The Continental Divide physically divides the North American continent from North to South. Stretching from Alaska to Panama, the divide is the barrier between oceans. Waters to the East of the divide flow to the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico; those to the West flow to the Pacific Ocean and Sea of Cortez; while those in the North head for Hudson Bay and the Arctic Ocean. The Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is a system of trails traversing the length of this geographical spine through Canada, Mexico, Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, and Panama. Characterized as rugged and remote, access to the majority of the divide is limited those rugged individuals willing to leave the comforts of modern transportation. High elevations leave the divide covered in snow the majority of the year, providing another barrier to access.
In the continental U.S., the divide traverses five States. Road access is sparse and limited to the mountain passes where majority road systems are forced to cross this mountain spine. Although a national trail system is in place, it is in varying degrees of completeness. Other more famous trail systems such as the Pacific Crest or Applacian, receive a great deal more attention than the CDT, but none are as remote or wild. Although clearly marked on various maps, limited guidebooks are available. Even with the modern technologies Google Earth and GPS units trails are reported to disappear across rugged peaks covered in snow 10 months of year.
In Montana, the CDT crosses four major wilderness areas and both Yellowstone and Glacier National Parks. It is the only place along the Divide where water flows to all three of the planet's oceans. US Highway 287 parallels the divide's East side. The distance along this highway from West Yellowstone Montana to the Northern corner of Glacier Park is over 400 miles in length. The length of the CDT through the State is calculated at over 900 miles.
The Montana/Idaho CDT crosses some of the most spectacular wild country found anywhere in the world. Populations of wild native species are still prolific. The area is populated with deer, wolverines, badgers, bobcats, mountain lion, black bear, antelope, grizzly bear, elk, moose, wolves, and coyotes - to name a few.
It's an area I've lived my entire live. It's my home and I love it.
The Herculian task of traveling this path without the use of any motorized transportation seems overwhelming, but what a great activity to look forward to. It's one for the "bucket list".
Monday, September 2 2013, I took the "first steps" of hiking the length of the CDT with an endurance run from Rogers Pass to Flesher Pass, a 13.4 mile stretch of the CDT in its central most location. Rogers Pass claims to have recorded the coldest temperature in the continental states at -69 degree Fahrenheit during the winter of 1954. Memorialized by a roadside sign on the West flank of the divide and highlighted by Norman McLean in the novella A River Runs Through It.
My close friends and brothers, Joe Fischer and Pete McCarthy, joined me on a three hour run for this initial outing. Most of the trail was above the 6000 foot mark with the low point being on Rogers Pass (5400) and the high point on an unnamed summit (7200). Following this route, we gained over 3000 feet in elevation and at the same time lost over 3000 feet. A person must really love mountains to fully appreciate the rigor.
Wow - what a tremendous start!
