Mexico; it gave me a nuanced perspective on New Mexico. My experience growing up in Farmington was what it was. And my experience hiking a thin narrow line north for 640 miles through New Mexico is what it is. It is the desolation and ocotillo bloom promise of the Bootheel, the lush green ribbon of the Gila River, and the treasure of walking through America’s first designated wilderness, which is still one of the most remote. It is the twisted black lava lands of the El Malpais, the alpine novelty of Mt. Taylor, and the glowing red mesas and volcanic monoliths near Cuba. It is the sprawling aspen-studded meadows and prolific pines of the Carson and Santa Fe National Forests.
As I began to plan my CDT thru-hike, I wondered if I was being too hard on my home state. The CDT experience is also the giddiness of the first few days on the trail, unfettered by heat or soreness. It is the exchange of knowledge and the shared anticipation of enthusiastic hikers at Silver City's Trail Days. It is the feeling of gratitude and the renewed faith in humanity when locals offer cold water on long road walks, and Nita offers an inviting hug and creature comforts at the Toaster House. It the excitement of meeting my mom and dog along the trail near Grants and Ghost Ranch, where she became a Trail Angel herself (thanks Mom, for the beer and fresh fruit!). It is coming to know Cuba not just as the town on the drive between Farmington and Albuquerque with the McDonalds pit stop, but as a perfect hiker town with amazing Mexican food, a very nice laundromat owner, and a good resupply.
The experience is also in the challenges. It is the full body ache of getting in thru-hiking shape again, the discomfort of cracking calf skin after crossing the Gila over 200 times, and the dismay of waking up with frozen water and frozen shoes in the cold New Mexican spring. My hike through New Mexico has been, in short, the experiences one would expect on a thru-hike. These challenges and rewards are what make the CDT, and thruhiking in general, so special. I am from New Mexico, but I am not New Mexican. That title is reserved for the people who live there now and can treasure the Land of Enchantment in a way that I cannot, being absent. I know Farmington, and now I know the New Mexican CDT. But do I really know New Mexico? 12
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There is so much more to the state than I can glean from my narrow experiences of growing up in Farmington or of hiking the CDT. This is what I have learned: that my perspective is small, and that to truly get a new perspective on New Mexico, I will need to go back and live there.
If you had asked me a year ago if I would ever live again in New Mexico, yet alone Farmington, I’d have said no. No. Friggin. Way. Now? I don't know. Maybe. Amanda "NoDay" Goldstein is currently thru-hiking the CDT as an ambassador for CDTC.
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NO CAR? NO Hiking on the CDT is hard enough - getting there shouldn't have to be. CDTC Trail Information Specialist Rachel "Wizard" Brown details where you can access the CDT via public transit.
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PROBLEM!

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photo by Nathan Matthews
Colorado: Devil's Thumb, Indian Peaks Wilderness Trip Description: This 15-mile loop features breathtaking views from the ridgeline and incredible wildflowers in summer. From the shuttle stop, hike half a mile along the Hessie Road to the Hessie Trailhead. Hike along the Devil’s Thumb Bypass and Devil’s Thumb Trails for 6.4 miles to Devil’s Thumb Pass. Join the CDT at the top of the pass and hike along the ridge on the tundra until you reach the King Lake Trail. Follow the King Lake Trail back to the Hessie Trailhead and the road back to the shuttle pickup spot. Getting There: From Downtown Boulder Station, take the “N” bus up to Nederland. This bus runs daily and costs $4.50 each way. Click here for the schedule. Get off at the Nederland Park-n-Ride station. Boulder County runs a free shuttle from the Nederland Parkn-Ride to the Hessie Trailhead. The shuttle runs every 15-20 minutes from 8a-6p Sunday-Friday and 8a-8p on Saturday from May through early October. 16
Maps: CDTC Maps #187 (CO Section 34) PLUS additional area overview map (NatGeo Indian Peaks/ Gold Hill #102 or Latitude 40 Boulder County Trails). Challenges: This is a high-altitude hike. Afternoon thunderstorms are common in this area during the summer, so hikers should plan to be off the ridge by noon to avoid lightning danger. This is a strenuous hike with approximately 3,660 ft of elevation gain and should only be attempted as a day hike by very fit hikers. Overnight camping permits are required in the Indian Peaks Wilderness. Click here for permit info. Alternate Hikes: The Indian Peaks Wilderness is a beautiful area and has many trails to explore. Head up the Devil’s Thumb Trail for as short or long of a hike as you like. A 9-mile round-trip hike will get you to and from Jasper Lake, a beautiful alpine lake with camping (by permit) and views of the Divide.
Day Hike: Tenmile Range
Backpack: Silverthorne Alternate
Trip Description: The CDT is co-aligned with the Colorado Trail in this section, and features classic Colorado mountain views. From the Gold Hill Trailhead, follow the CDT west as it meanders through an open hillside. The trail crosses dirt roads a few times here, so keep an eye out for signage! You will then enter a more densely-wooded area, and begin to switchback up to approximately 11,500’ where you pop above treeline. The trail then traverses the flank of Copper Mountain's Peak 5, and gradually takes you to the saddle between Peak 5 and Peak 6. Cross the ridge and begin your descent. The climb is approximately 8.25 miles and 3700’ of elevation gain, and the descent is 4.5 miles and about 2800’ of loss.
Trip Description: This 17.5 mile stretch on the Gore Range Trail, which CDT thru-hikers utilize as part of the "Silverthorne Alternate," makes an excellent two- or three-day backpacking trip. From the Copper Mountain bus stop, walk north on the overpass over I-70 to reach the trailhead. Hike through wooded areas, including some beautiful aspen groves. You will hike past Lost Lake, up and over the beautiful Uneva Pass, and down to Tenmile Creek. At the junction with the Tenmile Creek Trail, continue on the Gore Range Trail up and over Eccles Pass. When you reach the Buffalo-S Willow Connect Trail, turn right and follow that trail to the trailhead. This is a great trip to take in the fall, when the aspens are changing colors.
Gold Hill Trailhead to Copper Mountain
Gore Range Trail
Getting There: This hike utilizes the free Summit Stage bus system that runs throughout Summit County. Click here for schedules and more information. The Gold Hill Trailhead is right off the Tiger Road stop on the Frisco-Breckenridge line. The western end of the hike is Copper Mountain, served by the Copper Mountain bus line. Need to get to Summit County? The Bustang runs three times daily from Denver’s Union Station and costs $12. Click here for more info.
Getting There: This trip utilizes the free Summit Stage bus service that runs throughout Summit County, CO. The southern end of this trip is accessed from Copper Mountain, off of the Copper Mountain bus line. The northern end of this trip is accessed from the Buffalo Mountain Trailhead, which is off the Wildernest Loop bus line. Click here for schedules and more information on the Summit Stage. Maps: NatGeo Eagle’s Nest & Holy Cross Wilderness Areas #149
Maps: CDTC Maps #174-175 (CO section 27). Challenges: This is a high-elevation hike. Hikers should be fit and acclimated. Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer months, so plan to be descending by noon.
Challenges: This is a high-elevation hike. Hikers should be fit and acclimated. Afternoon thunderstorms are common during the summer months, so plan to be descending by noon.
Alternate Hikes: Reverse the hike and begin at Copper Mountain if you prefer a shorter climb and a longer descent. Or, for a shorter hike that still gets the views, begin at Copper Mountain, ascend to the ridge, and descend back the way you came (9 miles RT).
Alternate Hikes: For those who prefer a day hike, Eccles Pass is an 11 mile round-trip hike from the Buffalo Mountain Trailhead. For a shorter hike, start at the Copper Mountain side and head up to Lost Lake (8 miles RT) or Wheeler Lakes (4.5 miles RT).
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New Mexico: Cumbres Pass to Ghost Ranch
photo by Johnny Carr
Trip Description: At just over 90 miles, this is the perfect week-long backpacking trip for anyone who wants a taste of what northern New Mexico has to offer. Begin at Cumbres Pass, and hike your first three miles in Colorado until you reach the New Mexico state line and enter the Carson National Forest. This section of trail has a little bit of everything: alpine, aspen groves, beautiful pine forests, colorful mesas. Finish your hike at Ghost Ranch, where Georgia O’Keefe painted her western-inspired paintings. Or reverse the trip and enjoy climbing from high desert mesas through diverse ecosystems up to the high alpine.
Maps: CDTC Maps #106-118 (New Mexico section 28-31 & Colorado section 1). Jonathan Ley maps NM1-NM7 include the alternate to connect the CDT directly to/from Ghost Ranch.
Getting There: From Santa Fe, take the RTD Blue Bus (fare-free, M-F) to the Espanola Transit Station (route #160, route #200, route #220). Transfer to the #190 bus to Chama. From Chama, take the Cumbres & Toltec Scenic Railroad up to Cumbres Pass. On your return trip, contact RTD dispatch at 505-685-1000 to be picked up at Ghost Ranch. Click here for bus schedules and more information.
Alternate Hikes: If 92 miles sounds daunting, but you still want to experience some of the sights on this hike, lace up your boots for some day hikes out of Ghost Ranch or Cumbres Pass! Ghost Ranch has several hiking trails on the grounds, including the Box Canyon Trail, which is part of the ‘Ghost Ranch alternate’ that many CDT thru-hikers use. From Cumbres Pass, the NM/CO border is a 5.8-mile roundtrip hike, perfect for a day trip.
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Challenges: This is a remote and difficult section of trail. In late spring and early summer, you may encounter snow near the Colorado border, which will make travel and navigation more challenging. This section is at higher elevations, which may cause extra difficulties for some. Treat all water taken from backcountry sources to avoid waterborne illnesses.
Montana: Maud S Canyon Trail to the CDT Trip Description: The Maud S Canyon Trail is a spur trail in Butte that connects to the CDT. The trail offers views overlooking Butte, as well as aspen groves, deer and other wildlife. The Maud S Canyon Trail is 4 miles one-way with 2,137’ of elevation gain. When you reach the CDT, you can hike either north or south, as far as you want, before turning back. The CDT in this area meanders gently through the woods. Getting There: Take the “blue” bus (Butte's Around Town Route) to the Three Bears Grocery. The Around Town Route runs every 90 minutes, M-F. Click here for the schedule and route information. From Three Bears Grocery, walk on Mt. Highland Dr. to cross I-90. Turn left on Saddle Rock Road to get to the Maud S Trail.
The Maud S Trail provides views of Butte and the surrounding countryside. Photo by Ryan Dosch.
Maps: CDTC Map #357 (MT/ID section 18), National Forest Beaverhead-Deerlodge North
Alternate Hikes: If you hike north along the CDT for 2.3 miles from the intersection with the Maud S Canyon Trail, you will reach a spur trail that takes you Challenges: At times, the Maud S Canyon Trail climbs to Our Lady of the GearAid-CDTC-Newsletter-Ad-OL.pdf 1 7/18/18 11:53 AM Rockies, the fourth-largest statue quite steeply. Hikers should be prepared for a long day in the United States. Additionally, the bottom half of hike at moderate elevation. the Maud S Trail can be looped.
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the
Continental Divide E X P L O R I N G
A M E R I C A ’ S
BARNEY 20
SCOUT
R I D G E L I
MANN
Foreword by
NICHOLAS KRISTOF
e Trail N E
T R A I L
The Continental Divide Trail: Exploring America's Ridgeline Trail, written by Barney Scout Mann, explores the Continental Divide Trail with more than 250 spectacular images, previously unpublished historical photos, and a variety of fascinating chapters detailing the past, present, and future of the Continental Divide Trail.
The Continental Divide Trail
Designated a national scenic tr ail Before the book hits stores on in 1978, the Continental Divide Trail is a continuous September 25, we hope you'll enjoy this footpath of more than 3,100 miles that follows the excerpt from Chapter 6 - "Trailblazers." Great Divide from the Mexican to the Canadian border. It runs along the backbone of America
"I
through five states—New Mexico, Colorado,
Wyoming, Idaho, traverses WAS never lost. Lostand is aMontana—and four-letter word. Occasionally I was temporarily disoriented,” said Mary Stuever. OneNational time during her five Rocky Mountain, Yellowstone, and Glacier months on the CDT, Stuever was “temporarily disoriented” for three Parks. Hikers and equestrians from all over the days. world are drawn to this trail for a variety of reasons, but mostly to reconnect with nature and experience Born in Albuquerque but raised in Oklahoma City, Stuever had always true Mexico’s American wilderness—whether three miles favored New mountains over thefor flat Oklahoma plains. She or three was 11 when her thousand. parents discovered backpacking. It was the 1970s, the era of external-frame packs and Colin was 14 when she The only illustrated bookFletcher. officiallyStuever published and her mother went on a backpack trip in northern New Mexico. It was with the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC), stormy, and the sky flung hail like buckshot. But the clouds broke open, The Continental Divide Trail explores this legendary and the sun struck brilliant blue alpine forget-me-nots growing above footpath than 250 spectacular contemtree line. “I want towith staymore up here the rest of my life,” Stuever breathlessly porary images, previously unpublished historical told her mom. “Maybe you should hike the Continental Divide,” her mother replied. from CDT that trail moment on the idea obsessed photos, Stuever and evensaid an official map included her. in a convenient pocket in the back of the book. With a foreword by two-time Pulitzer Prize win-
She planned to start hiking the summer of 1977 right after graduating ner Stuever’s Nicholas Kristof, this tribute to the highest anda friend caught high school. enthusiasm was infectious, and most remote America’s TripleUSGS Crownmaps trails and is anmaking plans. the Divide bug. Theyofstarted buying But then inspirational her friend decided instead. “Ittowas a blessing,” bucket to listget formarried anyone who wants Stuever said. “We didn’t really have a clue what we were doing.” get outdoors. Filled with fascinating chapters—exploring
Stuever went to Oklahoma State University and majored in forestry. The suchnever variedfar topics the first Continental Divide Divide was fromas her mind. She spent summers leading hike in 1924, the marking of the Blue Tin Can backpacking trips. She was on staff at a summer camp in Maine and a Boy Scout camp in New It’s nothru-hikers, small deal totrail be atowns backcountry ranger Route, theMexico. first female at Philmont Ranchand in the theCDTC’s New Mexico In 1981, and Scout trail angels, efforts tohigh sign country. the Stuever spent the entire month of January trekking with HikaNation. entire trail—this book celebrates and documents It was a yearlong, coast-to-coast trek sponsored by the American Hiking thegoal history, importance Society. The was beauty, to bringand more attentionofto America’s long-distance trails. ridgeline trail. It is perfect for all those who dream
of one day becoming thru-hikers themselves.
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Three months later, she stood at the Mexican border looking north. Her long hair was tied in a tight braid as she hefted a pack scuffed with trail cred. She wore a T-shirt she’d designed and sold to raise money for her trek. The front read “Hike the Great Divide” and featured her dreamedof mountains. Even as she took her first steps, Stuever’s trek was already unique for three firsts. One was her hiking companion. Stuever was the first thru-hiker to set out with a dog. A black Catahoula hound dog, Jarrett was short haired and flop eared, always sweet with Stuever, but he looked intimidating when he glared. “He was an incredible partner,” she said. She was also the first to cut a deal with the Forest Service to scout a CDT route. The contract was for her first state, New Mexico. Years later, crowdsourced data from hikers became relatively common. But in 1981, Stuever was a crowd source of one. As an official volunteer, the Forest Service provided her with free maps and a stipend of $8 per day. Last, Stuever was earning 13 units of college credit. She was writing an undergraduate thesis about the trek. The very idea must have amused Jim Wolf of the Continental Divide Trail Society. In his August 1981 DIVIDEnds newsletter, he told his readers about her college credit arrangement and then ended with, “Her dog, Jarrett, is also making the trip, but isn’t getting any credit.” The Daily Oklahoman planned a series of articles on her progress. When Stuever started on March 13, 1981, the newspaper’s headline read, “City Woman Leaving Today to Hike Continental Divide.” The reporter described her gear and food and then mentioned one other thing she carried—“a pocketful of courage.” She needed that pocketful early. Not even two weeks had passed when her left foot swelled up. “It was the size of a watermelon,” she said. She was so concerned she went off trail to Albuquerque to have it X-rayed. Three weeks later, she had it X-rayed again after reaching the Colorado border. Both times the doctors said they didn’t see anything wrong. 22
Mary Stuever and her dog, Jarrett, pose on the eve of her 1981 northbound trek of the Divide. Stuever designed the shirt she wore, and sold them to raise funds for her journey. Photo courtesy of Mary Stuever. Stuever was buoyed by the generosity of those she met when she brushed civilization. Walking on a road or in a town, it wasn’t unusual to be offered a place to stay or a meal. “In New Mexico, it felt like every other night someone opened their home to me,” she said. One day in Colorado, Stuever went from one high ridge to the next, not realizing she was off the Divide. A few moments’ lapse is all it takes, and the CDT can slap you in the face. Stuever walked off the edge of her map. That night, she went to sleep not knowing where she was. It was the same the next night. After three days of being temporarily disoriented, she saw a shape in the distance. “Is that a rock cairn?” she thought. All the while climbing toward it, she kept hoping that humans, not nature, had piled the rocks and that it meant she’d find a trail. Finally, when she stood alongside the piled mound, she saw a faint trail leading north. She was back on track. She made a promise right there. “When I have a daughter,” she thought, “I will name her Cairn.” In the 120-mile expanse of Wyoming's Great Divide Basin,
photo by Bart Smith
huge “Thumper” trucks were exploring for oil and gas, pounding the ground, and taking seismic measurements. Instead of 20 miles or more between water sources, Stuever was offered water multiple times a day.
and diarrhea. The local emergency room was overrun. There were so many giardia-stricken patients that Stuever had to sit on the floor. While there, she also had her painful foot X-rayed for the fourth time, but doctors still didn’t see anything wrong.
In northern Wyoming, however, coming out of the Wind River Range, she saw a sign for a new danger she’d never heard of—giardia. The signs were oriented for southbound hikers. The bug was in the streams behind her, the ones she’d been drinking from for days. When her mom met her at a trailhead campground, Stuever was sick in her tent, wracked with vomiting
When she hiked into Yellowstone National Park, she and Jarrett had walked 2,000 miles. It should have been time for an early celebration, but as she hiked through the ancient caldera, past steam vents and active bubbling mud pots, her left foot flared up the worst of the whole trip. “I practically crawled into Old Faithful,” she said. She left Jarrett and her gear
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photo by Patrick Pondl
in West Yellowstone with a kindly bookstore owner. Stuever flew home to Oklahoma City and saw a sports medicine specialist. He took her fifth set of X-rays, but used a different angle. “Two ankle bones are fusing. If you hike out now, you’ll never be able to hike again,” he said. She was crushed. She had to quit the trail. After 1981, the CDT never faded from her life. Stuever gave birth to her first child on October 10, 1984, and fulfilled the promise she’d made to herself. Her daughter was named Cairn. Every time Stuever used her daughter’s name, it reminded her of the moment she went from being “disoriented” to found. Unfortunately, Stuever’s life took a tragic turn. On Valentine’s Day, four months after she was born, Cairn was found dead in her crib. SIDS, or sudden infant death syndrome, is a parent’s worst nightmare. Today, on the lip of the Rio Grande River Gorge, there is a solitary rock cairn where Stuever scattered Cairn’s ashes. Every time nature and the elements tear it down, Stuever rebuilds it. She visits every year.
Stuever made much of her college degree, forging a career in forestry and timber management. Since 2010, she has been a district forester for the state of New Mexico. More than 450,000 acres of private and state timberland in the northern part of the state fall under her purview. Stuever has also been active as a volunteer. She serves as the liaison between Chama, New Mexico, an official CDT Gateway Community, and the Continental Divide Trail Coalition. Stuever said a great lesson from her 1981 trek was how good people can be. So it’s not surprising that she recently posted this entry on the Philmont Scout Ranch website: “In early summer and early fall, my guest room often has strangers staying there. They are generally good people—hikers on the Continental Divide Trail. My neighbors think I am nuts. ‘Why do you let people you don’t know in your home?’ My answer: to pay off a karmic debt. Thirty-six years ago, while I was hiking the Divide, I was shown so much kindness by strangers that I’ll always keep paying it forward.”
The Continental Divide Trail: Exploring America's Ridgeline Trail is in bookstores September 25, or available online now for pre-order at bit.ly/CDT-preorder. 24
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Rizzoli celebrates the 50th anniversaries of THE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS ACT and THE NATIONAL WILD & SCENIC RIVERS ACT, and wishes to thank all of its publishing partners If in town for Outdoor Retailer, please join us at Tattered Cover Bookstore (2526 East Colfax Avenue, Denver) on November 7th @ 7pm for an all-star panel and book signing.
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Show your love for the CDT. Donate today at continentaldividetrail.org/donate
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ASK D R A WIZ
Trail Information Specialist, professional dogpetter, and answerer of the CDTC phone Rachel "Wizard" Brown is here to answer your burning questions about all things CDT. Dear Wizard, I completed my Triple Crown. My experience on the CDT changed my life. I want to give back to the trail, let others experience the joy I found, and give back to the community itself. How can I do this? Sincerely, Poutine Paul from Canada
Dear Wizard, I am planning to go stoveless on the CDT. To save the weight of a Tupperware, I will be cold-soaking lentils in my pocket. I am willing to pay a lot for the right pair of pants. Please advise. Sincerely, Ultra-bite Me
Dear Poutine Paul, Congratulations on your Triple Crown! There are so many ways to share your experience and give back to other hikers and the trail. Here are a few suggestions:
Dear Ultra-bite Me, No need to pay a lot. All you need is a Hefty Lawn & Leaf Bag and a Ziploc gallon freezer bag. (Of course you could use generic brand items, but sometimes it's worth it to pay a little extra for quality gear.) Cut out the bottom of your Lawn & Leaf bag, then attach the ziploc 'pocket' with duct tape. Secure your new garments using the drawstring on the Hefty bag. Voila, hiking clothes, rain gear, and kitchen all in one! You put the 'trash' in 'hikertrash'!
• Sign up for a volunteer trail maintenance project with CDTC or one of our partners. Building and maintaining trail is a lot of hard work, and spending just one day helping out will give you a new appreciation for all the work that went into building the CDT - and all the work that still has to be done! • Become a member of CDTC! Membership dues enable us to continue to provide trail updates and info (#supportyourlocalwizard), host volunteer projects, and work on advocacy and conservation projects to protect the CDT. • Give a presentation at your local outdoor store. People love a good adventure story! You can show off your photos, reminisce about your hike, and introduce your audience to the beauty of the CDT all at the same time. (Send me an email if you want CDT stickers for giveaways!)
P.S. All jesting aside, a Hefty Lawn & Leaf bag (or other durable trash bag with a drawstring) does actually make an excellent and affordable rain skirt. I wouldn't try to rehydrate lentils in mine, though. Dear Wizard, What kind of bear is best? Sincerely, Jim Halpert Dear Jim, Obviously that adorable vicious death machine, the GROLAR BEAR. Is this even a real question?
Got a question that needs answering? Submit it to Wizard at info@continentaldividetrail.org
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the tortoise a As the saying goes, you're only as old as you feel. But what happens when old is, in fact, exactly how you feel? After a summer of waking up each day to walk, Dean "Boomer" Krakel reflects on what it means to be 65 on the Continental Divide Trail.
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and the hare THERE'S a few of us old gals and guys hiking the the AT when he was 81. There’s a host of others. They
Continental Divide Trail. The over-60 crowd. Hardly a crowd though. Only occasionally do I meet someone my age. I’m 65. CDT hikers, especially those I see hiking distances of 100 miles or more, are generally in the 25- to 45-yearold range, with a healthy smattering of 50ish folks. Fifty almost counts as older. But hiking in your 50s is not hiking in your 60s. Trust me on that.
are inspirations, the Billy Goats and Gatewoods of the trail. I keep them in mind as I suffer along sometimes. Long-distance hiking came late to me. Divorce, bankruptcy and job loss had placed some uncertainty into my life. Walking a long ways through mountains seemed like a good way to sort things out. I was 62 in 2015 when I did the Colorado Trail. A few years later, I’m still walking. Life hasn’t gotten any simpler.
Some legendary long-distance hikers hammered right through their 60s. George “Billy Goat,“ Woodard, with a lifetime log of 32,000+ miles, was still hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in his late 70s. Grandma Gatewood thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail when she was 67, then did it again when she was 69, and again at age 75. Lee Barry summited Katahdin after thru-hiking the AT when he was 81. There’s a host of others. They are inspirations, the Billy Goats and Gatewoods of the trail. I keep them in mind as I suffer along sometimes. Past 60, every year sees me growing a little slower, a little more deteriorated in mind and body. A little more worn and torn. I’ve grown more injury prone-and I don’t have to do anything special to get injured. Recovery is harder. I’m more forgetful. My hearing's shot. Say what? A hiker I met in the Wind River Range, age 74, told me that hiking in his 70s was nothing like hiking in his 60s. “Age 65,” he said. “Hell, that’s prime.” Some legendary long-distance hikers hammered right through their 60s. George “Billy Goat,“ Woodard, with a lifetime log of 32,000+ miles, was still hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in his late 70s. Grandma Gatewood thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail when she was 67, then did it again when she was 69, and again at age 75. Lee Barry summited Katahdin after thru-hiking
I’d hoped to gain some clarity about the place I am in life by hiking the CDT, to have time to contemplate the future. Truth is there’s not much time for navel-gazing on the trail. My thinking about the future doesn’t extend much beyond tomorrow. And tomorrow usually looks like a difficulty of some kind. That part’s always pretty clear. Once I asked Lint, a triple Triple Crown legend, about some long carries between resupply on the CDT. I was looking for some magic words of wisdom to lighten my pack. “You’ll just have to up your game,” Lint replied. Made me laugh. Up my game? Dude, I’m already playing my up game. If you really want to confront your age, plan an extended hike with someone 40 years younger. My CDT hiking partner, Morgan “Storm” Dzak, is a fit 2 9
Gila. She wanted to do the high route because she could make the long treks between water sources. I wanted to do the Gila because, well, there was water. I wasn’t confident I could do the high mileage on the mesa top. In the waning sunset as we were divvying up our stuff— who gets custody of the Haven tarp, etc.--some wild kind of cat started yowling across from us. Loud yowling. We looked at each other. We stopped divvying. Morgan can sleep late and still hump it over the next ridge or two or three before the storms roll in. Fast counts when you’re outrunning clouds or making miles between watering holes. But what about the old slow guy traveling behind? If he sleeps late or doesn’t keep up, it may mean not being able to dodge those lightning bolts or quench his thirst. Most mornings, I wake up already feeling behind.
wild wisp of a wilderness woman at 27 years of age. Morgan and I met when we both worked for the Denver Post. She wanted to learn about long-distance hiking. We both got laid off. So we decided to walk the CDT. A Millennial on her fourth backpacking trip ever and a seasoned old Boomer hoofing it across the roof of the continent together. What could possibly go wrong?
It’s not all about pace. Despite the disparity in our hiking styles we get along just fine. In our 90 days of practically living in each other’s back pockets we’ve had not one cross word. Morgan always waits for me to catch up. Once with a cold beer in hand. Always with a smile.
Woman
Pace, for one thing. Storm can walk all day at speed and travel uphill as fast as a horse. Outside of Blue Lake she beat a mule to the ridge top across snow. Running up Mt. Taylor in New Mexico with a pack was a lark for her. In the Collegiates, she was so far out in front I accused her of being all jacked up on energy gel. We laughed. Storm and I don’t take ourselves seriously.
In the evenings the great divide of our age melts away. We’re not 27 and 65. Just two hiker friends chatting over dinner, talking about the day. Life stuff we’ve been processing as we walk. The moose we saw! Most of the time we sit wordlessly propped up against our packs, draped in our sleeping bags, batting at mosquitos and staring up at the night sky and the bowl of stars overhead, happy to just stop moving for another day.
There’s another side to age that I’ve been experiencing on the CDT. An increasing awareness of my mortality. Okay. Sometimes we take ourselvesphotos seriously. We I’vestory been through the Collegiate West three times. and by Rebecca Walsh nearly split up at the head of the Middle Fork of the I'm doubtful I’ll be back. Maybe. Life is full of the 30
unexpected. Bittersweet stuff. But it’s not all melancholy. I won’t be back because there’s so much other country to see for the first and last time. Savoring is a word I’ve come to embrace. A lot of my friends and acquaintances have real world responsibilities, are dead or dying, injured or grown rooted to a couch. So I walk and savor the beauty and brutality for them as well. Those that can’t anymore or won’t. I’m pretty sure walking keeps me alive. A body in motion stays in motion and all that. In New Mexico, I had the pleasure of jogging along beside a man named Iron Mike for a couple of hours. Iron Mike is so Iron that he began his CDT journey by walking the Grand Enchantment Trail—800 miles of bad living. For Mike, the CDT was merely a training exercise for Canada’s Great Divide Trail later in the
summer. Mike’s 55. As we walked, we talked about aging. The pain never goes away completely, he said. It just moves around. He told me he hopes he's still out there when he's my age. That made me feel pretty good coming from a hard guy like Iron Mike. Were there any other hikers on the CDT like me, I asked Mike. You know, 65. I’ve met one, he said, but you’re faster than him. Yeah, I’ll take that. In the end, I think what I’ve learned is that it doesn’t matter how old or slow or fast you are. Or if you’re walking 3100 miles in one go or hiking the CDT in segments, sections, halves or thirds. Mexico to Canada or vice versa can be a lifetime affair. There’s no age limit to having fun. The fun just comes a little harder when you’re older.
Dean Krakel is a freelance photojournalist and a CDTC trail ambassador. When he isn't living in a tent on a trail somewhere, Dean makes his home in Crested Butte, Colorado.
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Gateway Community Spotlight: Salida, CO by Dan Roper
S
ALIDA isn’t a town that needs much promoting these days. Named “Best Unsung Mountain Town” by Outside Magazine in 2017, and recognized as a top destination for outdoor recreation by numerous publications, the word is out about Salida. And Salida definitely has a lot to offer - a historic downtown with breweries, yoga studios, and an eclectic mix of dining options, the Arkansas River flowing right through town, and 14,000 foot peaks towering above the valley floor. It’s also a popular stopover or launching place for adventures on the CDT and the Colorado Trail. If you ask locals, they will tell you Salida is the “Heart of the Rockies." Lying at the southern end of the Arkansas Valley and flanked to the west by the towering Collegiate Peaks, which include nine peaks over the 14,000 foot mark (the highest of which, Mount Harvard, reaches into the sky at 14,421 feet), Salida offers just about everything the outdoor adventurer could want. The Arkansas River Headwaters Area provides 148 miles of river with ample public access for rafting, kayaking and fishing. Local trail systems provide endless opportunities for hiking, mountain biking and trail runs. The Colorado Trail Collegiate East and West routes provide for a rare high alpine, multi-day backpacking loop opportunity, and of course the Continental Divide Trail is easily accessed as well. There are even hot springs nearby for soaking after a long day on the trail. 32
FORTY ISN’T OLD IF YOU’RE A TREE.
But for a trail that’s as grand as the CDT, it’s a birthday to celebrate. Hyperlite Mountain Gear is proud to be a corporate partner of the Continental Divide Trail Coalition – the stewards of this fantastic route through some of the most gorgeous landscapes in the country. Thanks for everything you do!
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On my first visit to town I opted for a bunk at the Simple Lodge and Hostel, just blocks from the river and downtown, where most of the guests look like they are fresh off the trail. According to owner Melanie Garr, the CDT and the other major trail systems in Salida supply roughly 80% of their business. “The avid hikers and bikers keep us at maximum capacity through the summer months and help to keep us going during the sleepier winter season.” In the morning I enjoyed a cup of coffee on a patio downtown and visited with a couple local business owners who were involved in the Gateway Community designation for Salida. Andrew and Emily, owners of 7,000 Feet Running Company, told me about their love of the CDT, the importance of public lands and outdoor recreation to their community, and the impact it has on their business. I left with a hat, but the shoe selection would appeal to any trail runner or long-distance hiker. Emily hiked the Appalachian Trail in 2015 and Andrew is an avid trail runner. When it comes to understanding the importance of footwear (and the CDT), they get it. Back at the hostel, most of the hikers and bikers didn’t seem in a hurry to get back out on the trails. That’s probably because in addition to being a town with great outdoor access, Salida is also a great place to relax and catch up on one’s caloric intake. With a laid back vibe, local swimming holes, and an impressive array of food and drink options, it’s a good place to enjoy a “zero day." There is a lot of talk these days about the importance of public lands and outdoor recreation to small towns in
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the Mountain West. For evidence of this connection, one need look no further than Salida. Once a regional hub for mining and railroads, today Salida has a vibrant tourism and outdoor recreation economy. That’s likely why, when President Obama designated 21,586 acres of nearby canyons, rivers and forests as Browns Canyon National Monument in 2015, Salida residents applauded the designation - it made economic sense. On the outskirts of town, the Salida Smokestack still rises 365 feet in the air and serves as a reminder of the town’s economic past, but it’s the mountain bikes, kayaks, and backpacks that symbolize the town’s future.
Left: The Salida "S" is a famous sign that you've arrived in the cozy mountain town. Above: Nate Porter, owner of Salida Mountain Sports, sees a lot of visitors thanks to the impact of trails on his community. "Whether it’s advice on where to go, or some new gear, we can help with that." Photos by Scott Peterson.
Dan Roper is the CDTC Gateway Community Coordinator. He lives in Silver City, New Mexico, where he enjoys exploring the Gila National Forest with his dog, Lady.
EXOS | EJA
The Exos/Eja features uncompromised durability in an ul t r aligh t pac k age t ha t de f ie s belie f. T he only way to discover wondrous moments is to get out there and find them. So grab your friends, pack your gear and make it happen.
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CDTC 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 for your continued support!
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 & Alice Pierson Gene Allen Vince Auriemma Roanoke Appalachian Trail Club Mark Bankey Chris & Sanne Bagby Mike Bates Susan Bates Lyndon Berry Jim Boeck & Vivian Wilson Jerry & Helga Bell Scott Bischke & Katie Gibson 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 & Shell Ellinwood Dianne Evans Brian Fahlstrom 36
Allen Filson Mark Flagler Arthur & Denise Foley Dana Foulks Sara Glasgow Paul Griffith Lawton Grinter & Felicia Hermosilla Tambi Gustafson Jim Hansman Frank & Jean Anne Haranzo James Harrold 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 Kettle Brewing Christine & 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 & Sandy Mann Bryan & Sally Martin Alex Martinez & Family Nicolas Martinez Teresa Martinez Chris McMaster - ULA Equipment Gary Monk Janie & Randy Moore Peter Necarsulmer Jean Neely John & Lisa Nelson Jim O’Brien Pat O’Donnell Shane O’Donnell Stephen Olson Richard Ostheimer Don & Amy Owen Taylor & Nancy Owen
Greg Pierce Brad Pierson Bill & Debra Pollick Bruce Prior Miguel Quinones John Rowland Erin Saver Carlos Schomaker Kerry Shakarjian Steven Sheppard Josh & Lisa Shusko
Mal Sillars James Sippel Dave & Sandy Slowey Chris Smith Morgan Sommerville Steve Staley Philip Storey Rebecca Sudduth & Daniel Weber Robert Sylvester George Szeremeta Michael Tam
Olli Tam Avelino Tamayo Don Thompson Kathy Trotter Daniel Weber Gary Werner & Melanie Lord Scott Williams Bernard Wolf Mike Wollmer Bill Youmans Tim Zvada
CDT Explorers
CDT Explorers support CDTC with donations of $100 or more. We wish to thank the individuals below for the generous donations they have made since April 2018.
$100-$499 Anonymous James Harrold Steve Staley Glenn Knippenberg Larry Graham Cheryl & Darryl Annett Marshall Hamilton Walter Burke Ken & Nancy Larner Gary Monk Lois & Tom McEvoy Robert Maher David Oram Lindsay Malone Denny Sizemore Susie McNeely John Hamilton Marsha Rutledge
Richard Blanchard Bill & Joanna Lasher Marilyn Logan Tim Culbertson Frank Collins Nina Lohr-Valdez Karl Luce Charles Miller Christina Osmon Clee & Mary Sealing Laurie & Leonard Adkins Dan Burrier Michael Miller Jeffrey Kopp Timothy O'Rourke Megan Schendel-Dittmann Tim Buffington Garrett Delmas Luis Cuadrado
Kief Adler Stephen Thompson John Reenan Alison Sterley Jasmine Star Christy Rosander Stephen Owen Dan McLean Sara Edwards Ted Olson Wendy Watson Cecilia Fiske Lyndon Berry & Jeanne Younghaus Douglas Hale Gus Lott Ray Klahne Bruce Leiding Nita Larronde ďťż
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CDTC Supporters CDT Sustainers
$100-$499 (continued) Christina Holm Jesse Nancy McDermott Ronald Bloomfield Anitra Kass
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!
Elizabeth Beall Melinda Bise & Rich Blitz Sara Bishop James Boatwright Jim Boeck & Vivian Wilson Clay Cutler James Crawford Don Dearborn Sara Edwards Cecilia Fiske Rob Flynn David Fockler James Fowler Andine & Richard Gilmore
$500-$999 Arthur & Denise Foley Gary Werner Richard Williamson
$1,000-$9,999 Community Foundation for Loudoun and Northern Fauquier Counties Douglas Rosenow Ted Mason Andrew Previti Charitable Fund
Bryan Martin Teresa Martinez Tony Mason Charles McKenney Dan McLean Mark Mitford Greg Osilka Steve Revier
Business Members Business members support CDTC with monetary as well as in-kind donations. For more information on how your company or business may collaborate with CDTC, please contact Development Plan Manager Lauren Murray at lmurray@continentaldividetrail.org. We wish to thank the following businesses for supporting CDTC as members in 2018. Avery Brewing Company BIGS Seeds Bode's Mercantile City of Rawlins Copper Kettle Brewing Company Epic Mountain Brewing Four Points Jagged Mountain Brewing Joshua Tree Skin Care Morgan Consulting Group Mountain Toad Brewing 38
Orange Peel Bicycle Service Pinon Real Estate Ruffwear Soulcraft Brewing Tivoli Brewing Company Triple Crown Coffee Vista Del Rio Lodge Western Riviera Lakeside Lodging & Events YarCom Inc. ďťż
These generous companies have partnered with the CDTC to help us complete, promote and protect the CDT. We wish to thank the following companies for supporting CDTC from April - July 2018.
Trailblazer ($25,000+)
Explorer ($5,000-$24,999)
Pathfinder ($1,500-$4,999)
Scout ($500-$1,499)
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GO LONGER, GO LIGHTER
WWW.VASQUE.COM 40

@VASQUEFOOTWEAR
The Terminus T
HIS SUMMER, we here at CDTC have spent a lot of time thinking and talking about four little letters: LWCF. Created in 1964, the Land and Water Conservation Fund is not new. It's not particularly exciting, like the establishment of a new national park, or attention-grabbing, like "the president stole your land." Not to mention that it has a terrible acronym. So why do we keep talking about it, and why do we keep asking you to listen? Simply put, it's because LWCF is the best chance we have of completing the CDT. And on September 30, if Congress doesn’t act, it will expire. Our best chance of moving the CDT off of highways and road-walks, making it safer and more enjoyable for all of those who dream of experiencing and travelling along the Continental Divide, will be gone. Here's how it works: the Land and Water Conservation Fund is a funding mechanism that uses money from oil and gas leasing (aka, money that oil and gas companies would already be paying to the government anyway; it’s not an extra tax) to fund conservation purchases. LWCF is, in essence, a bank account for public lands. This money then gets used to buy land from willing sellers that becomes public land with public access. LWCF money has been used in all 50 states to create and protect everything from community recreation centers and neighborhood gardens to national parks like Glacier and Rocky Mountain. In areas where there is no public land close to the Continental Divide, the CDT currently runs along the shoulders of highways and other roads. To complete the trail, we have to find people in those areas who are willing to sell their land – and then we have to buy it. High-quality, scenic land in the Rocky Mountain West is expensive, and as you can The Alamocita Creek property in New Mexico, imagine, CDTC doesn’t exactly have people lining purchased with LWCF funds, will allow more up to donate millions of dollars at once. LWCF than 50 miles of the CDT to be rerouted off of exists to fund these types of land purchases; it’s a road. been instrumental in completing other long trails like the Appalachian Trail. And if LWCF disappears, coming up with the funds that are necessary to purchase these lands and complete the CDT - already not an easy task - instantly becomes much, much harder. With just over a month left before LWCF expires, we need your help. The most important thing you can do is to call your Senators and Representatives and tell them that you want to see LWCF permanently reauthorized and fully funded. Tell them why you care about public lands – you’ve seen the economic impact they’ve had on your community, your family stays healthy by exercising on trails, you just love experiencing our incredible wild places – and tell them that there are still many important places left to protect, like the CDT, that need LWCF. From all of us at CDTC, Teresa, Rachel, Morgan, Amy, Slide, Lauren, Amanda, Dan, and Gabe
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Continental Divide Trail Coalition 710 10th Street, Suite 200 Golden, CO 80401 (303) 996-2759 email: info@continentaldividetrail.org www.continentaldividetrail.org
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