Difference between revisions of "Continental Divide Trail"

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{{Infobox Hiking trail
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The '''Continental Divide National Scenic Trail''' (in short '''Continental Divide Trail''') is a United States National Scenic Trail running 3,100 miles (5,000 km) between Mexico and Canada. It follows the Continental Divide along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states - Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. In Montana it crosses Triple Divide Peak which separates the Hudson Bay, Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean drainages.   
|Name=Continental Divide Trail
 
|Location=[[United States]]
 
|Photo=Condivm.gif
 
|Length={{convert|3100|mi|km}}
 
|Start/End Points=[[Glacier National Park (U.S.)]]<br>[[Antelope Wells, New Mexico]] [[United States-Mexico border]]
 
|Use=[[Hiking]]<br>some [[Horse riding]]<br>some [[Mountain biking]]
 
|ElevChange=???
 
|HighPoint=[[Grays Peak|Grays Peak, Colorado]] {{convert|14270|ft|m}}
 
|LowPoint=[[Columbus, New Mexico]] `{{convert|3900|ft|m}}
 
|Difficulty=Moderate to Strenuous
 
|Months=April to October
 
|Sights=[[Continental Divide]]
 
|Hazards=[[Severe weather|Severe Weather]]<br>[[Hypothermia]]<br>[[Lightning]]<br>[[Falls]]<br>[[Avalanche]]<br>[[Dehydration]]<br>[[Bears]]<br>[[Mountain lions]]
 
}}
 
[[File:cdt-logo-patch.jpg|thumb|right|Continental Divide Trail logo]]
 
The '''Continental Divide National Scenic Trail''' (in short '''Continental Divide Trail''') is a [[United States]] [[National Scenic Trail]] running 3,100 miles (5,000 km) between [[Mexico]] and [[Canada]]. It follows the [[Continental Divide]] along the [[Rocky Mountains]] and traverses five [[U.S. state]]s - [[Montana]], [[Idaho]], [[Wyoming]], [[Colorado]], and [[New Mexico]]. In Montana it crosses [[Triple Divide Peak]] which separates the [[Hudson Bay]], [[Atlantic Ocean]] and [[Pacific Ocean]] [[drainage]]s.   
 
  
As of 2004, the trail, a combination of dedicated trails and small roads, is considered 70% complete. The uncompleted portions of the trail must be traveled by [[bushwhacking]] or [[roadwalking]].
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As of 2004, the trail, a combination of dedicated trails and small roads, is considered 70% complete. The uncompleted portions of the trail must be traveled by bushwhacking or roadwalking.
  
Only about two dozen people a year attempt to hike the entire trail, taking about six months to complete it.  As of 2008, no equestrians have managed to ride the entire trail in a single year, although several "long riders" have tried{{Fact|date=July 2008}}.
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Only about two dozen people a year attempt to hike the entire trail, taking about six months to complete it.  As of 2008, no equestrians have managed to ride the entire trail in a single year, although several "long riders" have tried.
  
 
The Continental Divide Trail along with the [[Appalachian Trail]] and the [[Pacific Crest Trail]] form the [[Triple Crown]] of long distance hiking in the United States.
 
The Continental Divide Trail along with the [[Appalachian Trail]] and the [[Pacific Crest Trail]] form the [[Triple Crown]] of long distance hiking in the United States.
  
This trail can be continued above the Canadian border to Kakwa Lake north of [[Jasper National Park]] by the [[Great Divide Trail]], which is so far described only in a few books, and carries no official Canadian status.  
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This trail can be continued above the Canadian border to Kakwa Lake north of Jasper National Park by the Great Divide Trail, which is so far described only in a few books, and carries no official Canadian status.  
  
 
==New Mexico==
 
==New Mexico==
The CDT in [[New Mexico]] is about {{convert|700|mi|km}} long and some portions have very limited water.<ref>Bob Julyan, Tom Till, William Stone (2001) ''New Mexico's Continental Divide Trail: The Official Guide'' Big Earth Publishing, 320 pages, ISBN 1565793315.</ref>  Local volunteer groups place water caches (usually a pile of plastic gallon jugs) at strategic points along the trail.<ref>{{cite web
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The CDT in New Mexico is about 700 mi long and some portions have very limited water.<ref>Bob Julyan, Tom Till, William Stone (2001) ''New Mexico's Continental Divide Trail: The Official Guide'' Big Earth Publishing, 320 pages, ISBN 1565793315.</ref>  Local volunteer groups place water caches (usually a pile of plastic gallon jugs) at strategic points along the trail.<ref>{{cite web
 
|url=http://www.cdtrail.org/page.php?pname=about/newmexico
 
|url=http://www.cdtrail.org/page.php?pname=about/newmexico
 
|title=New Mexico
 
|title=New Mexico
Line 37: Line 21:
 
|publisher=Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico
 
|publisher=Bureau of Land Management, New Mexico
 
|accessdate=2008-10-20
 
|accessdate=2008-10-20
}}</ref>  The southern terminus of the trail is not on the Continental Divide (see [[Animas Mountains]]) but rather in the vicinity of [[Columbus, New Mexico]], a village that is also the northern terminus of the annual {{convert|250|mi|km|sing=on}} '''Cabalgata Binacional Villista'''.
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}}</ref>  The southern terminus of the trail is not on the Continental Divide Animas Mountains but rather in the vicinity of Columbus, New Mexico, a village that is also the northern terminus of the annual {{convert|250|mi|km|sing=on}} '''Cabalgata Binacional Villista'''.
  
 
==Colorado==
 
==Colorado==
[[Image:Continental divide trail in Weminuche Wilderness.jpg|thumb|CDT in [[Weminuche Wilderness]], Colorado]]
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The CDT passes through many of the highest and wildest mountain regions of Colorado, such as the San Juan Mountains and the Sawatch Range. In most areas the trail is well marked. It is concurrent with the [[Colorado Trail]] for approximately 200 miles.
The CDT passes through many of the highest and wildest mountain regions of [[Colorado]], such as the [[San Juan Mountains]] and the [[Sawatch Range]]. In most areas the trail is well marked. It is concurrent with the [[Colorado Trail]] for approximately 200 miles.
 
  
 
==Wyoming==
 
==Wyoming==
The CDT includes a large section of rangeland in the middle of the state, as well as the [[Wind River Range]] and [[Tetons]] in the northwest portion of [[Wyoming]].
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The CDT includes a large section of rangeland in the middle of the state, as well as the Wind River Range and Tetons in the northwest portion of Wyoming.
  
 
==Montana==
 
==Montana==
The [[Montana]] portion of the CDT is almost entirely in the mountains.
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The Montana portion of the CDT is almost entirely in the mountains.
  
 
==See also==
 
==See also==
*[[Colorado Trail]] - the two trails coincide for about {{convert|200|mi|km}}
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*[[Colorado Trail]] - the two trails coincide for about 200 miles.
 
*[[Pacific Northwest Trail]] - Shares a common start/end point with the CDT in Glacier National Park.
 
*[[Pacific Northwest Trail]] - Shares a common start/end point with the CDT in Glacier National Park.
  
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[[Category:Trails of the United States]]
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[[Category:Trails]]

Latest revision as of 14:47, 19 September 2009

The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (in short Continental Divide Trail) is a United States National Scenic Trail running 3,100 miles (5,000 km) between Mexico and Canada. It follows the Continental Divide along the Rocky Mountains and traverses five U.S. states - Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. In Montana it crosses Triple Divide Peak which separates the Hudson Bay, Atlantic Ocean and Pacific Ocean drainages.

As of 2004, the trail, a combination of dedicated trails and small roads, is considered 70% complete. The uncompleted portions of the trail must be traveled by bushwhacking or roadwalking.

Only about two dozen people a year attempt to hike the entire trail, taking about six months to complete it. As of 2008, no equestrians have managed to ride the entire trail in a single year, although several "long riders" have tried.

The Continental Divide Trail along with the Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail form the Triple Crown of long distance hiking in the United States.

This trail can be continued above the Canadian border to Kakwa Lake north of Jasper National Park by the Great Divide Trail, which is so far described only in a few books, and carries no official Canadian status.

New Mexico

The CDT in New Mexico is about 700 mi long and some portions have very limited water.[1] Local volunteer groups place water caches (usually a pile of plastic gallon jugs) at strategic points along the trail.[2][3] The southern terminus of the trail is not on the Continental Divide Animas Mountains but rather in the vicinity of Columbus, New Mexico, a village that is also the northern terminus of the annual Template:Convert/E Cabalgata Binacional Villista.

Colorado

The CDT passes through many of the highest and wildest mountain regions of Colorado, such as the San Juan Mountains and the Sawatch Range. In most areas the trail is well marked. It is concurrent with the Colorado Trail for approximately 200 miles.

Wyoming

The CDT includes a large section of rangeland in the middle of the state, as well as the Wind River Range and Tetons in the northwest portion of Wyoming.

Montana

The Montana portion of the CDT is almost entirely in the mountains.

See also

External links

  • Bob Julyan, Tom Till, William Stone (2001) New Mexico's Continental Divide Trail: The Official Guide Big Earth Publishing, 320 pages, ISBN 1565793315.
  • Template:Cite web
  • Template:Cite web