Category: CDT

The Whole track for the CDT(Continental Divide Trail) on my GPS

This is something I found on Whiteblaze.  It’s a way to put the entire Jonathan Ley’s CDT route onto your GPS.   I made sure my tracks were all deleted and empty and I was able to put the whole track of the CDT on to my GPS.     So now I have the entire track for the CDT and all the waypoints for the PCT  all stored in my Garmin 60csx with the original memory card it came with.

Amazing work,  Blisterfree!

Newly created GPS and TOPO! ready files (based on Jonathan’s Google Earth file) – see below by Blisterfree… 

Included below are:

* 2 full-trail, gps-ready GPX files (nobo and sobo) – each is 20 track segments @ 500 waypoints per track. Any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run these file.

* 8 state-specific GPX files (nobo x 4 & sobo x 4) – more detailed than the above – each is a variable # of track segments (<20) @ <500 waypoints per track. One or two of these files should be loadable at once, depending on GPS unit storage capacity.

* 2 CDT “sub-master” files – one is GPX, the other TPO. Both are essentially the same data as Jonathan’s original KMZ file. The GPX file is typically too large for uploading to a GPS, but offers endless possibilities for editing / customization / further expansion. The TPO file is the same data, but formatted for NatGeo TOPO!, with red lines for the “main” route and blue lines for the alternates. The TPO might be useful if printing custom maps, for instance if planning a hike beyond the scope of Jonathan’s CD-ROM map coverage, or if wanting to add custom annotations to printed maps.

Any and all of these resources can later be amended based on changes to Jonathan’s KMZ (Google Earth) master file, and periodically we’ll try to attend to this.

This all came into being rather suddenly (and very easily, let it be said). The only one who deserves any street cred whatsoever is Jonathan Ley, who has invested I’d imagine thousands of hours at this point in the creation and updating of his CD map set from which all other resources were born. My hat is off!

– blisterfree

CDT Ley route: full trail, gps-ready (SOBO):
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…route-sobo.gpx

Description: Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file converted to gpx format and divided into 20 track segments of 500 waypoints per track, presented for the southbound traveler. Track segments detail only the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, and do not describe alternate routes that may deviate from this “main route.” Track segments are organized by state as follows: Segs 1-7 MT; Segs 8-10 WY; Segs 11-16 CO; Segs 17-20 NM. Any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run this file.

CDT Ley route: full trail, gps-ready (NOBO):
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…route-nobo.gpx

Description: Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file converted to gpx format and divided into 20 track segments of 500 waypoints per track, presented for the northbound traveler. Track segments detail only the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, and do not describe alternate routes that may deviate from this “main route.” Track segments are organized by state as follows: Segs 1-4 NM; Segs 5-10 CO; Segs 11-13 WY; Segs 14-20 MT. Any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run this file.

CDT Ley route: Montana (SOBO):
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…ntana-sobo.gpx

Montana portion of Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file, converted to gpx format and divided into 16 track segments of not more than 500 waypoints per track, presented for the southbound traveler. Track segments detail only the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, and do not describe alternate routes that may deviate from this “main route.” The track (waypoint) data in this file is more detailed than that in the “full trail” gpx file, with the caveat that many GPS receivers will not be able to store more than one or two individual state files at a time. Still, any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run this individual state file.

CDT Ley route: Montana (NOBO):
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…ntana-nobo.gpx

Montana portion of Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file, converted to gpx format and divided into 16 track segments of not more than 500 waypoints per track, presented for the northbound traveler. Track segments detail only the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, and do not describe alternate routes that may deviate from this “main route.” The track (waypoint) data in this file is more detailed than that in the “full trail” gpx file, with the caveat that many GPS receivers will not be able to store more than one or two individual state files at a time. Still, any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run this individual state file.

CDT Ley route: Wyoming (SOBO):
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…oming-sobo.gpx

Wyoming portion of Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file, converted to gpx format and divided into 7 track segments of not more than 500 waypoints per track, presented for the southbound traveler. Track segments detail only the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, and do not describe alternate routes that may deviate from this “main route.” The track (waypoint) data in this file is more detailed than that in the “full trail” gpx file, with the caveat that many GPS receivers will not be able to store more than one or two individual state files at a time. Still, any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run this individual state file.

CDT Ley route: Wyoming (NOBO):
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…oming-nobo.gpx

Wyoming portion of Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file, converted to gpx format and divided into 7 track segments of not more than 500 waypoints per track, presented for the northbound traveler. Track segments detail only the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, and do not describe alternate routes that may deviate from this “main route.” The track (waypoint) data in this file is more detailed than that in the “full trail” gpx file, with the caveat that many GPS receivers will not be able to store more than one or two individual state files at a time. Still, any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run this individual state file.

CDT Ley route: Colorado (SOBO):
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…orado-sobo.gpx

Colorado portion of Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file, converted to gpx format and divided into 13 track segments of not more than 500 waypoints per track, presented for the southbound traveler. Track segments detail only the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, and do not describe alternate routes that may deviate from this “main route.” The track (waypoint) data in this file is more detailed than that in the “full trail” gpx file, with the caveat that many GPS receivers will not be able to store more than one or two individual state files at a time. Still, any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run this individual state file.

CDT Ley route: Colorado (NOBO):
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…orado-nobo.gpx

Colorado portion of Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file, converted to gpx format and divided into 13 track segments of not more than 500 waypoints per track, presented for the northbound traveler. Track segments detail only the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, and do not describe alternate routes that may deviate from this “main route.” The track (waypoint) data in this file is more detailed than that in the “full trail” gpx file, with the caveat that many GPS receivers will not be able to store more than one or two individual state files at a time. Still, any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run this individual state file.

CDT Ley route: New Mexico (SOBO):
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…exico-sobo.gpx

New Mexico portion of Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file, converted to gpx format and divided into 10 track segments of not more than 500 waypoints per track, presented for the southbound traveler. Track segments detail only the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, and do not describe alternate routes that may deviate from this “main route.” The track (waypoint) data in this file is more detailed than that in the “full trail” gpx file, with the caveat that many GPS receivers will not be able to store more than one or two individual state files at a time. Still, any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run this individual state file.

CDT Ley route: New Mexico (NOBO):
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…exico-nobo.gpx

New Mexico portion of Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file, converted to gpx format and divided into 10 track segments of not more than 500 waypoints per track, presented for the northbound traveler. Track segments detail only the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, and do not describe alternate routes that may deviate from this “main route.” The track (waypoint) data in this file is more detailed than that in the “full trail” gpx file, with the caveat that many GPS receivers will not be able to store more than one or two individual state files at a time. Still, any modern GPS unit conforming to or exceeding the standard “20 tracks of 500 waypoints per track” maximum storage capability should be able to load and run this individual state file.

Ley CDT master file – GPX format:
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…cdt-master.gpx

Description: Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file converted to gpx format. File contains multiple track segments, representing the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, as well as alternate routes. This gpx file is too large to be stored as a single file by most GPS units, but can be edited/split in GPS or mapping software to suit the requirements of a particular unit or of the user. For GPS-ready gpx files that require no prior editing, use the “cdt-full-route-gps-ready” gpx files (NOBO or SOBO) or the individual state files.

Ley CDT master file – TOPO! format:
http://www.simblissity.net/downloads…cdt-master.tpo

Description: Jonathan Ley’s Continental Divide Trail kmz file converted to .tpo format for use with NatGeo TOPO! mapping software. File contains multiple .tpo-formatted line segments, representing the main / official and/or “Ley” route of the trail, (in red) as well as alternate routes (in blue). Waypoints contained within the file delineate the trail’s (red line’s) termini at state and international boundaries, as well as the termini of the alternate routes (blue lines).

Update

Starman sent this:

Hey, just a thought about your CDT track files you have posted from the WhiteBlaze web site.  The OLD jonathan Ley file based off of an EVEN OLDER Google Earth file is becoming obsolete.  It will work for a lot of the trail, but in my opinion it has become too old.
Bear Creek has posted the official CDTA route waypoint file set at:
Jerry Brown has freely posted the waypoint and POI file for all to use.  It also matches his published Atlas.  It is NEW, ACCURATE and based on REAL field data.
I have taken the waypoint file and created a track file that follows his data and also show several alternates per Jonathan Ley and the “Out of Order” track set.  My file share site is:

My GPS

cabin2-149.jpgI bought the Garmin60c GPS to hike the CDT(Continental Divide Trail), after being told by a past thru-hiker that I would spend days lost if I didn’t carry a mapping GPS. The difference between a mapping GPS and regular GPS is that you can load it full of topo maps and then see where you are on the map. I wouldn’t have wanted to be out there without it.

It comes with a non deletable world map with all the major roads shown. Then you can add what maps you want, to it, from either a topo cd or you can go more urban and go with city maps. The topo maps show all water sources including wells. They show the mountains, contour lines, elevations, trails, roads and public institutions such as schools and fire houses. I have never had the city maps but I think they tell you about services in the cites like restaurants and stores. I don’t know if you can put both topos and city maps together. The map CD’s don’t come with the GPS and are an additional expense.

I was able to put all the topo maps for the entire CDT, plus about a fifty mile radius around the trail in it and still had room to spare. Right now, I have the topos for the entire state of Washington and most of Oregon it it. You can easily add markers on the unit and then push the goto button and it will navigate you there, either on roads or as the crow flies, which ever you choose. You can zoom in and out for more or less detail.

Garmin claims a 30 hour battery life. I used lithium batteries and got much longer then that. It was so efficient that I often hiked with it on all day . There is a model that has a compass that doesn’t have as long a battery life, but I think you can turn off the compass. This model has a compass but it doesn’t work unless you are moving.

I haven’t had any problems with it from getting it wet. I hike with it in the rain and strap it to the top of my kayak when I go out for a paddle.

It also tells you lots of other information like elevation, moving speed, timed stopped, etc.

I now have a little case for it. When I was on the CDT I didn’t have a case so I just taped some clear packing tape on the screen to protect it from getting scratched, which worked great, is light, and cheap.

It comes with a little strap and a clip. On the clip, you push a button and the unit comes unclipped from the clip. I loop the GPS through my backpack strap with the strap and then clip it my backpack using the clip. That way if the one of them should fail the other will hold it on.

It weighs 6.75 ounces(192 grams) with lithium batteries, 8.05 ounces(228 grams) if you add the case and clip.

After a month of constant use, the zoom button quit working. I sent it back to Garmin and they replaced the unit.

As is the way of electronics, now Garmin makes one that gets better signal in trees and canyons and has removable storage: the Garmin 60cx. It also looks like Garmin started making my model in a gray scale version, the Garmin 60, that will do everything mine does except without color and is considerably less than what I paid.

I’m not bringing it on the PCT, but when I hike the CDT I’ll definitely bring it. Since on the CDT the trail is often just not there.

One day on the CDT, on a hill, with the wind blowing about 35 miles an hour, I got out all my navigational aids: Jonathan Ley’s maps, Jim Wolf’s guide book, the National Forest Service map and my GPS with a past hiker’s way points in it, and tried to figure out which way to go. I knew that I wasn’t following the “official” CDT but until that moment, I didn’t realize that Jonthin Ley’s route, the guide book and my way points were all following different routes…and at that moment, I wasn’t on any of them.

I saw on my GPS, a place ten miles away that was in my guidebook so I just pointed my GPS towards where I wanted to go and took off hiking. As I set out on my own route, walking over the grassy hills, I thought, “I am happier, now, than I have ever been in my whole life.”

Snow Levels on the CDT and the PCT for 2007

Before hiking the PCT, I watched the snow levels, as too much snow in the Sierras would make for a more difficult hike. So far, things look good for both a northbound PCT(Pacific Crest Trail) hike or a CDT (Continental Divide Trail) hike. (Although NM looks really dry) Snow levels for the PCT and CDT 2007. To see the snowpack for other months and years go to: http://www.wcc.nrcs.usda.gov/cgibin/westsnow.pl

I also found this site that has a a really good graph of the snow levels for PCT or the CDT

I sort of had other plans for this summer like building a cob cottage or selling my BC property but as the winter wears on and I tire of domestic life, I’m more attracted to a hike. The cabin I’m living in is fine for now and I don’t need to sell my BC property and it’s not every year the snow levels are this low…….

set back

me on the couch

I went back to my cabin to recuperate for awhile. I had an accident with a ladder and broke my ankle, so, I spent the whole summer on my couch or on my hammock. It wasn’t a bad summer.

I’m in Florida, now, helping to sell my son’s house. http://tampa.craigslist.org/rfs/51534576.html

My ankle is still swollen and doesn’t feel right. A doctor told me it will be a year before it’s right. Most of the stuff I’m reading say it won’t be right till the hardware is removed.

Not sure if a hike will be happening this coming summer. Not even sure what this winter will bring.

all fixed up

I have been hanging out in the Northwest waiting for my box of maps to catch up to me. My tent is now fixed as is my sleeping bag, and pants. I have a new pack, flashlight, hat and music player. Some days a feel alot better. Some days not. I will problally hike around for awhile while I wait for my box to get here. My sister said she would take me to the trailhead.

On the CDT

I finally made it to the CDT. I have spent the first two weeks sick and lost most of the time. I’m really happy to have a GPS and wouldn’t want to do this trail without one.

The solitude and quiet on this trail have been great. It’s like having the whole world to my self. I’m hiking slow and not at all worried about finishing. What I don’t get this year I will get another year. I’m just enjoying the “trail”. I say “trail” cause it’s not really a trail like the PCT and the AT are. You just sort pick a route, try to follow it and if you get lost just pick a direction and follow that.

I might start hiking south after the snow melts because I’m having a really hard time following Jim Wolfs’ guides going north.

The water is the worst I have ever drank. Green stagnate cow troughs with feathers and bugs floating in it. The water is thick like there is a lot of saliva in it.

GPS’s and the CDT

Jason, 2003 thru-hiker, used a Garmin Vista. He was able to delete the maps that came with it, freeing up enough space to put ALL the maps for the CDT in it. He carried it in a little case attached to his backpacking strap. He says if you don’t bring a GPS with all the maps in it that you will be lost for days at a time.

I called Garmin and they said you couldn’t delete the basemap it comes with so I bought a Garmin 60c with 56 megs of memory just to be sure I would have enough memory. I was able to store all of the maps for the trail plus a pretty big corridor around the trail and still had lots of room to spare. I used the Garmin MapSource CD ROM (USA TOPO). Jason sent me his list of what maps he used off of Garmin’s Mapsourse Topo USA CD. list of maps to download into your GPS

2003 thru-hiker, James sent me his list of waypoints. If you download all the waypoints to your GPS it becomes pretty clear what maps you will need. Here is a link to his waypoints http://skylab.org/~crow/blog/gps/jamescdt03.wpt. He deleted some to make room for the final stretch so here is his final list. http://skylab.org/~crow/blog/gps/cdtfinal.wpt. They are in Garmin PCX5 format. They actually were in Mallegen format when I got them, so they needed to be converted by using this GPSBabel program. http://gpsbabel.sourceforge.net/. Using this program you can convert waypoints into what ever format you need them to be in. James, has them already in Magellan format at his site http://cdt2003.info/how.htm

Town Guide

The town guide continunes to be updated almost daily as I find new information.

I combined sources to make a more complete town guide. Town Guide

The sources are Mike and Kam’s Shop as you go guide , Tom Bombaci’s New Mexico guide, Gottago’s Bandana resuply page, info gleened for the CDT mailing list, and James’ resuply data.

This page list trail towns, the services they provide and other important information. It is also is an automatic mailing label generator. http://www.fallingwater.com/cdt
He says he is updating this and the newest updates will be at http://www.sixmoondesigns.com/cdt/

Maps

Thru-hiker, Jonathan Ley makes a CD that has all the maps of the CDT. You print them out on your home computer. They have been updated for 2004 and now include a way to use a GPS with them. The route is marked on the maps along with alternate routes. He also includes notes.
http://www.phlumf.com./cdt/cdtmaps.htm

To get BLM state maps call these numbers.

Montana http://www.mt.blm.gov/faq/maps/ Phone: (406) 896-5000

Idaho http://www.id.blm.gov/Phone: 208-373-4000

Wyoming http://www.wy.blm.gov/ Phone: 307-775-6256

Colorado http://www.co.blm.gov/mapinfo/mapfaq.htm Phone:(303) 239-3600

New Mexico http://www.nm.blm.gov/ Phone:(505) 438-7400