CDT in Winter: A Colorado Adventure
By Jaime Jennings, CDTC Office Manager and Bookkeeper
Newsflash: The CDT isn’t just for summertime thru-hikes! While many hikers take on the Continental Divide Trail during the warmer months, this 3,100-mile scenic trail offers countless opportunities to explore beautiful wilderness year-round. Last week, the Colorado-based CDTC team took a well-deserved day off together to experience the CDT in its winter glory.
Liz Schmit, CDTC Outreach Program Manager, enjoying the CDT and sunshine as she skis.
We made our way to the CDT Gateway Community of Leadville, Colorado, where we visited the Tennessee Pass Nordic Center along the Continental Divide for a day of cross-country skiing.
Our team of six had varying levels of skiing experience, making the adventure both exciting and often humorous. As a complete newbie, I can confidently say that cross-country skiing was way harder than I could have imagined! The slick, icy trails proved to be a challenge, and more than a few of us took some tumbles while figuring out our glide.
One of the highlights of the day was sporting our brand-new, custom-embroidered Melanzana hoodies. These locally-made fleece tops kept us warm and easy to spot on the trails. If you attend a future CDTC event, you won’t have any trouble identifying our staff—we’ll be the ones proudly rocking our bright and cozy Mellys.
CDTC staff repping Melanzanas and hanging out under the CDT in a railroad tunnel.
Altogether, we covered more than six miles of beautifully groomed trails, making for a fantastic workout. After our ski adventure, we headed into Leadville for a post-ski celebration. A round of beers and snacks at a local spot hit the spot before we stopped by the Melanzana store to show off our team gear.
This day on the CDT was a perfect reminder the trail isn’t just for summer hikes. With skis or snowshoes, the CDT offers a whole new adventure in the winter months. We encourage you to get out there and experience it for yourself!
Jordan Williams, CDTC Colorado Regional Rep, lounging in the snow before making his way uphill.
