[Cdt-l] FW: CDT trail markings...

[bcss at bresnan.net]

I appreciate all the nostalgia, but....

Competing visions being what they are, many improvements made to trails over
the past 20 years have not necessarily made them easier to hike, just easier
to find and less likely to erode.  Hundreds of miles of CDT improvements
have been done to get it off of roads and motorized routes. A good example
is the co-located Colorado Trail - CDT near Silverton, CO.  This used to be
a mind numbing road walk.  Now it is a spectacular hike along the crest of
the divide that is now being mentioned in some wilderness proposals floating
around.  

Those who dislike such developments are still free to follow the roads.  



best wishes,

Jerry Brown (bearcreek)

-----Original Message-----
From: cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net [mailto:cdt-l-bounces at backcountry.net]
On Behalf Of Jennifer Hanson
Sent: Sunday, January 22, 2012 6:12 AM
To: 'cdt-l'
Subject: [Cdt-l] FW: CDT trail markings...

I'm torn because I certainly loved the challenge of picking out my own route
thru-hiking the CDT in 1997.  I saw less than a dozen CDT trail markers the
entire way.  On the other hand, it was frustrating as hell to follow a FS
trail, have it wiped out by a clear-cut and waste 30 minutes trying to find
it again on the other side.  In some areas bushwhacking is fine, but in
others it really sucks.  On the other hand (again), I've hiked parts of the
PCT and though the scenery was beautiful, the designated route was so well
defined I felt a bit hemmed in and sort of like "what's the point of hiking
this trail?"  I missed the route-finding challenge/fun of the CDT.

BUT - are we in danger of losing the CDT national trails act protection if
it is not used/established?  Would it matter?  Does the CDT have any hope of
surviving without it?

If we aren't in danger of losing anything by leaving the trail as it is,
then can those 99% go hike the AT or PCT until they are ready for the unique
challenge of the CDT?

Just some thoughts... as I said, I am undecided on this.

Jennifer A Hanson
www.HikingtheCDT.com 


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