Colorado Trail it is

Humid? In Colorado? It will be damp at times but nothing like say Arkansas or East Texas. Never had huge bug problems. A small bottle of DEET and/or bug proof shelter of some kind should be plenty.

We were soaked in July last year, but from cold rain, not humidity.  It was my first experience with an umbrella and I’m HOOKED.  my rain gear consisted of an umbrella, homemade silnylon rain skirt and a nice light rain jacket (5 oz type).

We actually had quite a few areas with MASSIVE mosquitos.  Meaning Minnesota level mosquitos….but thankfully it wasn’t too bad.  I would NOT have gone without a net shelter or DEET.  But then again, mosquitos really like me.

The monsoon season usually runs from mid-July through mid-August, although it can certainly be different from year to year. What generally happens is a gradual buildup of clouds throughout the day from noon to late afternoon. Then, wham!–a good 30-90 minute rain, which can sometimes be pretty significant. You don’t want to be above timberline when that happens, as there can be a good amount of lightning associated with the storm. We usually just put on the Gore-Tex, hunker down under some trees, and eat cheese and talk trash until the storm lets up.

Everything and everyone really likes you, Jen–mosquitoes, rain clouds, and especially CharlieDog. The Idester too, most of the time.

Hi Luke,

Thank you for the feedback.  Yeah, i didn’t even consider CO possibly being humid at all until recently, as i didn’t know until recently that it rained almost every day during the time frame i will be there.

Hi Jen,

Yeah, i’m thinking of possibly bringing a reflective umbrella, as i’m pretty fair skinned and get zapped to tiredness by UV pretty easily/quickly.  Doesn’t the wind sometimes get pretty strong though, and if so, how did the umbrella handle that?

That’s a bit surprising about the mozzies.  Sounds like i should definitely bring a net tent of some kind.

Hi Gary,

Hmm, maybe i will miss some of it, as i’ll start hiking in early July.  Thank you for the tips about lightning.

The snow water equivalent here in CO is anywhere from 87% to 107% (as of today) of the annual median in the areas of where the CT crosses. I would definitely be prepared to bring some sort of mosquito protection, particularly in the Holy Cross to Collegiate Peaks Wilderness sections. This won’t be nearly as big of a problem when you hit the higher elevations of the Weminuche.

Every year is different in terms of how hard the monsoon will hit, but I’d err on the side of caution and bring reliable rain gear.

It’s not really humid here at all.  What “monsoon” means in Colorado is that during the summer there is reliably a short thundershower in the higher elevations shortly after noon, almost daily.  Then, yes, maybe for an hour after that it can be humid as it all evaporates, but that’s it.

Here’s a description from a hike of mine a while ago where I got caught in the monsoon.

That’s not really typical though.  I mean, yes, stuff happens- I did a hike in the Winds a couple of years ago that was downright soggy because of some odd weather- but it’s generally dry here.  So I agree with bringing decent raingear, because it can be so unpredictable.

I’ve never had an issue with bugs in Colorado, except for a tick I had to pluck off my daughter’s scalp once.  There are places in the lowlands that the mosquitoes can be bad but the CT is mostly pretty high in elevation.

Mosquitoes are hit and miss in the CO mountains in summer, but I would definitely want some bug protection unless it was September. Some places in mid summer can be swarming with mosquitoes, other places (often above treeline) with a little breeze may have few or even none.

If you’re out for any extended trip then be prepared for heavy rain showers at times, especially afternoons. They may pass quickly, but they can dump a lot of water all at once. Lightning is a potential issue too once the clouds start building late morning/early PM. If you’re out for a month or more there’s also a good chance you’ll have an extended period of wet rainy weather for three days or so.

Thank you Tim, Dean, and Lester for the further feedback.  Dean, nice write up–i especially liked the part about the freaky ninja cows.

I thru-hiked the CT last summer starting in early July (with a week off in mid-July to heal an injury), finishing in mid-August.

Last summer was a “super el nino” year, so the July rains often came by mid-day (11am or noon), and sometimes we had fog for several hours in the mornings, too… but CO is definitely not a “humid” place, and the 10,500ft average elevation of the trail tends to feel dry (when it’s not actually raining).  On the plus side, all that rain led to a bumper crop of wildflowers, which was beautiful…

Bugs were often horrendous, especially in July — even at high elevations (one camp at 11,500ft comes to mind) and even when there was a breeze (only very strong winds could drive them away).  In addition, the CT had gazillions of biting flies (small house-fly-type creatures) in many areas — something I’ve never encountered before.  Again, maybe it was worse because of the super-el-nino?  Mosquitoes were basically gone by early August, but the flies were still very active, even at 12,500ft!

It was still fun (esp. the southern half), but, between the rain and the bugs, I spent a lot of time in my tent, and I’m glad I had my headnet!  Who knows what this year will be like, but if you don’t take bug protection at the start, make sure you can get it mailed to you quickly if you need it.

Thank  you for the comprehensive feedback Valerie.   Head nets are so light, seems silly not to bring one.  I brought one to an Alaskan trip and was very appreciative of doing so (i’ve never seen mozzies so bad before or since that trip–the stuff of nightmares and reminiscent of Hitchcock, but instead of birds, mosquitoes).

OMG that’s right – those damned flies!  How could I have forgotten about those!!!!!

I wish my friend Keith had that photo of one of our group literally COVERED in mosquitos at one high camp (over 11k)…it was so impressive they were all over his legs.  I wore my dynamo pants, gaiters, windshirt with the hood up and the hat on top of the hood…AND DEET on my hands and ankles.

It was a rough summer on the CT for bugs I think.

But as Valerie mentioned, it was an odd year.  Just be ready…I had an extra DEET in one of my mid-point resupplies that we ended up using (none in my group brought any so I ended up supplying the whole group).

My legs at some point:

That’s way more than i would have expected Jen.

Starting to get the sense of what clothing/gear i should bring.   For top, probably Kuhl Wunderer ls shirt, Toad & Co 51% nylon/49% tencel blend ls button up (love this shirt, great odor control, great wicking, cooling, and dries fairly fast in all but the most humid conditions), or Prana Sutra 53% hemp/44% polyester/3% spandex ls shirt (like the Toad shirt, but a bit warmer).

Although, i’m really interested in getting and trying the shirt below (i would sew sleeves on it).. and wearing a very light weight bug net shirt over it.
http://www.duluthtrading.com/store/mens/mens-underwear/mens-undershirts/76724.aspx?processor=content

For bottoms, modified Prana Sutra “yoga” pants (53% hemp, 44% polyester, 3% spandex) and MYOG pretty light weight Kilt made out of the same kind of hemp-poly fabric worn with light weight bug net pants, or modified 79% nylon/21% cotton shorts that i can convert into wind pants, rain pants, or bug pants all in one (very light total, interchangeable system).  The great thing about the kilt is that i can wear it in the morning and evening when the Sun and/or bugs aren’t that intense, but then throw the pants on underneath when bugs and/or Sun are too intense.

Not sure about tent/tarp/net tent.  I don’t have a good 2 person with net tent set up for this yet.  But, the grant comes with 1200 dollars in expense compensation for each which will more than pay for the traveling and food and so i should have some left over (probably around 300 to 400 each).

Still thinking about rain gear–definitely for bottom, Tyvek kite inner + EPIC outer combo rain skirt or if i go with the modified shorts then bring the EPIC bottom panels plus lightweight silnylon rain skirt.

For top, not sure if i want to do modified poncho (with WPB front panel), or a combo of silicone true DWR treated windjacket with tyvek jacket underneath?

I’m looking at this net tent, which i would modify by bonding some UL fabric to most of the bottom and cutting out the other fabric.  I will probably make a tarp out of mostly reflective cuben (i have some laying around) to go over it.

http://www.aliexpress.com/item/TARP/32557306964.html?spm=2114.30010208.3.73.QmK4nm&ws_ab_test=searchweb201556_6,searchweb201602_5_505_506_503_504_10020_502_10014_10001_10002_10017_10010_10005_10006_10011_10003_10021_10004_10022_10009_10008_10018_10019,searchweb201603_3&btsid=0ee0e109-cdd6-4e8b-aea8-31923e8a09db

While we will get a sizable compensation from the grant, we don’t get that until after we attend the week long program, and i probably won’t have much extra spending money before then.  Hence need to keep it on the cheap, which the above does and will be decently light after modified.

Last year we had a massive snow dump in May.  It really did make for a wetter, and more insect prone, time in Colorado.

It is not typical.

Thank you for the feedback Paul.  Glad to hear it’s not typical, otherwise between the bugs and rain, i may as well hike the AT…  Ok, i’m exaggerating a bit in the comparison, besides, never been to CO and the Rockies. I’ll get to channel John Denver and get Rocky mountain high.