The post Completing the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) appeared first on Trailhunger.
]]>My initial plan, was to do all my video editing and uploading once I got home, but I managed to optimise my editing and was able to do it much faster than I had me able to previously, which made it possible to pretty manageable to upload videos whenever I was near working WiFi
Than also meant that I didn’t really upload pictures to my Instagram, as I was focused on the videos instead.
But some pictures got published – just not a lot.
So please head over to my Youtube channel if you want to see what happened this year on the CDT, while I was hiking through some pretty amazing trail in Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.
And if you want to watch or rewatch my first attempt of thruhiking the CDT in 2022, you can watch it right here!
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]]>The post I am back! appeared first on Trailhunger.
]]>There were a few different reasons for making that decision, but the bottom line is that I just didn’t enjoy myself enough to spend the time/money on trail – and after I got the green light from my boss to get another leave, if I regret my decision, it felt like the right thing to do.
Now, almost a year later, I still don’t regret my decision, but I do long for the trail again, SO I will go back and complete the CDT this year (2023)
My plan is to fly to Denver, CO where I will probably stay for a day while I resupply, and then get a ride to Rabbit Ear Pass near Steamboat Springs, where I will then start my journey.
I remember the section from Steamboat Springs to Encampment being pretty chill and not too difficult (have to watch my own videos again) so that will be a nice warm up before I hit the Basin where I might have to do some big mile days depending on the water situation etc.
I will be going alone this time around, as I don’t know anyone on trail this year (at least I don’t think I do). But now I am prepared for that, so it’s probably not going to be a problem – I will probably be ahead of the hiker bubble if there isn’t too many fire closures this year, but as always there will still be some people on trail.
On July 2 (or 3. maybe) I will start part 2 of my CDT journey towards Canada, but this time around I will NOT be uploading Daily videos while on trail. I will still film as before, but I will not be uploading anything until I get back home again.
Editing and uploading videos while on trail has been way too stressfull and time consuming, so this time around I will try to just enjoy myself more and not have to worry about the videos.
I will still be uploading pictures to Instagram (@Trailhunger_dk) so be sure to follow if you want to see those.
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]]>The post Follow my hike appeared first on Trailhunger.
]]>My Youtube channel will get some videos throughout the hike – but not a daily video, as i was unable to get someone to help me. And on the PCT back in 2018 I learned the hard way how time consuming it is to do a daily vlog.
Just the time searching and waiting for wifi / cellservice is insanely frustrating.
This time around I will stille film “everything” but will probably do a weekly video with highlights, and when i get home i might hire someone to make a long and nice video. Time will tell.
My instagram will definitely get updates as often as possible! So you will want to check that out (or at least I hope you will )
This time around you will, once again, be able to see where I am thanks to my Garmin inReach mini.
I will update the location a couple times each day so don’t worry if it looks like I am staying in the same place
I will start the GPS when get to the trail on April 20th.
Check here to see my location on the map
There you have it – I hope you will enjoy following along on my hike.
And pretty please, with sugar on top – subscribe to my Youtube channel so I know that people actually want to follow me on my adventures.
/Rod aka Boss
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]]>The post Hiking planner appeared first on Trailhunger.
]]>I have to be honest here, you might as well NOT make one, because chances are that it will not work out the way you thought – which is not a bad thing!
The trail just messes up you timings by throwing in an unexpected zero, trail magic that makes sucks you into staying for just a tad too long
Unless you are trying for a FKT (Fastest Known Time) you are more likely than not, to go off script
BUT. I spend the whole of 2017 researching and awaiting my turn to go on the PCT, so I had to pass time, otherwise I would go mad with anticipation.
Forward to late 2021 when I realised that I would be able to do the Continental Divide Trail in 2022. I once again started planning, fully knowing that it would be for no other reason than to pass time
It is still kinda fun to plot in places and dates etc. to get a rough estimate on where you will be on a given date, and know where to resupply, zero, nero, and how many miles you need to put into a section.
This hiking planner is a very DIY solution, it’s not plug’n’play! You have to do most of the stuff yourself.
I think it is pretty self explainatory, the only thing you have to be mindful of, is if you add or delete a row – then you will need to fix the “trail mile” and the “total days” columns because they will refer to a wrong row.
If you need any help, just shoot me and email and I will try to help you!
the zip file will have both a Numbers and an Excel file, depending on what you prefer.
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]]>The post My thruhike of Padjelantaleden (Padjelanta trail) appeared first on Trailhunger.
]]>In 2021 I completed my thruhike of Padjelantaleden (Padjelanta trail) together with my hiking buddy Thomas!
Beautiful scenery and an easy hike for the whole family.
Padjelantaleden is truly a remarkable trail, known for its stunning natural beauty and rich cultural heritage. As you embark on this picturesque journey through the Swedish Lapland, you will be greeted by vast expanses of pristine wilderness, majestic mountains, and crystal-clear lakes.
The Padjelanta national park, encompassing the trail, is not only a haven for outdoor enthusiasts but also a significant part of the Laponia UNESCO World Heritage site. This designation highlights the exceptional value of the region, preserving the unique SΓ‘mi culture and the traditional livelihoods that have been practiced for centuries.
Spanning approximately 140 kilometers (87 miles), Padjelantaleden is a trail that promises breathtaking vistas at every turn. Whether you choose to hike from north to south or vice versa, each direction offers its own distinct charm.
Beginning in Ritsem, located in the northern part of the trail, you will find yourself amidst a captivating fjΓ€ll landscape characterized by towering peaks and rugged terrain. As you venture further south towards Kvikkjokk, the trail gradually transitions into a more forested area, offering a peaceful and serene atmosphere.
Along the journey, keep an eye out for the enchanting flora and fauna that call this area home. From reindeer grazing in the meadows to rare bird species soaring above, the Padjelantaleden trail is a nature lover’s paradise.
To enhance your experience, make sure to take advantage of the well-maintained mountain huts and campsites along the way. These facilities provide a comfortable resting place and a chance to connect with fellow hikers, sharing stories and creating everlasting memories.
So, lace up your boots, pack your backpack, and get ready to immerse yourself in the wonders of Padjelantaleden. Whether you seek adventure, solitude, or a deeper connection to nature, this trail delivers a truly remarkable and unforgettable journey through the heart of Swedish Lapland.
If you are interested in the gear setup that I used for my thruhike of Padjelantaleden, you can find the list right here
My video is of course also posted on my Youtube channel – where you should go and subscribe pretty please
Do you have any questions about the trail? feel free to contact me and I will try to help to the best of my abilities
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]]>The post New gear for Continental Divide Trail 2022 (CDT) appeared first on Trailhunger.
]]>My gear is pretty much dialed in at this point from previous hikes, so these items are really just minor changes, except for the camera, which was a massive change, both for my budget, but also in terms of weight (a little over 14oz/400g)
For some reason I keep buying a new water filter every time I go on a hike, and this time it is no different
The reason i keep buying new filters is that I have my hiking gear stoved away in the attic which has no heating, so I am not quite sure if it has been too cold, and I’d rather buy a new filter than finding out the hard way if it was compromised.
This time around I decided to try the “new” filter from Platypus – the QuickDraw Microfilter
The specifications are the same as the Sawyer Squeeze which I used on my PCT thruhike and the Arizona Trail
but the Platypus Quickdraw is smaller and lighter (not much mind you, but everything counts )
Another nice feature of the Quickdraw is that you can quickly check if the filter is compromised, so the nights you forget to keep it in your sleeping bag etc. (and that WILL happen) you will be able to check it and make sure that it’s safe to use.
Back in 2018 when I thruhiked the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) I used the Spot Gen3 GPS/SOS device (you need to google translate that link) and I was pretty happy with it (thankfully I did not have to use the SOS).
The reason I choose to abandon it, is that the Spot devices are not supported by SAR subscription anymore (and I really think that the SAR is something that is well worth the money – it is so inexpensive!)
The subscription for the Spot and Garmin GPS is about the same, and I feel that the possibility to send texts from the Garmin inReach mini could be a nice feature to have.
Weight difference is negligible – the Spot is about 4oz (114g), and the Garmin inReach Mini is about 3,5oz (100g)
Now that I bought the Garmin inReach Mini, of course a version 2 get released (damn you Garmin) which makes it less dependant of a smartphone (the mini 1 version pretty much needs a phone in order to use it for anything other than just turning on/off)
I have been donning my awesome Tilley Outback hat for a long time, and it is amazing – AND I look freaking amazing!
The Tilley gives amazing shade from the sun and rain, and my only negative is that it becomes very warm because the fabric is pretty think.
So it is time to try something else, and a basic Trucker style hat is lightweight and it will at least shade my eyes.
One of the reasons I chose the Hyperlite Mountain Gear cap, is that the mesh has some kind of fabric beneath it, which hopefully will shield my scalp from the sun (I am pretty bald, so no hair = easy sunburn on the head).
I love fannypacks when hiking, it’s a nice place to have your small items (headphones, phone, candy, camera etc.)
I used a Thru-pack Summit Bum on my last hike on the Padjelanta trail in 2021 and it was just a tad too smal to hold my Sony A7II camera, so I decided to get a new one and chose the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Versa
For some reason I read the size to be bigger than the Thru-pack Summit Bum , which turns out is NOT the case so I will have to figure out what to do about that – Maybe I will buy a Peak Design Capture Camera Clip (I used one for a short while on the PCT, but wasn’t too happy about how the camera felt bouncing on the shoulder straps – but it might be the best solution after all.. what to do, what to do)
Jolly is a thruhiker that I met while hinking the PCT back in 2018 so when he announced that he was making hiking shirts, – “Triple Crown Button Down Sun Hoodie” I had no doubts that I needed one for my CDT thruhike. It looks awesome, and I get to support him and his business!
So if you wanna look cool while hiking – but still smell like real hiker trash, you should visit his webshop and get yourself a fancy shirt
I will get this shirt when I get to Lordsburg, so I can’t show any of my own pictures of it.
I chose the easy way to solve my dilemma about camera size and how to fit it into my fannypack
As I wrote above in the fanny pack text, my Sony A7III camera was too big to fit in a fannypack and adding the weight of a Peak Design Capture Camera Clip was not something I was thrilled about because the camera is already on the heavy side – SO I decided to splurge and buy the Ricoh GR III, which I already had my eye on while preparing for my Arizona Trail hike.
The reason I went for the Ricoh GR III and not something like the <Insert your favorite pocket camera names here> was that the sensor size on the Ricoh GR III is APSC, meaning that it is much larger than the regular pocket cameras (which have a sensor about half the size if they are top end) which in turn means better picture quality – specifically in low light – and I have this romantic notion that I will shoot pictures of the night sky (which happend ONCE on the PCT)
The size of the camera is very pocket friendly so it will fit anywhere (and yes pervert, even there) AND weighs way less than my sony setup.
The Ricoh GR III has a 28mm lens (about the same as an iPhone) and no zoom, but on the PCT where I used the Fujifilm X100F – which has a 35mm lens – I never missed the zoom function, and now I even have a wider field of view. So I am confident that it will not be a problem for me. Otherwise You will know when I start to ramble about it on my Youtube videos
Changing my camera setup even pushes my base weight down to about 10.6lb (4800g) which I am pretty happy about
My trusty Anker powerbank that I bought for my PCT thruhike back in 2018 started to act up and not be able to recharge my phone more than 2-2.5 times (thankfully I tested it beforehand), so I started to look for a new powerbank.
The Nitecore seems to get good reviews AND its even lighter than my old one, so I figured why not try it out – the Nitecore NU25 headlamp is pretty nice, so I know they can make quality stuff.
Another added bonus about the Nitecore NB2000 is that its able to charge to 80% in just 2.4 hours using my tiny Anker 30W wall charger.
I haven’t testet it myself and I also have no idea if 100% will take 8 hours but it’s good to know that you can get a pretty decent/quickly charge of you’re just stopping by a town for a quick resupply etc.
I almost forgot to mention another MAJOR bonus of the Nitecore NB2000 – it’s only 324g !!
That was about it for my New gear for Continental Divide Trail 2022 (CDT)
If you actually read all this, can you please go to my Youtube channel and subscribe? My goal for this hike is to get 1000 subscribers (in total! I’m not delusional hehe)
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]]>The post My thruhike attempt of The Arizona Trail 2020 appeared first on Trailhunger.
]]>In 2020 I set out to thruhike The Arizona Trail, and thanks to Covid-19 that ended in a thruhike attempt instead of a complete thruhike
Thankfully I met some cool people, and decided make the way home into a small road trip instead. So instead of just cutting everything short and ending right there, it felt like a nice smooth transition.
We rented a car and drove the kid home to Salt Lake City in Utah, and after that Spoon drove me to a hotel near the airport in Oregon.
A huge thanks to Spoon and the kid for making the trip memorable
If you have any questions about my thruhike attempt of The Arizona Trail feel free to contact me and I will try to help to the best of my abilities
You can watch my Arizona hike episodes on my youtube channel – or just watch them below if you are lazy
But I would not mind if you did go to my Youtube channel and subscribed
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]]>The post What is the Continental Divide Trail appeared first on Trailhunger.
]]>Well the CDT is a 3100 mile / 4989 km walk from the border of Mexico to the border of Canada, following the Continental Divide through New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana.
It is the longest of the trinity of long distance hikes and the – so far – least traveled. the trinity consists of the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), Continental Divide Trail (CDT) and the Appalachian Trail (AT).
The CDT is a little different compared to the PCT and the AT, as there are quite a few alternative routes you can take, so you’re kinda able to design your own route, which is pretty neat.
The New Mexico section (820 mi / 1320 km) will be a wide variety of desert landscape, red rock cliffs and big stretch along the Gila river(unless you choose to take the official CDT route, which no one does because the Gila River alternate is so beautiful) a lot of New Mexico will also include a bunch of questionable water sources, and long water carries.
Colorado section (800 mi / 1288 km) will be my highlight of the trip (I think) as it will go through the Rocky Mountains, San Juan Mountains, Greys peak which is the highest point on the CDT (14270 feet / 4350 m) and depending on how much snow is present will likely present some challenges and sufferings But I almost didn’t get any of those on my PCT thruhike back in 2018, so I think I deserve some.
A big part of this section will likely be covered in snow, so crampons and an ice axe is probably a must. But time will tell.
A big portion of this section will be in pretty high altitudes, and about 70 mi (113 km) will be above 11000 feet (3353 m).
some of the sections will also require some heavy food carries, as you will be in the wilderness for about a week (depending on the weather)
Wyoming is about 550 mi (885 km) and will go through the Great Basin and the Wind River Range which is supposed to be pretty amazing to see as well, you will also be going through a portion of Yellowstone National park which is the US’ First National park – a little nugget of info there for you
The Wind River Range has about 1300 lakes and some of the largest glaciers in the lower 48 states – so that will definitely be a spectacular sight!
The Great Basin is a 120 mile (193 km) stretch of desert, and not much water, so this will be another section with some long water carries.
Welcome to Grizzly bear country
IDAHO / MONTANA section is about 800 miles (1288 km) and 180 mi (290 km) of those are just across the Idaho border.
This section will go through the Anaconda mountains (also known as the Pintlers) Waterton Lake and Glacier National Park, Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex and the Chinese Wall β a 1,000 foot escarpment.
There is of course a lot more info on each section on the official CDT website if you’re interested in reading more.
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]]>The post CDT 2022 – Let the planning begin! appeared first on Trailhunger.
]]>Leave from work is in place, and my cash situation is almost in place, I still have a few details to sort out in order to be able to just leave for 5 months, otherwise I will have to keep eating ramen for a few months when I get back home
I had almost forgotten all the boring stuff that needs to be sorted out before going on a long distance hike, so in order to fill you in on my progress i will bore you as well
Did I mention that Bollocks will be joining me?! He is also well underway with bookings etc.
I am stupid excited to see him again!
Travel insurance is basically a must when going to non European countries(within EU we are pretty much covered)
It’s one of those things that really hurt to pay for, because you “never” need it.
Though one positive is right now while covid is still a problem, it will cover cancelations etc.
But if I get stuck somewhere in the middel of nowhere with a broken foot or something, I will have to get help. And that would be fracking expensive unless I have an insurance.
The “problem” is that insurances always put in some clever text that makes is vert hard to decipher if a given situation is covered.
For example my travel insurance has search and rescue included:
The insurance covers expenses for searching within 50km (31 mi) of the last place you were seen.
When your location is determined, expenses for rescue will be covered.
Last seen by whom? my fellow hiker that happens to be standing on top of the cliff looking down at me? or my mom who will probably look at my garmin inreach location constantly?
Otherwise I will need to pay for the SAR subscription, which will cover search/rescue, but that is yet another insurance on top of an insurance, so things quickly get pretty expensive
Maybe Insurance is just one of those things you need in order to not need it.
You NEED 1 permit (New Mexico State Land Office
Recreational Access Permit) , and then there’s about 4 other permits that you might need, but those a supposed to be easy to avoid, because the areas are only a few miles, so you can hike through and camp before or after.
Glacier seems to be one that might be a pain in the butt, but thats at the end of the hike, so cross that bridge when you get to it
I have learned by now that extensive planning for long distance hiking is a total waste of time BUT never the less, I feel that it is part of the mental preparation, so of course I have started planning the trip in more detail than what I should
One thing that needs to be prepared though, is booking hotels, busses, planes etc. in order to actually get to the trail and ready for the journey. All that is actually already done, all I basically need at this point is to get my main gear in order, and get my service provider sorted out (I can’t do that until i get to Phoenix)
I also made a plan for when and where to resupply (a whole spreadsheet) well knowing that it will never hold up once I get on the trail
But it is a nice way spend time while you wait for the departure date to arrive
This year (2022) Crazy Cook CDT Shuttle service announced that they would only shuttle US citizens (don’t know the reasons, and I don’t judge them – there are alternatives).
Luckily I had booked a spot last year, and they were kind enough to honor that deal
Otherwise another option would be the CDTC shuttle service – see theres always another way
The gear needs to be figured out in 2-3 steps. First step will be the start of the trail which hopefully will be spring/summer time, so that probably means my usual hiking setup
Second step will be when I get to Charma.
I need to have figured out that gear to bring into the mountains – because there will most likely still be snow, and depending on the situation, it can either be alot of snow, an unpassable amount of snow, or little snow(i think it’s possible).
I am not going to buy that gear until last minute, because I might not need what I buy, or I will need something else and have wasted money.
After the snowy mountains are done, i will probably have to reconfigure my gear once again – and this is the worst part, because I might have alot of items that i am not going to need, so i will have to either donate it to someone, throw it out or bounce it forward and bring it home with me (but i really don’t like that idea of having to depend on opening hours of post offices etc.)
Oh I almost forgot that I will need to carry a bear spray, theres apparently a lot of Grizzly activity up north, so bear spray is required by law. Exciting stuff!
I am one of those people that can not, and will not go to a gym and spend time – I don’t find any joy in working out.
That said, back when I hiked the PCT, I pretty quickly learned the hard way that age is a pretty big factor in how much you can stress your body
Day 1 on the PCT I got knee problems, even though I had walked extensively for 3 months leading up to the hike. But walking will not help strengthen your knees, you really need up/down terrain or a lot of stair climbing.
For the last year I have pretty much been able to do 10-14k steps a day, and my hike on the Padjelanta trail last year didn’t show any signs of problems with my knees, so the walking part is pretty much covered regarding training.
Also back in 2020 when I hiked the Arizona Trail, I had zero problems, so I think I will be fine regardless, but better safe than sorry
So my main focus this time will be my knees. Every night before bed i strap on my backpack filled with waterbottles, and do stand up crunches (don’t know if that is the right term). An important thing to remember is that you need to strengthen your glutes as they are a big part of supporting your knees – work that butt!
One thing I still haven’t figured out is how to go about my daily Vlog on my Youtube channel.
I know for a fact that I am not interested in spending as much time editing and uploading as I did on my PCT thru-hike
So I am contemplating uploading a quick video every other day, with a quick and dirty recap of what has happened, and a few videoclips from the past days, and then when I get back home, I will make a proper video.
That way I might get more time to really enjoy the trail, and it will also help me with my post hike blues, because making a video out of 100+ hours of video will be a pretty big undertaking, so that’s going to take a month or two.
That means that my “on trail” videos will not be fancy at all, but maybe that’s a good thing – might make them more grounded and real/raw without fancy music and overlays
My Instagram will of course get plastered with pictures constantly, and maybe I will even try out those stories as well
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]]>The post Padjelantaleden 2021 appeared first on Trailhunger.
]]>Now I can concentrate on my CDT 2022 Thru-hike, which is just around the corner (April 16th. 2022)
Padjelantaleden (Padjelanta Trail 2021) is a hiking trail in Lappland, in northern Sweden.
It is about 140 km long and leads from Kvikkjokk northwards through Padjelanta National Park (in the Laponia park system) to Ritsem.
We chose to hike it from north to south, for no reason because it is the same “hassle” to get to either starting / end point on the trail, so choose what ever makes sense to you. Only positive doing it the way we did, is that you end the trip at KvikkJokk fjΓ€llstation, which has nice food etc. up north in Ritsem its pretty boring so it might not be a very interesting end to an amazing hike
You can do the hike in about 9β10 days (Depending on your speed, but it can definitely be done much quicker). Not having much elevation gain (at maximum 300 m per day), it is suitable as a beginner’s trekking tour, provided one has experience with outdoor camping, hiking and staying in remote areas.
If you are interested in seeing what gear I used for this trip, you can see it here
And as always I would really appreciate if you went to my Youtube channel and subscribed for some reason I am stuck at around 660 subscribers. It could be cool to hit 1000 subscribers during my Continental Divide Trail thru-hike!
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