Continental Divide Trail Thru-Hike || Northbound 2019
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- Опубліковано 1 жов 2024
- From April 30th to September 8th of 2019, I completed a northbound, continuous footpath thru-hike of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT). The CDT runs from Mexico to Canada for 2700-3000 miles (depending on route choices) through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho, and Montana.
The CDT was especially challenging in 2019 due to the massive, near-record snowpack that Colorado received over the winter and a cold and stormy spring that never quite wanted to give way to summer. Conditions were tough throughout the entire state with avalanche danger in early June, snowstorms, and endless postholing. I am proud to have been part of a small percentage of hikers this year who stuck to a straight northbound hike. I hiked as much of the official route through Colorado as I felt was safe, the main exception being the northern San Juans where I took a lower route through Creede.
The rest of the trail fell more squarely into the category of three season backpacking but still held plenty of challenge and adventure. New Mexico featured numerous long waterless stretches, plenty of rattlesnakes, and some surprisingly cold and wet weather. The northern states offered some of the most incredible views in the Wind River Range and Glacier National Park and a heightened feeling of wilderness when traveling through grizzly country.
This video is an overview of the hike. Over the next few months I will be uploading (hopefully) weekly episodes which will be a closer look into my day to day life on trail. I hope you'll subscribe and join me on the CDT!
Interested in the gear I used for this hike?
Gear Video: • CDT 2019 Gear List (no...
Gear List: docs.google.co...
Also, if you would like to help support my hike and this channel, you can do so by using any of the links below to purchase stuff and I'll get a small % of the purchase.
Links to some of my favorite gear:
OR echo long sleeve shirt --- amzn.to/2GO16LS
BD Alpine Carbon Poles --- amzn.to/2DBgXLZ
Frogg Toggs! --- amzn.to/2GDI1L9
Neoair Xlite womens --- amzn.to/2DA534Y
Sawyer Squeeze --- amzn.to/2IYFNIZ
Camera used --- amzn.to/31VZsiE
Amazon home page --- amzn.to/2GITCZd
Follow me on Instagram: / danstenziano
It must have been hard to condense so much beautiful footage into this video. I was sad to see it end. Great job on the hike and thanks for sharing it with us!
Hiking Nerd it’s definitely hard to have a lot of shots you love and have to cut the ones that just don’t fit the flow or story. I actually feel bad for leaving them out haha. Thanks for watching, I appreciate the kind words.
That was AWESOME! Thanks for sharing the journey.
great video. I'm a huge fan. definitely a courageous hike that must have taken a lot of digging deep to overcome all the obstacles, self doubts, and, of course, fears. Well done. I'm sure everyone who comes here will love this video. keep them coming.
Loved following your journey! You are definitely a brave man I’ll give you that. Thanks for taking us along and taking the time to make it beautiful
I wanted to see more! Your eyes sparkle when you're out there, it shows how much you love it. You're the bravest person I know and the craziest. lol
Man, that was beautiful.
Fantastic CDT montage. Those mountains, wow!
Great pacing in the video, great camera angles, great views, just an all around great video :)
Thanks for sharing!!
Thanks!
Love how smart you are with that rattler! -_-
Vinny Mullin haha I was zoomed in and a good distance away but yeah still not that smart
Thank you for sharing.There is so much of the US,that i have not seen. I GREW UP IN PUBLIC HOUSING. I never knew there was another world out there.Dan your journey was unbelievable. GOD bless you.
Come and join us, my friend!
what do you mean! he is a hooligan he could have rode an airplane but he wasted a whole summer instead
You did an amazing job of condensing the entire trip into a short video (I have much to learn from you!) Great job, beautiful photography and congrats on completion!
ShastaBubba Adventures thank you!
You've achieved something, not many people are capable of. Well done. And the sparkles in your eyes show us, that it was fun. Right now I'm sittin' here, printing out Leys maps, preparing the Avenza App and getting excited to start out in 2021 (so Corona might let us).
You're an inspiration. Thank you!
Thanks :) I hope you're able to make it happen!
I didn't expect this to be the best CDT-in-one-video I've seen. It is. Beautiful footage and just the right amount of meaningful, concise thoughts. Thank you.
Love your vulnerability and how you're always so true to yourself. Great video! TX!
plan on doing the PCT in 2024 and then sometime afterward once recovered do the CDT and so forth with the AT. That is the ultimate goal.
Congratulations 😍Gilbert,Arizona
Great stuff man! As a GA native, this really makes me want to experience a hike outside of the Green Tunnel. Inspirational. Thanks for taking us along.
Thanks! You definitely should. I live on the east coast too, and the AT is cool, but hiking out west is what really excites me.
Amazing video! Thanks for making this. Hope to get on the CDT someday!
You're an inspiration
Thanks, I hope you do!
Happy to celebrate the finish, but sad that it's over. Doesn't thru hike in general sound like life?
Thanks for sharing your journey through this video. Very inspiring and motivating!
the 1 dislike is jealous
David Riddle 🙃
I finished the PCT last year (September 2019). The CDT is next (this spring). Soooo looking forward to leg 2 of the Triple Crown. My trail name is Fish Tank. Nice to meet ya/great video.
Nice! Enjoy the CDT :)
Great job there Saharo, you're not such a 🔔🔚 after all😀 Really looking forwards to the forthcoming weekly episodes.
Warren thanks Jav! We all know who is... 😛
wow loved this video, My CDT has been on hold since covid , fingers crossed for 2022
This video reminded me of my thru hike in 2017.Nice
Thank you for this excellent video. 😎 It must have been a truly epic experience.
Your video makes me want to hike the CDT.
Now, if only I could trade in this 70-year-old bag of bones on a newer model...
Again, thank you.😎
Thanks for watching! Hope you’re still able to get out in the mountains 🙂
Very Cool Adventure. Loved every bit of this. Great Job describing your experiences.
Thanks for checking it out Kath, and glad you enjoyed it!
Very beautiful and inspirational! I liked your camera's perspective which was tighter than the super wide go-pro angle most use. Dan what lens did you shoot most of the video with?
Thanks! Yeah, I do tend to favor closer focal lengths, I like the compression which can give you that small person big mountain perspective. I was shooting on Sony's 16-50 kit zoom.
Nice teaser. I thought I had already subscribed to your channel, but have now, bc I need to see those episodes. This one raises so many questions. Looking forward.
Thanks! Hope you like the episodes 🙂
Such beautiful videos you create!! I'm the mom from the I-10 oasis!!
Thanks! Was so much fun to meet you and Daisy 🙂
Great documentary and achievement! Thank’s for sharing hope you found what you were looking for, looked so happy out there👍
AroCos Adventures I think I did 🙂 thank you for watching!
I enjoyed your video!!! How much would you budget per month to hike the CDT?
Rick Blevens Jr thanks! $1k per month is the amount usually suggested, and it’s not hard to stay under that. A budget conscious person could do $800 a month or less depending on how much time is spent in town.
i wuna do it again now !!!!!! 8)
Out of every trail video I hace seen, this one resonates the most
Ila Uronen ❤️ happy to hear that!
Ha ha, what a dope that hiker who had to be rescued must be! Great video!
Chris Boudin thanks! Haha as it turns out he is actually a badass who pushed through the San Juans in October 😉
5:24 / 14:08 Risk only comes with deadlines...........if you go with the flow all will work out.
Of course , this video was edited . I have been on many hikes from Arkansas to New Mexico , and had seen more epic tragedies than this .
This in my opinion was a newbie film .
Beautiful, thanks for making this brother! I'm doing the CDT in 2022!
It feels really strange recognizing some of these places, knowing we've stood in the exact same spots, probably thinking about the same things.
oh, and I'm real proud too
Did you come thorugh Ghost Ranch in NM?
I did- very cool place
Howd the MLD pack work out for you?
bg26892 good overall. It’s a sweet spot in volume where you can push it for something like Colorado but it’s still ul and compresses well for the rest of the trail. Straps are comfy, fabric is durable. I wish the side pockets were easier to reach. One other thing is I also feel like the pack is meant for a slightly larger frame person so the fit wasn’t perfect for me- in particular the hipbelt was a bit too loose but they will do a custom smaller belt
Nice. Is this much snow normal for the cdt in thru hike season?
Nope, pretty far from it. In southern CO the snow levels were around 400% of average.
You deserve more subscribers. Very high quality and interesting.
Good advice thanks. Very timely.
I can tell in some of your videos you were scared shitless but you did it anyway, great for you man! You did it! I’m sure your courage will inspire others.
hey Dan..been workin' out to get in shape for this video adventure. GREAT trailer here..all pro editing and excellent sound track. Can't believe you did this. An incredible journey..as was the PCT adventure. Take it from this old timer..you will never live to regret this. Onward!
PINEPUPPY Thanks Charlie! Great to hear from you again- I always enjoy reading your comments. Hope you’re doing well!
What a challenge, what for an achievement, what a reward! Congrats. Beautiful footage. Wind river range looks outstanding.
The Sony does a very good job.
Regards from Germany,
Reiner
JimBobele thank you! The winds were my favorite section. So beautiful.
And yes, I was really happy with the camera!
Amazing footage! -Great sneaker-snow climbs! 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍😊🌲🌲🌲
TheBestBackpacker thanks! Yeah, kicking steps in trail runners is always interesting lol
Dan - what an awesome video. I'm looking forward to seeing some of your others. It was great meeting you and your dad yesterday in the High Peaks. I have so many questions now about your thru-hikes...maybe your other videos will answer some of them. Also curious about your thoughts of the ADKs vs other ranges. Hopefully we see each other again in the ADKs, but in the meantime, I'm sure you'll be hearing from me on here. Again - awesome video!
Thanks! It was great meeting you too. I’m happy to answer any Qs, but as for ADK vs other ranges... the Adirondacks are actually pretty unique I think. Compared to western ranges you could say the views are less grand but I think they have a special charm, especially in the fall that you can’t get out west.
As for difficulty, you really have to go off-trail in the West for it to be as hard or harder than the Adirondacks, because western trails are so smooth and gently graded.
Also no other mountains have as much mud as the adk 🙂
Fml that snake 🐍 though ,,, great vid ,,
Duo Exia haha the snake clip gets everyone!
Justget Onwithit not extremely common but you have to keep an eye out. I think I saw 4 in all of New Mexico.
Ok, now I have to watch the individual episodes.
Hello.
I like your excitement in the videos to keep me interested to see what you are going to show next.
I also love hiking. Living in the Pacific Northwest is a wonderful place to enjoy the outdoors.
I had started a passion of making videos to share my experience. I struggle to find the good program to edit my videos. I am curious what you use since your quality comes through so well?
I will be looking to see what other great adventures you come up with. I learn from seasoned hikers like you so I will not be that one person going out and getting lost or seriously injured.
Nice, I love the PNW.
I edit with Final Cut Pro. iMovie should be fine for basic stuff, though. Adobe Premiere is the best option for windows users.
Keep in mind though that the editing software is less important than what you shoot with.
Brings back such good memories. Good work in such a gnarly year! Do you know if anyone did a continuous nobo this year including SJ's without the Creede route?
Thanks! I think I found one guy- @mean_spaghetti_13 on IG. Looks like he went through the SJ's in late June and then finished in early October.
Exciting. Did you plan/start with the group of people in the vid, or formed impromptu along the trail?
Brian Lickel I started with 2 friends I met on the PCT and another joined our group on day 1. The 4 of us did NM together and ended up splitting up in southern CO due to the snow/wanting different things.
Throughout the rest of the hike I met others that I shared a lot of miles with and ended up finishing with another group of 4.
Wow golly. What a great ass video. And it musta been one hell of an adventure.
PNT in your plans for someday? -- maybe would be another wild one?
YERMO Adan definitely interested in the PNT, I’ve also thought about combining it with the GDT which would be epic
Great video, so beautiful. I wish I could take the time off to do this trail. Someday...
Ty Traveling thank you, I hope you can!
Amazing. What an incredible journey that must have been. Cheers to you, man. This is some seriously inspiring stuff.
Andy Shepard thank you! 🙂
Congrats! Looks like an amazing trip, great edit here
Awesome congrats! Very inspiring. I'm sharing it with others. Can't wait to see more. Thanks Dan.
Robert Lech thank you!
Congrats Dan! Epic camera work. One day I wanna have your confidence to go for it!
Michael Putnam thanks! Often it’s just a matter of taking the plunge (figuratively, not down a 60 degree snow slope). Thinking about the cdt?
yer not UL unless you display your BW in 100,000th of an ounce :)
bg26892 😰
dude, nice work.
Inspiring. Thank you.
Awesome can't wait
Thanks for sharing! Beautiful trail and video! I could see you changed your shelter during the hike, it would be very interesting to see the changes you made and why, with your gear throughout the thru hike
Lyubo Yanev thanks! I do have a gear video linked in the description that talks about my choices for different sections, although the shelter swap was not planned beforehand. I loved the Yama tarp and bivy combo but I wanted better bug protection for mosquito season and could save half a pound by switching to the Solplex. Plus I already had it from when I did the PCT. The solplex is less storm resistant but during the summer it was more than enough.
I also plan on making some more detailed gear videos soon.
@@DanStenziano Nice, I had seen the other gear video. Thanks for the explanation. Sometimes it just can be interesting to see post hike gear review, after putting the gear through so many miles and seeing the lessons of what worked and what not so much. But you also have done so many miles prior, so probably not much was changed :) Thanks again for the reply
I think I will still do a post-hike gear reflection video. It's also helpful for me to keep track of what worked well and what didn't
@@DanStenziano That would be awesome :) Looking forward to it! Cheers
Great video! Amazing camera work!
Steven Gale thanks!
Yeah boyyyyyyy
that was great, I'm saving the weekly episodes to get me through the winter in Ohio
Crafters101 haha making them is what will get me through winter in NY!
Very nice!
Awesome!
Beautiful !!!!
JennieP thank you!
Will you be doing a post-CDT gear list review? Just to go over the stuff you found especially useful or what you didn't end up using as much as you thought you might? Also curious as to why you opted for the MLD over the KS pack, is it because you anticipated a higher base weight with all the snow? I'm planning a 2021 thru-hike; I'm kind of worried to watch your upcoming episodes out of fear of spoiling any of the views for myself lol.
Julien Sheets yes I will be doing a post hike review asap. As for the pack, I just needed a larger volume than the ks40 and was interested in trying MLD. I could have just as well gone with a ks50 which would be similar in volume to the prophet (May even have been better bc I could have added the stays for CO).
I also totally get not wanting to spoil the views with videos haha. I think you should watch them but I may be biased 😛