Switched from the PCT to the Colorado Trail halfway through planning

I was dead set on doing the Pacific Crest Trail this summer but after talking to a ranger at the San Juan office about snow levels, I changed my mind and went with the Colorado Trail instead. The shorter length (around 500 miles) and way less permit hassle convinced me I could actually finish it in my 3 week window. Just got back last week and honestly the Collegiate East route through the Sawatch Range was stunning, no regrets. Has anyone else bailed on a big thru-hike for something more manageable mid-plan?

2 comments

2 Comments

patricialee13d ago

Wait, did you bring enough sunscreen for that much victory lap around the Sawatch? I swapped the AT for a two-week section in the White Mountains once, and honestly my ego still hasn't recovered from admitting I wasn't hardcore enough for the big one. But hey, finishing something feels way better than bailing out halfway, right? Finishing the Colorado Trail in three weeks sounds like you crushed it, even if the permit line wasn't exactly the same kind of flex.

anthony_campbell8813d ago

Expanding on that whole 'finishing feels better' thing... it really does. I think people get caught up comparing their trips to what they could have done, but a completed hike is a completed hike no matter what. The Colorado Trail in three weeks is a legit accomplishment, even if you didn't have to sell a kidney for a permit.