Hailing from a small mountain town, Honesdale, PA, I moved to Chewelah, WA over 2 years ago in search of my dream job and new horizons. I am currently a veterinarian at the Spokane Humane Society as well as part time at the Chewelah Veterinary Clinic. I feel so blessed to have found a place in this community and have been welcomed with open arms. THANK YOU! Despite valiant efforts to get me to stay this summer, the trail is calling... In less than a month I will be departing on my next big adventure: attempting to hike the entire length of the Continental Divide from Mexico to Canada as a fundraiser to help local homeless pets.
No stranger to long distance hiking, I completed the Appalachian Trail in 2007 (2,100 miles from Georgia to Maine) and the Pacific Crest Trail in 2013 (2,665 miles from Mexico to Canada). And this year it is time to hike the third and final "long trail" here in the US, the Continental Divide Trail. To complete all three trails is a coveted accomplishment in the hiker world known as the Triple Crown; only 231 people to date have been recognized for achieving this worthy goal.
In an effort to combine my passions for animal rescue and hiking, my hikes are actually fundraisers. The Appalachian Trail hike raised over $10,000 for my small rural shelter in PA, the Dessin Animal Shelter (traildogs.blogspot.com). The Pacific Crest Trail hike was a fundraiser for the Colville Valley Animal Sanctuary right here in WA (traildog4cvas.blogspot.com). And my Continental Divide Adventure this year will be raising funds for the Spokane Humane Society.
Each trail has it's own character of course. The Appalachian Trail is very social with the most visitors from being so close to many large metropolitan areas. The Pacific Crest Trail is a bit more remote, but also well established, and rewards hikers with incredible views and a wide variety of ecosystems. The Continental Divide Trail is a whole different beast. Only 76% complete, an estimated 2,800 miles, and the most extremes of any of the trails makes it a challenge for even the most experienced hikers.
The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) is one of the most significant Trail Systems in the world. The actual divide stretches 3,100 miles along the spine of the US from Mexico to Canada and provides access to some of the most wild and scenic places left in the world. Raw, wild, remote and unfinished; it is a trail that will make use of all the skills of an experienced backpacker. It is also a trail that is beautiful, stunning and perhaps the most rewarding of the major long distance hiking trails. Congress designated the CDNST on November 10, 1978. The Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC) estimates that as of 2013, 76 % of the trail is in its permanent location.
- Montana/Idaho – 980 estimated miles, 350 miles to be completed
- Wyoming – 550 estimated miles, 80 miles to be completed
- Colorado – 800 estimated miles, 200 miles to be completed
- New Mexico – 775 estimated miles, 125 miles to be completed
Because the CDT is not completed there is:
A designated route partially in place by the USFS, but most people take alternate routes.
A mixture of defined trail, cross country travel, dirt and paved road walking.
A range of total mileage. Estimates range from 2500 miles to 3100 miles. Most people believe the typical route is ~2600-2700 miles with 2800 miles splitting the difference. Yeah, confusing. Either way, it is a long freakin’ walk. :)
Many termini. The northern terminus is in Glacier National Park. Three southern termini: 1) Columbus, NM 2) Antelope Wells, NM or the 3) Crazy Cook Monument, NM.
I will be departing from the Crazy Cook Monument on the Mexican Boarder on April 25, 2015... heading north.
The CDT travels from Mexico to Canada through:
The fundraiser for SHS will be an exciting aspect for this trip. Not only will I be updating this blog as often as technologically possible from now until September, everyone is also invited to attend a talk and slideshow in the fall the wrap up fundraiser with an evening of stunning photos and stories from the trail. It will be an evening not to be missed! Until then, I hope you find my ramblings engaging and perhaps mildly entertaining. Enjoy!
- 25 National Forests
- 21 Wilderness Areas
- 3 National Parks
- 1 National Monument
- 8 BLM Resource Areas
The fundraiser for SHS will be an exciting aspect for this trip. Not only will I be updating this blog as often as technologically possible from now until September, everyone is also invited to attend a talk and slideshow in the fall the wrap up fundraiser with an evening of stunning photos and stories from the trail. It will be an evening not to be missed! Until then, I hope you find my ramblings engaging and perhaps mildly entertaining. Enjoy!
As part of the lead-up festivities, the Colville Valley Animal Sanctuary will be hosting a send off party on April 10th at Northern Ales Brewery and I will also be leading CVAS' Walk'n'Wag fundraiser on the 11th to help gear up for leaving on the 20th. Details at http://www.colvillevalleyanimalsanctuary.com/.
Happy Trails!!!
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