{"id":18819,"date":"2017-08-03T06:12:52","date_gmt":"2017-08-03T13:12:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/?p=18819"},"modified":"2018-11-11T22:10:01","modified_gmt":"2018-11-12T06:10:01","slug":"thru-hiking-the-cdt-for-underserved-kids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rei.com\/blog\/hike\/thru-hiking-the-cdt-for-underserved-kids","title":{"rendered":"Thru-Hiking the CDT for Underserved Kids"},"content":{"rendered":"

A Q&A with the man who’s completing the 3,100-mile trail to\u00a0help get more young people outside<\/strong><\/p>\n

On April 28, Michael Hervey began his quest to complete the Continental Divide Trail<\/a> (CDT) in a single season. As of July, he was done marching through the last of the 14ers in Colorado and well into Wyoming.<\/span><\/p>\n

The trip will take him from the badlands of New Mexico to the Canadian border, covering 3,100 miles on the highest and most remote of the National Scenic Trails. He won\u2019t be alone. In the spring, about 200 hikers set out from the desert in an attempt to reach the Canadian border before winter arrives. And if he succeeds, he\u2019ll \u00a0join a hardy group of several dozen hikers to complete one of the most challenging long-distance trails in the United States this year. <\/span><\/p>\n

One thing sets\u00a0Hervey apart: He\u2019s undertaking this trek to support\u00a0the nonprofit organization\u00a0<\/span>Outdoor Outreach<\/span><\/a>, a San Diego-based group that helps underserved and at-risk youth reach their full potential through outdoor leadership and mentoring programs, ranging from after-school climbing sessions to camping trips to surf lessons. Thus far, he\u2019s raised over $20,000 in donations. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

I caught up with Hervey before he hit the trails to learn more about his plans.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Hervey

Hervey in Atlantic City, Wyoming | Photo courtesy of Michael Hervey<\/p><\/div>\n

What will be your biggest challenge?<\/h4>\n

Other than the heat and the lack of water, the first four days of a trip of this duration are always brutal. You go through this transition phase of carrying a pack. Even the first two weeks are an adjustment: Your body is still trying to get used to the daily routine of hiking 20 to 30 miles per day. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

How do you train to hike 3,100 miles?<\/h4>\n

To get in shape for the CDT, I did some hiking and ultrarunning. But I tried to get used to carrying a little bit of weight because that\u2019s the main difference between running long distances and doing this on a daily basis. <\/span><\/p>\n

Are the perils of embarking on a journey like this part of the fun?<\/h4>\n

I think more than the element of danger, there\u2019s the mystery of the trail. I plan to stay on the CDT most of the time. I\u2019m comfortable in the woods and that\u2019s where I want to be. And if you think about it, the trail is the flattest and safest way over the mountains. I plan to take as few risks as possible and come home in one piece.<\/span><\/p>\n

The mountains don\u2019t scare me. I did the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) three years ago. Over time, the trail became my home. I felt as though I was exposing myself to more risk each time that I entered a\u00a0town than when I was on the trail alone or with a small group of hikers.<\/span><\/p>\n

And yet there\u2019s a weird paradox because thru-hikers are not able to do this kind of hiking without help from the\u00a0towns. Whether it\u2019s the resupply of food or hitching a ride, I wouldn\u2019t be able to do this trip completely alone.<\/span><\/p>\n

How much does your pack weigh?<\/h4>\n

Without food and water, it\u2019s about 10 pounds. I\u2019m packed for hiking, not camping. <\/span><\/p>\n

When I was on the PCT, I had no gear. I didn\u2019t carry a tent, and I ate a lot of tortillas and peanut butter [because I didn’t carry a stove]. <\/span><\/p>\n

This trail will be pretty cushy for me. I\u2019ve got a tent and a puffy pullover. Since on the last trail I really had no gear, I\u2019ve decided to run an experiment to see if carrying a tent and stove changes the nature of the trail experience or not. We\u2019ll see. On the PCT, \u00a0I noticed that people were still boiling water while I was done eating and getting ready for bed. And that\u2019s the key: You want to be fast, light and just keep moving forward. <\/span><\/p>\n

\"Hervey

Hervey on the PCT | Photo courtesy of Michael Hervey<\/p><\/div>\n

How many days will you be on the trail on average before resupplying?<\/h4>\n

I\u2019ve got a printout of all the distances to resupply towns. The way you hike 3,100 miles is in 4-day sections. I\u2019m looking at the map to determine how much food to buy for the next section. The biggest risk\u00a0is if you get into terrain or weather that so significantly slows you down that you run out of food, but that doesn\u2019t happen very often and can be planned for.<\/span><\/p>\n

On a trip of this length, solitude is another factor. What is the longest time that you\u2019ve been alone on the trail?<\/h4>\n

Completely alone, about three days, so not that long, really. On the PCT, though, there\u2019s a whole community of hikers out there. You could be as alone as you want to be or find companionship. You kind of knew who was around you, and you met thru-hikers throughout the day. If I soloed the CDT\u2014away from my friends and family\u2014I would be alone far more than I want to be. I plan on hiking with a trail partner. We met on the PCT and his name is Nick Zeitler. His trail name is Moses.<\/span><\/p>\n