⚙️ Mike's Gearhead Log: My 2024 Trek on the Continental Divide Trail

From zippers to trail zigs, this was the hike that redefined my love for gear—and the wild.

📍 Prologue: Why the CDT?

So there I was—sitting in my garage in late winter 2023, surrounded by bins of ultralight prototypes, used fuel canisters, and a GORE-TEX graveyard—thinking, “What haven’t I tested this gear on yet?” I’d already tackled the AT and bits of the PCT, but the CDT... that was still a ghost on my bucket list.

The Continental Divide Trail had this wild, unhinged reputation—stretching nearly 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada and slicing through the Rockies with all the grace of a sawblade. It wasn’t just a trail; it was a stress test. And that’s what sold me.

🎒 Gear Check: What I Brought (and Why)

If you know me, you know I don’t just pack light—I pack smart. Every ounce has to earn its keep. For the CDT, I brought:

• Pack: ULA Circuit – bombproof and balanced, with enough room for bear cans and winter layers.
• Tent: Zpacks Duplex – storm-resistant and still under 2 lbs.
• Sleep: Enlightened Equipment Revelation quilt + Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Xlite pad.
• Cook System: BRS-3000T stove with Toaks titanium pot. Featherlight but reliable.
• Clothing: Merino base, Patagonia Houdini, and GORE-TEX Active shell. Tested all of them beforehand on rainy ridge hikes.

I also brought a GPS watch, ultralight trekking poles, and a few redundant charging solutions. Because the CDT doesn’t forgive mistakes.

🏔️ New Mexico: Sun, Sand, and Solitude

Starting at the Crazy Cook Monument, the first few hundred miles of the trail were all desert heat, Gila River crossings, and solitude. I remember boiling water at sunset with sand caked into my socks, watching the sky turn red behind the rocks.

It was brutal. My feet swelled. My hydration filter clogged from all the silty cow tanks. But the gear held up. The Houdini took a beating from sun and wind and came out looking better than I did.

🌲 Colorado: The True Gear Gauntlet

When I crossed into Colorado, the game changed. Snow lingered into early June. Elevation punched harder than a bad burrito. And the storms? Biblical.

One afternoon, I found myself traversing an exposed ridgeline near San Luis Peak when the sky went from blue to “run-for-cover” gray. Thunder boomed. I dove into a ravine and pitched my Duplex in record time. That’s when I realized—GORE-TEX might breathe, but fear sure doesn’t.

Every zipper, seam, and buckle got tested that week. My quilt stayed dry thanks to careful layering and my rain gear never wetted out. That felt like a small miracle.

🏞️ Wyoming: The Winds, the Great Basin, and the Mental Game

Wyoming was equal parts jaw-dropping and mind-melting. The Wind River Range delivered on its promise: sharp granite peaks, glacier-fed lakes, and grueling elevation gains. My trekking poles basically saved my knees.

Then came the Great Divide Basin. No shade, no water, no people. Just cracked earth and wind that whispered your doubts back to you. I rationed water, stretched snacks, and let my GPS watch lead the way through featureless terrain. It was a test of patience and pacing.

🌲 Montana & Idaho: Bear Country and the Big Push North

In Montana, the trail winds through grizzly country. I hiked with bear spray strapped to my chest and talked loudly to trees just in case they were listening. There were moments—like a foggy morning near Benchmark Wilderness—when I knew something was watching. My instinct said “move,” and I listened.

My Ursack passed the test—twice. Once, I found it a few feet from camp with claw marks but no breach. If that doesn’t sell you on tough fabrics, nothing will.

Idaho was wildflowers, river crossings, and the feeling of inching closer to the finish line. Every bootlace felt like it mattered more. My gear? Still intact. My legs? Less so.

🇨🇦 Canada Border: The End—or a New Beginning

Standing at the CDT Northern Terminus—just a wooden post tucked into the trees—I felt more relief than triumph. It wasn’t about “conquering” the trail. It was about surviving it, appreciating it, and realizing how every mile taught me something:

• How to push without breaking.
• How to trust your gear but not rely on it blindly.
• How the right pair of socks can make or break a week.
• And how even the best rainfly leaks... eventually.

💡 Mike’s Trail Tips for Future CDT Dreamers

I’m not saying gear is everything—but it’s close. Here’s my advice if you’re eyeing the CDT:

• Train with your gear. Know every strap, snap, and failure point.
• Don’t skimp on rain protection. GORE-TEX earned its keep in Colorado.
• Bring redundant navigation tools. Maps, GPS, and backup batteries saved me in the Basin.
• Rotate socks, and treat your feet like royalty.
• Respect the trail—and yourself. Take zeros when needed. Rest is gear maintenance for your body.

👟 Gear MVPs of the CDT

• Enlightened Equipment Quilt: Warm, packable, and stayed dry in storms.
• ULA Circuit Pack: Carried everything without complaint.
• Altra Lone Peak 7: Switched to these mid-trail. Game-changer for my arches.
• Katadyn BeFree Filter: Fast flow rate. Paired it with a CNOC Vecto for dirty water.
• Outdoor Research Helium Rain Pants: Featherlight but saved my butt in hailstorms.

🧭 Would I Hike the CDT Again?

In a heartbeat—but with even less weight and more electrolytes. The CDT is a puzzle, and each hiker finds their own way to solve it. Mine just happened to involve spreadsheets, scale grams, and late-night gear tests in the garage.

But hey, that’s why they call me the gearhead.

🎯 Final Thoughts

If you’re sitting on the fence about tackling the CDT, here’s what I’ll say: Do your homework, test your kit, and then go hike it anyway. The trail will humble you, gear will fail, and plans will shift. But if you love the process—the spreadsheets, the tinkering, the prep—it’ll be one of the most rewarding things you ever do.

And if you ever need help choosing a pack liner or debating between Dyneema and silnylon, you know where to find me. Trail-tested, gear-approved, Mike out.

🥾 Want to see what gear I actually used? Check out our reviews for trail-tested breakdowns.