Welcome to the Gossamer Gear journey report shakedown collection! We all know our group is all the time searching for new backcountry adventures to try to ideas for making ready and packing for them with an ultralight mindset. That’s why we’ve requested our model ambassadors to dish the small print on their newest and biggest travels.
On this weblog collection, you’ll discover:
- Route suggestions
- Challenges and highlights of the path
- Recommendations on methods to plan your journey
- Gear lists from our model ambassadors
We’re excited to kick off this collection with a submission from Nancy East about her thru-hike of the Colorado Path. Nancy lives and performs within the mountains of western North Carolina. She is an avid day hiker and backpacker and a passionate member of her county’s search and rescue crew. Nancy set the quickest identified time (FKT) for the Smokies 900 in 2020, and is the writer of Chasing the Smokies Moon, which chronicles this journey. We hope her Colorado Path insights enable you to plan your subsequent journey!
Inform us a bit of about your journey and the place you went! What area did you discover? What number of days or miles did you trek?
In August and September 2023, I thru-hiked the Colorado Path (CT). Working north to south by the state, the CT begins south of Denver at Waterton Canyon and ends practically 500 miles later in Durango. My buddy and I took 27 days to hike the path (22 days of mountain climbing with 5 zero days).
What bought you enthusiastic about this journey? What are some distinctive options in regards to the location? Was this your first time or a return journey?
I backpacked the 4 Move Loop in Colorado over a protracted weekend a number of years previous to my CT thru-hike. I used to be desperate to return and discover extra of the Colorado mountains on foot. The CT passes by eight of the state’s mountain ranges, with ample alternatives to get off path and expertise the allure of many small mountain cities alongside the way in which.
Inform us a bit of about the way you packed for this journey. What backpack did you employ? Was there any gear that was notably helpful for it? How a lot did your pack weigh?
I used the identical backpack I take advantage of for each lengthy hike I take: the Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60. Actually, I used to be path testing a pattern of the latest model of the Mariposa on my thru-hike. My base weight was round 16 kilos, however my pack was over 25 kilos with a few longer stretches between resupplies. I used to be instantly impressed with the Mariposa’s improved load lifter setup and the way a lot extra comfy it felt to hold a heavier load.
Past my backpack, I used my Zpacks Duplex Tent, Katabatic Gear Flex 15-Diploma Quilt, and a Thermarest NeoAir Girls’s XLite Sleeping Pad. All of those labored properly for my hike. I took my regular assortment of equipment, akin to a CNOC water bag, Sawyer Squeeze Filter, BRS Range, and Vargo Bot 0.7L.
The Leukotape I carry in my first help equipment got here in useful a few occasions when some scorching spots on my ft wanted consideration within the first 100 miles. Electrolyte substitute powder (Skratch Labs and LMNT are my favorites) have been notably useful on the numerous scorching days we have been mountain climbing. I saved these in my Gossamer Gear Bumster, together with different easy-to-reach gadgets.
As a result of the CT is commonly very uncovered to the solar at excessive elevations, my Liteflex Umbrella earned its regular MVP standing on this thru-hike. I cherished having the additional shade when the temperatures have been approaching triple digits the primary few days of our hike as we traversed by many open areas.
I additionally loved taking a Gossamer Gear Thinlight Pad on this journey, and I pulled it out for all our breaks through the day, in addition to utilizing it beneath my sleeping pad to assist hold it from slipping on the ground of my tent (and maybe added a smidge extra R-value to my setup).
Lastly, my Gossamer Gear LT5 Carbon Trekking Poles have been invaluable. They have been like having 4-wheel drive whereas climbing steep passes. I’m sure they saved my butt from many a bruise on descents from these passes when my legs felt like Jell-O from the climb up!
What have been a number of the highlights of the journey?
Since I dwell within the mountains of western North Carolina, I’m usually mountain climbing in “the inexperienced tunnel” and am not uncovered to 360-degree panoramic views. One of many largest highlights for me was having unobstructed views whereas traversing by the state’s magnificent mountain ranges. I anticipated the ranges to all appear and feel related, however every possessed its personal distinctive traits and sweetness.
Our resupplies in cities have been an surprising spotlight. I cherished experiencing the tradition and allure of Breckenridge, Twin Lakes, Salida, Lake Metropolis, Silverton, and Durango. Every city was extremely welcoming to CT hikers, and Lake Metropolis even boasts a hiker help middle in a neighborhood Presbyterian church!
Ultimately, CT thru-hikers are confronted with a “select your personal journey” determination to hike the Collegiate East or West route. There are professionals and cons to every, however the common consensus is that the Collegiate West route is extra scenic; nonetheless, it’s additionally extra uncovered to the weather. We had a positive climate forecast once we needed to finalize our selection, and I’m so grateful—it was as epic as we’d been instructed!
There are just a few locations the place CT hikers can take facet excursions of various distances to summit 14ers. I opted so as to add 2.6 miles to considered one of our days and summit San Luis Peak (14,022 ft). It was a transparent, picture-perfect day, and it turned considered one of my favourite reminiscences of your entire hike.
With any thru-hike, you’re certain to come across different attention-grabbing hikers, and the CT is not any exception. I hiked this path with considered one of my besties, Chris “Pacer” Ford, who accomplished his Triple Crown in 2023. Alongside the way in which, we ended up sharing path time with many different CT thru-hikers and even ended up with a small path household. The CT by no means felt crowded, but it was straightforward to foster a way of group and make pals alongside the way in which.
I additionally appreciated how properly the CT is maintained and supported. The Colorado Path Basis does an impressive job of outreach and stewardship, and you’re feeling that in each mile of the path.
What have been a number of the journey’s challenges? What would possibly you do in a different way subsequent time?
One of many largest challenges we confronted was extended unsafe climate within the San Juans that pressured us to take an unplanned zero day in Silverton, which morphed into two zero days when the climate didn’t enhance. Our return flights dwelling needed to be rebooked, and I confronted the specter of not having the ability to end the path (and we have been so shut at that time!).
If I have been to hike the CT once more, I’d proactively construct in additional time to account for poor climate circumstances that may pressure me off path for just a few days. I used to be on a decent timeline due to household obligations, however it could have been good to not have to worry a lot about ending!
If I’d had the posh of extra time, I’d have additionally eased into the mileage and elevation achieve (we began mountain climbing the path the morning we landed in Denver). I used to be lucky that I didn’t have any acclimatization points coming from my dwelling of two,800 ft above sea stage, however it could have been higher to start out extra slowly and even acclimate a day or two in Denver earlier than mountain climbing.
The ultimate factor I needed I’d had time for was to summit Mount Elbert, the second-highest mountain within the contiguous United States and the best in Colorado. The CT passes proper by the spur path to the summit, however it was extra of a time and mileage dedication than I needed to spare.
Get Impressed to Take Much less and Do Extra By means of Shared Group Data
If you happen to’d prefer to comply with together with extra of Nancy’s adventures, you could find her on Fb, Instagram, and YouTube. She’s additionally written extra about her CT expertise intimately on her web site. Nancy is a weekend warrior who additionally takes a yearly “mombatical” to hike shorter lengthy trails just like the CT.
Have your personal tales from mountain climbing the CT? We’d love to listen to them! Share your perception with us by tagging Gossamer Gear on social media (@gossamergear) and utilizing the hashtag #takelessdomore.
Searching for extra out of doors journey inspiration? Try a few of our different articles on the Gentle Toes weblog written by or about Nancy herself:
