The Fine Line: Objective Hazard Management in the CDT (TRAILS Series, Part 6)

We are approaching the end of the TRAILS preparation series frame.

• training
• Rexterior planning
• TOAppropriate equipment
• Yotake me
• llogistics
• Security and Contingency.

We have finalized the TRAILS readiness framework. we have covered training, Rexterior planning, TOappropriate equipment, Yointake, and llogistics. Now we must address the final, and perhaps most critical, letter: Yes for Security and Contingency.

The Continental Divide Trail is a remote wilderness trek that features objective dangers. These are inherent hazards in the environment that cannot be eliminated. As in mountaineering, you can only mitigate your exposure to them through the systems we have discussed in previous chapters.

Environmental Hazards: Exposure, Lightning, and Avalanches

The sky and terrain are the main risk factors when hiking in the CDT

• Exposure: Hypothermia is a risk even in summer. Almost all of the CDT in Colorado is above 11,000 feet and reaches 14,000 (4300 m). As discussed in the “Appropriate Equipment” chapter, my layering system is not modern, it is life support that exists. Always carrying a dry layer and my quilt in a waterproof sack is my main contingency against wet conditions. Staying dry and fueled after a day on the trail is the most important factor in recovery, so keeping a warm layer dry is absolutely crucial under all circumstances.

• Lightning: In Colorado, the risk of lightning is serious. Especially around July, the Colorado Moonsoon is famous (see https://thenextsummit.org/what-is-the-colorado-monsoon/). It is an almost daily occurrence in which a weather pattern causes significant thunderstorms and rain in the early afternoon. The only real way to mitigate this is to try to avoid high ridges after midday. Getting up very early and starting riding at first light to make sure I’m off the exposed ridges before evening sometimes works, but it depends largely on the terrain.

• Snow trips: Early season snow or late spring snowstorms in San Juan can be a PITA for hiking. Slips, slides or even avalanches are real problems. Postholing (breaking through the snow surface and getting your leg stuck) is not only exhausting, but it can also be quite painful. Ask Stiches where he got his Trailname from 🙂

Biological hazards: diseases and animals

• Disease: In regions with a lot of livestock, stagnant water sources are often contaminated. As discussed in the «Intake» chapter, food and water borne diseases like Giardia are a real problem in the CDT. Water filtration is really the only way to manage this. A stomach virus in the field is a dehydration crisis waiting to happen.

• Animals: From rattlesnakes to grizzly bears, the CDT is full of wildlife. That’s what makes it beautiful! Mitigation here is about respect. I adhere to leave no trace principles not only of ethics, but also of security. A clean campsite does not attract bears and therefore keeps them and me safe. Keeping food storage and kitchen utensils separate from sleeping areas is non-negotiable. This protects me, but also prevents the bears from becoming “problem bears” as they are called in Switzerland (until they are not anymore :().

Physical hazards: injuries and emergency protocols.

The most common reason for leaving the trail is an injury. This is why the work done in the «Training» This phase pays off: strong stabilizing muscles prevent the strains and sprains that put an end to hiking. The occasional recovery day (zero or close for 0 or close to 0 mile days) also helps your body adapt to the physical effort. However, accidents can happen to anyone. If things really go wrong, the easiest tool today is obviously a smartphone. However, since most areas of the CDT do not have reception, backups are necessary. This backup is a satellite messenger (Garmin inReach) that allows for regular check-ins (peace of mind for people at home) AND activating emergency services even if there is no cell phone reception, in case things get bad. I also leave you my planned itinerary with family and friends so that Yeah If a check-in is missed, the search radius is defined.

The supreme danger: the ego

Finally, the most dangerous thing in my pack is mine. ego. The desire to travel miles, stick to a schedule, or simply having ending a pass when conditions are incomplete is cheating. Security is as much a matter of mindset as it is of external factors. It is the willingness to stop or turn back if the risks outweigh the benefits. It is the discipline of stopping before things go wrong. Most S&R events are not based on a single event gone wrong, but on a chain of seemingly small mistakes and poor judgments that eventually combine into dangerous situations. A good example occurred in 2018, when seven people died during a ski touring trip in Switzerland. See here for a well-crafted summary: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zBbtfX16UFE

Put risk in perspective

While it is crucial to respect the CDT terrain, it is equally important to consider these risks with a sense of proportion. The dangers inherent in hiking the CDT are not unique to this activity or trail; They are shared by almost all outdoor activities, from mountain biking to ski touring. Walking, even in the CDT, is not inherently “dangerous,” but rather an activity that requires situational awareness, a skill we often seem to have lost living with headphones in cities. Seeing these challenges as manageable components of the experience rather than insurmountable threats helps me not get lost in fear but rather feel comfortable being prepared. After all, preparation is about allowing yourself to enjoy the profound physical and mental benefits of nature without unnecessary anxiety.

The golden age of preparation

Besides, Today, hiking is arguably safer than ever.as long as we use the resources available. Hiking is no longer walking blindly into the unknown. Accurate topographic maps, real-time weather radar, emergency services, fire maps, and trail status reports are available to me before I even set foot on the trail. Modern technology, from GPS apps on our smartphones to lightweight satellite communicators, provides a safety net that previous generations could only dream of. When well done the combination of tools, experience and preparation can mitigate the vast majority of risks, making nature accessible and enjoyable for everyone.

This completes the TRAILS preparation series. The planning is done. The execution begins at the border. See you around (or on YouTube ;)) I’m leaving tomorrow!

PS: If you want to know more about the topic of a triple crowner, watch this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1dH9XCcMO0

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