This route combines the CDT (Continental Divide Trail) and GDT (Great Divide Trail). The GDT begins at the northern terminus of the CDT and travels along the Continental Divide, effectively extending the CDT -- an iconic hike in the U.S. and one of the Triple Crown long distance trails -- for another 750 rugged miles of terrain. This track uses the official route of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) as defined by the Continental Divide Trail Coalition (CDTC): https://continentaldividetrail.org/cdnst-interactive-map/. It also uses the official Great Divide Trail route as marked on fastestknowntime.com with Bastille Creek TH as the end of the .gpx track, though we can consider Kakwa Lake to be the 'end' marker time and northern terminus per the GDT FKTs listed already.
Editor's Note: The only record of a successful attempt is by Andrew Glenn in 2019. Here's his first entry announcing the attempt, second entry, and final entry announcing he'd completed it. If you know of others who have completed this route, please leave a comment on this page.
Comments
I’ll be attempting this route supported starting tomorrow 4/21! Aiming to finish the CDT by 8/11 and complete the GDT by mid to late September (I have three different campsite itineraries booked out for different paces).Â
I have planned to take popular alternates on both the CDT and GDT, and my total mileage should equal about ~3,700 if I complete the alternates as planned. I’m blogging for The Trek about this attempt at: https://thetrek.co/author/jessica-guo/ & on my Substack: https://substack.com/@jessicaguoÂ
I’m also putting up a daily update on Instagram @whereisjessi.ca, and I generally post each day’s hike to Strava once I have service at https://www.strava.com/athletes/jessicaguo
I’m tracking this on a Coros watch (not an InReach).Â
I’m supported in the sense that I have a friend (who owns the home bakery Wababaland) who will be packing and shipping my resupply for approximately 1/2 of the stops I’m making, and that I’ll be relying on pre-arranged rides / stays from friends and trail angels as well as my family on occasion.Â
You can view the exact route I’m planning here on Caltopo: https://caltopo.com/m/R1Q01BF (may be subject to change)
I wrote about why I’m attempting this in this The Trek post: https://thetrek.co/hiking-the-cdt-gdt-am-i-thru-hiking-to-seek-out-pain/