534. Wanda's Wanda-rings - CDT
The Continental Divide Trail Part 1: The Route
A quick peek at one of the CDT road crossings in CO that leads to one of the best peaks for viewing a huge portion of the actual CDT route.

When thinking of where might be an appropriate spot to leave this fine stamp, one of three carved by lionsmane of New Mexico to commemorate my backpacking of the CDT from Mexico to Canada in the 1990s (after 5+ AT's, 3+ PCT's, and many, many other trails), one of the first places I thought of was Parkview Mt. just a few dozen miles west of Rocky Mountain NP. Standing almost by itself, at about 12,300', it has a fantastic 360-degree view of the CDT route, stretching on a clear day from the Snowy Range of Wyoming clear down through to the Collegiate Peaks of central Colorado!

So, after finishing up our first VOC work trip of the 2014 season, Pete and I decided to hike up Parkview Mtn on the new CDT route, about 12 miles round trip, somewhat longer than the old steep scree route to the top, but much safer and truer to the divide itself. It makes a wonderful day hike that we highly recommend. However, judging by the small number of visitors that we see signed in to logbooks of letterboxes involving hikes, as compared to those for drive-bys, we thought it would be a shame if only one or two people ever got to see this fine stamp. So, somewhat reluctantly, we decided to make this box a drive-by, too, considering that just the drive alone out to this rather "off-the-beaten-letterbox-place" might be adventure enough for most CO letterboxers!

Anyway, to find the CDT crossing where this box is located, simply follow route 125 north about 30 miles from its junction with route 40 just west of Granby, or about 10 miles south from the town of Rand, to just south of the large green sign at Willow Creek Pass. There is a sizable pull-off here on the east side of the highway with a brown carsonite post stating that this is the Willow Creek Trail. (It is also the southbound CDT, whereas the northbound CDT to Parkview Mt. is across the road to the west.) From the brown post, take about 18 steps east on the trail to a large stump on the left. Turn left and take another 15 or 16 steps north, passing a second stump on your right, to a third stump, and look for the box under a couple of rocks on its east side. Now, just think about hiking that whole CDT route pictured on the stamp!

N.B. For a more complete listing of my wanderings, please see Wanda's Wanda-rings

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