CDT Thru Hike Ep 1: Crazy Cook to Lordsburg - Continental Divide Trail Documentary

CDT Thru Hike Documentary Vlog: Mexico to Canada, 3000 miles, 165 days. Long distance hiker "Famous" hikes the Continental Divide Trail northbound in 2018 in this 31 episode CDT thru hike documentary series. The CDT hiker walks New Mexico, Colorado, Wyoming, Idaho and Montana through the Rocky Mountains in one single season. The CDT starts at the Mexican border at Crazy Cook monument and ends at Waterton Lakes, Canada. I am proud to say that I hiked the entire Continental Divide Trail with continuous footsteps.
I chose to do the Continental Divide Trail over the Pacific Crest Trail or Appalachian Trail for my first thru-hike because it spoke to me the most... the scenery, the solitude, the adventure. I created and hiked a 450 mile alternate route in Wyoming from Lander to Old Faithful which was the highlight of my entire journey, and my life!
2018 was a very low snow year so it was a great year to hike the CDT NOBO. I hiked continuous northbound footsteps the entire way. If I hitched into town, I always hitched back to the exact same spot, or walked back to it. This was very important to me.
In this section of the Continental Divide Trail, I hike from Crazy Cook Monument (US/Mexico border) to Lordsburg. It's a 4.5 day, 88 mile hike through New Mexico's "bootheel". It was a 3+ hour ride in a high clearance truck down Crazy Cook, the CDT southern terminus. All of the sudden, I'm there, in the desert and taking my first steps of a 3000 mile hike. What an incredible, overwhelming feeling! The desert heat reached as high as the mid 90s on this section. Water was scarce, but sufficient even without the CDTC water caches.
My CDT Thru Hike Gear List: lighterpack.co...
If you enjoy my content and/or would like to support the creation of a brand new 4000+ mile thru hike route, please consider lending your on Patreon:
👉 / seekinglost
Don't forget to subscribe for my latest video updates:
👉 www.youtube.co...
To read more (and see pictures) about the Crazy Cook to Lordsburg section of the CDT, visit my blog:
seekinglost.com...
cdt thru hike 2019
cdt thru hike 2020
cdt thru hike 2021
outdoor adventure
adventure films
short film
outdoor films
outdoor short film
thru hike documentary
hiking documentary
backpacking documentary
thru hike vlog
trekking
documenting the trek
walk across the country
walk across america
#cdt #thruhike #continentaldividetrail

[@SeekingLost]

👉 If you enjoyed this video/series, please SHARE it!! Thanks for watching :)

[@helloworld-gu8uq]

I'm not seeing the 30+ videos in playlist. Would be helpful. Thanks.

[@SeekingLost]

Hey there, thanks for letting me you there is an issue. I just had a look... I clicked on the playlist link at the end of this video (kzbin.info/aero/PL8GyPZecZZYjGdXOOgZ5iabB1ECXtec-x) and it brings me to the playlist, which displays all 32 videos. Can you elaborate more on where the issue lies? I just don't see anything broken on my end.

[@helloworld-gu8uq]

@@SeekingLost i meant that when i go to Playlist on the channel, i dont see it. Prob a good idea to be first up there. Anyway, i just wann tell you, i bumped into your CDT videos in Spring 2019. Fell in love.. I’ve been out hiking almost every week in the summers and springs since. Thanks a million.

[@SeekingLost]

Good call! I figured out a way to add it after digging through some parts of yt I haven't looked at in while, haha. Thanks for letting me know, and very cool to hear you've been bitten by the hiking bug! I think that's something we can all feel good about spreading to others. Thanks for sharing that, and happy trails :)

[@20Hikecdt23]

I think this is the 4th or 5th time I've watched your videos. I finish the video with smile on MY face. Thanks for sharing.

[@sharonthomas4856]

best hiking video ive ever watched. you show day by day even the little mundane stuff i love every minute thanks Bulllet

[@SeekingLost]

Wow thanks so much Bullet!

[@swissmonkey9217]

Just watched Ep1 again for old time sakes. appreciate all the work that went into it, thanks you Famous.

[@SeekingLost]

Swiss Monkey! Thanks man, hope you are doing well and still out there adventuring!

[@swissmonkey9217]

@@SeekingLost I was able to hike 1000 miles this summer and miss quiet a bit of all the craziness.

[@LCThompson]

I've sampled various VLOGs by thru hikers -- and yours is the best. The photography is excellent and your narration is informative.

[@SeekingLost]

Hey thanks Larry, I appreciate that very much!

[@LCThompson]

This is the best hiking video I've ever seen.

[@SeekingLost]

Wow, thanks Larry! I hope you enjoy the rest of the series

[@craigcoates9153]

Watching these vids brings back so many happy memories. Today it's chatting to the trailside animals.

[@SeekingLost]

Haha good, I'm not the only one!

[@HitTheTrailJack]

you killed the editing on this man! Cant wait to watch this!

[@SeekingLost]

Thanks, hope you enjoy the series!

[@tato4612]

nice cinematography

[@kampersadventures958]

Wow....I am going to dig this hike of yours on the CDT. Thanks for putting this series out.

[@c-beam3670]

Wow, thanks for showing the Pyramid peak walk by near Lordsburg. I often see this mountain from other CDT Hikers vids but often at a distance. Good to see it as it gets closer and closer until you passed it on your right.

[@pgreenx]

just found your channel - gonna watch the series while we all get over covid-19

[@SeekingLost]

Awesome! Hiking videos > coronavirus

[@pgreenx]

@@SeekingLost What a great channel. halfway thru your CDT vids and they are amazing. way better than Dixie's but lets not tell her that.... your website is great too. Im gonna do the dolly sods and Blackrock forest loops soon.

[@dillydally1991]

I find myself rewatching this video as I prep for the CDT in April - gives me a good idea of the first section. Thank you!

[@pstm13]

Followed you over from Backcountrypost.com. Looking to do a thru hike for the summer of my 50th birthday. You and others are a great inspiration and help. Long live Beavis and Butthead.

[@SeekingLost]

Awesome, good way to celebrate 50! Don't hesitate to ask if you have any questions. Anything for a fellow BnB fan haha. Couldn't get that scene out of my head while walking through the desert

[@elsiethompsn2907]

At my age, I watch hiking videos rather than hike -- and yours are the best on the CDT. Your excursions off the easiest routes to the hardest -- Malpais, Wind River, Teton, etc. -- are outstanding.

[@Twobarpsi]

Me too...🙁

[@rickblevensjr8998]

I enjoyed it... really good!

[@Twobarpsi]

Ok, the journey starts! Going to watch all episodes!! 🍿🍿😎!

[@Twobarpsi]

Haha! Yes third time around!!

[@Twobarpsi]

4th time

[@grub32]

Sweet trip, I would love to hike this trail. Thanks for the awesome video!

[@dmw1983]

Been following your videos for a while now. Awesome to see this posted and inspiring to watch. Congrats!

[@SeekingLost]

Thank you so much! I hope everyone can take away a little inspiration from this. We are ALL capable of amazing things if you want it badly enough. Take the first step and believe in yourself!

[@DiscoverLifeMedia]

Always great posts from this channel!

[@richardabazley]

Loved it! I'm hiking this year and can't wait to be back in the desert. So different to where I live in Tasmania....

[@SeekingLost]

Woah very cool, there's always a good mix of international hikers but first from Tazmania I heard of. Best of luck to you this year!

[@Itz_a_prado78]

Another Documentary Hell Yeah!!!!

[@nobodyhikes]

haha awesome opening! Been waiting for this, thank you.

[@SeekingLost]

Thank you! I had a lot of time to think about what direction to go with the videos while hiking, and for some reason that Contra intro just seemed like a good fit :)

[@HappyTrailsHiking]

What an amazing landscape you traversed! Thanks for sharing this on the Hikers Network on FB. We day hike, but enjoyed watching this.

[@SeekingLost]

Thank you so much, glad you enjoyed it! Episodes 2 and 3 are now live too :)

[@Wanderlust073]

Wow, big commitment! Looking forward to the rest.

[@davidklemencz]

FCKIN GREAT!! That Contra style Intro is also Genius :)

[@SeekingLost]

Thanks man! Episode 7 has your Chronos track so look forward to that one :)

[@davidklemencz]

@@SeekingLost COOL

[@Titus1nine]

I love the intro! Keep the videos coming.

[@c0r0y]

cant wait to see more soon :)

[@SeekingLost]

Episode 4 just went live!

[@borderbounddirtbags7883]

looking forward to watching more! We also met Apple on the Colorado Trail in 2019! had a little "no way" moment. Super cool guy, trail angels are amazing.

[@SeekingLost]

So cool! I do remember him saying he travels around a bit putting on trail magic. I'm always blown away at the effort some of these folks go to in order to help us hikers. Looking forward for the opportunity to give back as a trail angel myself someday!

[@darrinronken9452]

Just wanted to say I’m really liking these vids - a different style than most, nice job man!

[@SeekingLost]

Thanks Darrin!

[@JoshuaLamothehike]

thank you for posting these. I look forward to seeing the rest of your journey. I don't know when my CDT thru will happen but I've got the itch to finish off my triple crown. For now I'll plan and live vicariously through others. Thanks again -Animal AT'10, PCT'16, CDT'__

[@SeekingLost]

Hey thanks Animal! Hope you find a way to finish up your triple crown soon. Your hikes are pretty well spaced out so I can imagine the severity of that itch by now haha. I'm feeling it already after just a few months!

[@flamingitaur]

I just binge watched your entire CDT series this weekend. It was truly inspiring. You did a great job capturing the moment during your journey. Thanks for sharing your experience!

[@SeekingLost]

It was a powerful experience for me, and if I can convey even some of that feeling and inspire others, that makes me feel good! Thanks so much for watching

[@camosilver]

Excellent work! Looking forward to the rest of the CDT series!

[@SpaceCaptnFace]

39..looking to quit work around 2023 to get started on the CDT. no big thru hike experience yet. have sectioned cdt and colorado trail a few days. looking to do the CT next year and upgrade from there. immediately subscribed from the intro.

[@SeekingLost]

That's awesome, you have a goal set and something to look forward to. You won't regret it!

[@jignumdigital3952]

Awesome

[@asuperstar]

Homemade Wanderlust sent me. Great videos Sir!.

[@SeekingLost]

Thanks, welcome aboard! I owe her one :)

[@TaoJones101]

Same here . . . Dixie pointed the way.@@SeekingLost

[@miyahosaka8361]

Thanks for posting on BCP too, or else I probably wouldn't have seen this. Very excited to watch your adventure and congrats on the life change! Glad you didn't get eaten the first night haha

[@SeekingLost]

Haha thanks Miya! I thought it was ironic that I heard that animal the first night... didn't have any other nighttime animal issues the rest of the trail!

[@YakoBako]

Binging every CDT series on KZbin to ease my pre trip anxiety. Love your series very well thought out and put together. Thanks for sharing! I only hope to produce high quality content like this on my thru hike.

[@SeekingLost]

Thanks Yako, I know what you mean about the pre-trip anxiety. And you picked a helluva year to do it. I am/was planning on hiking the GET in a few weeks, but playing it by ear now. Facebook pages for the GET, CDT and Hayduke all have some good info on what conditions are like in the area. Besides grocery stores being empty of all hiker food (that's what seems to go first as people stock up on these "less perishable" foods), motels are now closed in Moab, Triple Crown hostel in Silver City NM now closed, these small communities with limited services to begin with are closing up and not leaving hikers with many options... the logistics are becoming too much. Not impossible for the determined, but many of these town stops are going to be a real gamble for hikers. Best of luck to you on your hike and if you do make some videos of your CDT journey, I'd love to watch!

[@YakoBako]

Seeking Lost it’s crazy because the year kind of picked me. My original plans were set. I had mapped out an alternate route from my home in Texas to the Guadalupe mtns in west Texas. Then north through various ranges until I reached Colorado to link up with some old friends. This was my plan for a while but life kept hitting me harder and harder I ended up hearing about the CDT on KZbin so I immediately changed plans lmao. My main worry is feeding Natas properly if people buy up all the damn dog food too but I will def be prepared to live with the land as much as possible since my original plans included basically becoming a hermit 🤣😭 I am curious to see how in the next few months things change. It’s like my end of the world apocalypse fantasies of surviving on the run are coming true haha all this corona virus stuff is literally Timing up perfectly as a doorway out of the life I felt trapped in. I will for sure be vlogging as much as I can the trip so for sure lots of updates to come

[@SeekingLost]

Good point about the year picking you. I think it's that way for a lot of us, things just fall into place and you know when the time is right. Your initial plan sounds pretty cool! The CDT is great, but my favorite part was the 450 mile alternate route I created for Wyoming... so much adventure being off the CDT, not having Guthook with water reports, etc. This definitely has that once-in-a-lifetime feel to it. I just subbed you. Good luck man!

[@YakoBako]

Seeking Lost I see that for sure! And that’s great to hear because the trip is mainly for the adventure making it to the end of the trail is just a byproduct. Thanks man I highly appreciate it love watching your videos as well!

[@gibrigg]

I just finished watching your whole CDT hike series. Wanted to come back to the beginning and let anyone looking for a great CDT vlog that this is it! The videography and commentary is the best I've seen. My dream is to do this trail. Don't know if I will, but I sure enjoyed your journey!

[@SeekingLost]

Thank you for taking the time to come back to Ep 1 and share that! I hope the stars align for you and you can experience the CDT with your own eyes someday!

[@JMS407]

Had me on the intro.

[@20Hikecdt23]

Its a very beautiful section.

[@mountainsaunter2061]

I am looking forward to going on this adventure with you.

[@bearanoia673]

Those Jack rabbits are huge 😳😄

[@SeekingLost]

I swear, one was knee high!

[@coniferousforests8030]

oh man... I know it is a very hard work putting all these shootings together and editing but... if it was lets say a one 2 hours movie thatd be a smooth sailing compared to short episodes but Im just saying. )) thanks for sharing. truly inspiring. Hiking has no rational explanation, I guess noone really knows why they do it but I would suspect this is natural draw to nature, back to basics.

[@SeekingLost]

I know, I had intentions to do a 2 hour-ish movie, in addition to the episodes. I had so much footage that I couldn't condense it much more than I have without feeling like I'm leaving too much out, so the episodes were the way to go there. Plus, I figured future hikers would appreciate the extra detail. I still might do the movie someday

[@coniferousforests8030]

@@SeekingLost looking fwd to it ; ))

[@wanderlustfrost9938]

Great video! Thanks so much :) I’ll be setting off on my thru hike of the CDT in April and can’t wait! If anybody fancies following my journey I’ll be vlogging the whole hike on my channel! Happy trails all ☺️🙏🏻

[@SeekingLost]

Good luck on trail, give her my regards!

[@EmpireofBumpo]

man these videos are perfect. Quick to the point, not too much selfie footage of you talking but still plenty of info about the trail and nice wide shots showing you in the landscape. Nicely done! I hope to hike the CDT in 2021. Crazy unpredictable world right now though, had to get off the PCT this year due to COVID. I doubt they'll be water caching next year so that stretch to lordsburg seems rough. One question; you point out so many little stats that i dont hear on other CDT vlogs. Like hiking along the little hatchet range and how ranchers get the land leased to them by big gov. Where do you get all your info? just looking at google maps/guthooks?

[@SeekingLost]

Thanks Nate! You hit the nail on the head, that was pretty much my goal with this series. Bummer about your PCT experience. With the fires too, it was a hard year out there. Well good luck on the CDT next year! Even without the CDTC caches, you can get creative and make the first section work. I think there are a couple other people offering shuttle rides down to the border now, I would check with the CDT facebook group for current info. So the land administration aspect was a curious thing for me. Why does it seem like I am on a farm if it's public land? So I did some research. The BLM's website offers good info on how the whole process works. Believe it or not, it only costs a rancher $1.30 per head, per month (they call this "AUM", Animal Unit Month) for cattle or sheep graze on BLM land. I learned a lot more about all this over the summer in Nevada, along a 1000 mile route I created called the Basin and Range Trail(working on the videos right now). I even hiked with a rancher for 3 days! It's super interesting to see these surprisingly complex issues, from both sides.

[@Karen-dq8nw]

Looking for your start and end dates. I just watched the last two in this series - like eating dessert first! now for the rest.

[@SeekingLost]

Hi Karen, dates were April 21 - Oct 2, 2018. Hope you enjoy the series!

[@floesh-408]

Too bad I saw ep1-ep21 already, now I'm back here again ;-)

[@SeekingLost]

The Tetons are coming tomorrow :)

[@blackdogadventures7531]

your legs look like exercise induced vascularitis. Blood pours into lower extremity due to being on your feet and due to gravity it cant get out so it pools in the superficial blood vessels near the skin. Your socks provide compression to prevent it from happening below your sock line. Sometimes it can be itchy, sting and painful with red swollen bumps. Its not fun. Only thing that helps is elevating legs and getting ice or cold water on them. Sometimes cold or cool water like a river can help. too. Great videos, thanks for showing content and not the side of your head while you hike. too many videos where people just show themselves walking and not the environment they are in.

[@SeekingLost]

Hmm interesting, wasn't really sure what it could be so thanks for a hint. It went away after the first few days so it wasn't a long term thing, thankfully. Glad you like the video style. I wasn't sure if the format would be well received, since it seems everyone does the selfie stick thing as you mentioned. But I'm not a big fan of that style either, why not talk while the camera is filming some nice scenery instead?

[@seekingishwara737]

I loved Beavis and Butthead. Heading out there in 3 months!

[@SeekingLost]

BnB rules!! Good luck out there and enjoy your hike!

[@hentzthename]

Good stuff! How did you stabilize your camera?

[@SeekingLost]

With a steady hand :) Just kidding, I used an EVO gimbal and mini tripod/grip: • Evo SS Wearable Gimbal - amzn.to/2FmLlMp • iGadgitz Tripod and Grip Stabilizer - amzn.to/2SWaxNa

[@danmorton5713]

What software do you use at the beginning to show the trail with progress and the places you camped? That was a really nice add to your video!

[@SeekingLost]

The animated route maps were created using gis, then the campsites were overlaid over an mp4 using Adobe after effects

[@SeekingLost]

The first 3 episodes will be released together(Wednesday January 23rd 2019), with the remaining episodes to be posted on a daily or every other day basis. Subscribe to follow along as the videos are posted!

[@coniferousforests8030]

only 3 episodes for me, the 1st, the very last, and the great divide basin. I prefer to keep it for me unknown. I have only general idea scenery-wise, a few bits and pieces. The rest is just imagination. By the way... is it true that you have to be hyper alert street-wise entering and being around Lordsburg? Is there any other towns along cdt where you need a buddy to stay on the safe side?

[@SeekingLost]

See now I am am the opposite... I watched the 2.5 movie of Cookie & Paul's 2008 NOBO thru hike like 100 times over the last 7 years. There weren't many videos of the CDT back then in 2012 when I first heard of the CDT, but theirs was the best I found. Watching that video did not spoil a thing for me, in fact it did the opposite, it motivated and inspired me to do it myself! Oh, and if you aren't going to take the "Famous" CDT alternate (Off trail Wind River Range high route, Gros Ventre, Tetons), you can watch episode 20-23, as these are all off the official CDT. In fact, you might be inspired to do the Famous route instead ;) These 450 miles off the official CDT were the best days of my entire CDT hike. I haven't heard that about Lordsburg, but it does give that vibe when you're there. It's a small town though, and the walk from the Econolodge to the grocery store/dollar store/McDonalds is like 2 blocks. I wouldn't worry about Lordsburg. However, I've heard of hikers having things stolen in Albuquerque. I never saw a reason why hikers even go to Albuquerque though, unless they need gear from REI or something. The CDT goes through Grants and Cuba which ahve everything you need otherwise, so no need to even go to ABQ really. The walk into Grants kinda sucks on the Zuni canyon alt, goes through a bad part of town, I almost got mauled by a pack of pit bulls. Others have had that problem in that section. Otherwise, the rest of the CDT towns are pretty damn safe IMO.

[@coniferousforests8030]

@@SeekingLost Thank you for sharing your position on the watching trails before doing it for real. Yes it inspires.. for instance your episode in the great basin is a shining example. And even simple slow-going one-week hikes in national forests which I love binge-watching more than anything else inspire a lot.And yet, and yet Ill stand to my colours with avoiding scenery to keep me unprepared in this respect ;D I love following blogs instead, you know... just a few pic and text, it works better for me. It is like a delicious meal, I know it is there, it smells nice, it entices me, it must be delectable but I keep it from myself to make it even more tasty =DD By the way very helpful note on stray dogs and Grants and ABQ. It is all taken into consideration.//with relation to robbery/Larceny same heard from hikers of South Pass City WY. ;)

[@SeekingLost]

Kudos to you for staying true to your creed and not watching more. That's interesting about the reports out of South Pass City, I hadn't heard that. It's so small, that's not where I would expect to hear those things happening

[@davidgentry7746]

I’m trying to pay for your Patreon but it keeps telling me my card is declined with 2 different cards can you help?

[@SeekingLost]

Hi David, first off thanks for wanting to support me on Patreon, I truly appreciate your support! It probably wasn't working because I hadn't actually published it live yet. I was working on getting it up to par before launching it. I just finished up and published it, it should be live now here: www.patreon.com/seekinglost Really, i can't thank you enough for your support!

[@sharonthomas4856]

why dont you have camp fires?

[@SeekingLost]

It was a really dry year last year and both NM and CO were under fire bans there whole time. But even if they were allowed, fires are way too much work for a thru hiker to do more than occasionally. We're already hiking nearly every available hour of daylight, so after 10-14 hours of hiking, right up until dark, I'll make camp, eat, write in my journal, etc. A fire is just too much extra work, after I finish all my other nightly chores all I want is sleep. Anything extra that cuts into sleep time has to go! Haha. I think i had 3 or 4 fires on the CDT total, in WY and MT/ID. Don't get me wrong, I love to have a fire, but generally do so when it's a more leisurely hike, with friends, base camping, etc.

[@sharonthomas4856]

Yeah I get it. I like that you appreciate what you see and take the time to explore instead of focusing on doing 60 mile days and rush rush rush. Your videos were so good I stayed up late every night until I watched all of them. Felt like I was there. Bulllet

[@SeekingLost]

Oh absolutely! I did a lot more exploring in the beginning, when I felt less pressured for time. Glad you enjoyed bringing on the videos! That's what I generally do, find some good videos to watch and put them on the big screen before bed :)