My eldest son phone me a few weeks ago and offered to support me on a section hike. My initial reaction was no. The COVID-19 pandemic was raging. Both my wife and I had been quarantining ourselves for weeks. I especially did not feel comfortable flying. He said he would be willing to drive from his home in California, pick me up here and drive me to the start of my hike. A day later after thinking about it I agreed. It was too late in the season to do a thru-hike. Instead I would section hike from South Pass City WY to Cuba NM where I had left off in 2016. It’s just over 1100 miles. I would be a LASHer, a Long Ass Section Hiker, something I have never done before. Also I would be supported meaning I would not have to go to town to buy resupplies. Instead my son would meet me at trailheads along the way with his jeep and supplies to keep me isolated from the communities along the trail. A supported section hike is something I have never done before. This should be interesting.
Since the completion of my Appalachian Trail Thru-Hike last year I’ve been doing daily walks around town ranging from a few miles on weekdays to over ten miles on weekends. Upon agreeing to this supported section hike I boosted my mileage and began to wear a 25 lb. weight vest. Nevertheless, I do not feel I’m in the best of shape. The pandemic has caused me to gain weight and I’ve not had enough time to train on flats and hills. Finally I have no plan. Nada! This is nothing like I had done for the PCT, the previous CDT and the AT. I would have to get my “trail legs” on trail. Part of the reason why I am starting at South Pass City is that the first miles are relatively flat from there to Rawlins, WY.
So there is no plan to prepare for my 2020 CDT Section Hike.
2016 CDT Hike
This is my plan to prepare for my 2016 CDT Thru-Hike: CDTHikePrep