How Much Does a Thru-hike Cost? EXACTLY What I Spent on the CDT in 2022

[@janefreeman995]

I also realize it's more expensive as an older person because it takes longer, just slower. As a side note, older people also have to carry more food and water, so our packs are a little heavier. I was so hungry getting into town and found going to restaurants more expensive than anticipated :-) I'm also a big fan of private rooms.

[@eliseott]

My older friends on trail definitely treated themselves and I say if you have the means, why not? You deserve it.

[@PaulEgges]

I did the Colorado Trail as a 65 year old last year. I was fortunate enough to be able to split.a room a couple times. I don't think I carried more water or food, but I'm not sure of that. I did go stoveless which lowered my weight. I definitely splurged in town on food. I do agree that I was not fast, although I did better than I expected. The most miles I did in a day was 26 and my average on regular days was about 17. I also splurged on a hostel for one night when I only had 2 more days on the trail. But after doing that I was so HAPPY THAT I DID. I really needed it for the last push. I am going to do the Wind Rivers section of the CDT this summer. I have been in there a couple of times before so I am really looking forward to it. Especially, Knapsack Col. That looks challenging, but doable.

[@gregmortonoutdoors]

I'm 56 and I did the AT last year. Yes, I also appreciate having my own room versus a bunk house with 20 other people. Also, I found as we got farther North, more time was needed off trail to rest/attend to injuries. I believe your palette gets a little more refined with age, so McD's as your town food every time just doesn't cut it. A nice restaurant is a welcome sight on a zero. Out of the 20 or so people I hiked with (all different ages) no one spent less than $15k. I believe the AT is more expensive than other thru hikes because of the ability to get into towns and the amenities available there. Additionally, the North East has a high cost of living and the prices are much higher in New Hampshire than New Mexico.

[@nancytrekker]

4:40 Pre-Trail Total 5:05 New Mexico 8:18 Colorado 11:50 Wyoming 14:26 Idantana 17:56 Grand Total Cha-ching! It all adds up. 💶 Thanks for the info and congrats on your achievement 🥾

[@eliseott]

Thank you!!

[@desertbeauty29]

As a beginning backpacker who would like to do one of the big 3 next year, this was super helpful information!!! Thank you so much!!!!

[@eliseott]

yay! so glad it was helpful!

[@lenisteingen3036]

I really appreciate you taking the time to keep track of the numbers and sharing them.

[@janefreeman995]

Thanks, I'm hiking and traveling in Europe and didn't realise I could get World Nomad "catastrophic" insurance in the USA as a US citizen. I thought it was just for traveling outside of the country. I will be there for the summer doing outdoor things. I'm currently using WN as it's the best value for the best coverage, especially for the possibility of an airlift rescue.

[@eliseott]

oh nice! yes you can use it in the US you just have to be over 100 miles from your home address so it can be tricky depending where you're traveling. I'll have to look into WN.

[@zacharymckinney1225]

Thanks for the video! I've been planning for a CDT hike in 2023 and the breakdown/insight was super helpful! Looking forward to more CDT content!

[@eliseott]

yay! I'm so glad it was helpful and stoked for your 2023 hike!! There will definitely be more CDT content to come.

[@celiareed1402]

Great presentation. One thing I never understand about hiking costs is including the full amount of food. Even if you weren’t hiking, you would still be eating and going out to restaurants. So part of the expenses are duplicative. Anyway, thanks for your video!

[@eliseott]

Thank you! I see where you’re coming from. I know I include it in my budgeting because it’s money I’ll have to spend while unemployed and hiking, so I have to account for it when I’m saving for my hike.

[@celiareed1402]

@@eliseott Totally makes sense! Looking forward to the rest of your cdt videos! Thanks again.

[@janefreeman995]

It's surprising how much food one can pack away because you're so hungry.

[@redbeard5127]

I'm falling in love with your content! Great work, you are killing it!

[@eliseott]

wow thank you so much!! just started really taking it seriously and this means a lot.

[@mckenziecampbell1192]

Very thorough breakdown!! Thank you for all the work you put in to delivery all that info for us! 😊

[@eliseott]

you're so welcome, I enjoyed it!

[@stevenandrushko8380]

Awesome of you to do this breakdown. Very Important

[@malibusean9312]

Congrats on the hike and also on the video. It is super informative and broken down perfectly!

[@eliseott]

thank you so much! I debated over the formatting so I'm glad it worked well for ya :)

[@schmitzcj]

I read a few comments on the Appalachian Trial subreddit about costs. People have said it's getting pricey due to inflation. Your numbers seem to be inline with their costs per mile.

[@eliseott]

yes I definitely felt the squeeze of inflation this year as well. It seemed like every resupply was at least $60 whereas on the PCT that would have been a HUGE haul. Good to know I'm similar to others!

[@terryweaver9770]

Very educational. Ty for taking the time to break all that down for us. Really shines a light on some of the realities of thru hiking the CDT. Happy holidays to U as well. Cheers!

[@eliseott]

Thank you! I’m glad you found it helpful! Happy holidays to you too!

[@waynemoosman2127]

Thank you, Elise. I've been enjoying your videos which have helped me relive my own NOBO CDT in 2022. I didn't keep nearly as good records as you, but just eyeballing my American Express, I probably averaged about $2,500 per month on trail. I did start out solo. I'm a retired (older) hiker and so had the means to be able to splurge a little, and I also like hotels/motels for a little bit more privacy (as opposed to hostels); I often ate at some of the more expensive restaurants (without any guilt) within those towns. This doesn't mean I didn't occasionally share hotel rooms with my trail family when it was convenient. I mailed myself a total of two boxes (Pie Town & Lake City which got there too late and had to be forwarded to Salida), and otherwise just resupplied with whatever the town groceries had to offer. It was very doable. This was my first thru hike and I did extensive research before buying gear, and then tested most of it out to make certain I was going to be happy with it before I actually started the trail, so I had very little in the way of gear replacement. Part way through NM I did add a sleeping bag liner. I did take the entire month of August off (and then some) for a personal trip, but otherwise the CDT took me 140 days to complete (started on April 12 and finished on September 29). Per my own experience, I would say to anyone thinking about hiking the CDT to go for it--just thinking about all of the incredible people and adventures still puts a smile on my face. Can't wait to try another one. --mozey

[@eliseott]

Thanks so much for adding this insight! I added a liner as well - it got colder than expected! I wonder if we ever crossed paths, sounds like I might have been just behind you for awhile (I started April 15). I absolutely agree, the CDT is so worth the adventure. Hope to see you out on trail.

[@waynemoosman2127]

@@eliseott The liner was awesome in that it kept me warmer, kept my sleeping bag much cleaner, and was otherwise easy to wash. I thank the person that gave me that tip. I'm actually from NM so I hiked a couple sections of the CDT in March 2022 (trying to get in shape) and then skipped over those sections after my official start. Because of that, I was actually able to red-line it all the way through NM by the time NM closed the Forests. But then the snow was still too deep at Cumbres (it was deep the last part of NM too) so I headed up to WY and knocked out the Basin before returning to Cumbres. I saw where you mentioned Pilgrim (if it's the same Pilgrim from Canada, people sometimes mistook us for each other) in one of your videos, and I joined up with him just after starting back in the San Juans and hiked with him off and on all the way through CO to the Basin. I got off the trail at Island Park for a little over a month before joining up with my trail family again at the start of the Bob, then to Waterton Park, and then back to the Bob and solo SOBO back to Island Park. Looks to me like you guys were in Glacier the same time I was starting back SOBO from the Bob. Just a couple days after I finished, I picked Pilgrim and Burning Man up in Chama after they came back and finished NM, and drove them to Albuquerque. I'm pretty sure it was you guys he was talking about the events that happened at Waterton Lake. It can be a small world in the hiking community. --mozey

[@theselfhelpbookclub]

This was so informational! 🙏 Thank you for putting this together and breaking it down so thoroughly! Looking forward to more content!! 👏

[@eliseott]

THANK YOU

[@ervinslens]

Absolutely stunning upload, topic is fantastic! You elaborated everything so nicely here.😊♥️

[@eliseott]

thank you so much!!

[@carriehagstrom9777]

Thank you for the transparency! This is super helpful!

[@eliseott]

awesome! so glad it was helpful for you!

[@seameetsthesky]

thanks for all the transparency. this is a helpful video. how long did each section take to hike?

[@eliseott]

thank you for watching! I started april 15, finished september 21 (then went back to NM for that last 150 miles and completed that on september 30). New Mexico: April 15 - May 19 (not including the 150 miles of forest closures) Colorado: May 27 - July 11 Wyoming: July 11 - August 6 Idaho/Montana: August 6 - September 21

[@cecileberberat]

This was awesome! Thanks for the transparency and I wish you a wonderful next adventure :)

[@eliseott]

Thank you so much!!

[@backcountryemily]

THANK YOU SAUCE!!! Great video :)

[@eliseott]

Thank YOU for watching :)

[@rolandpinette9946]

Very well done, Elise. Thank you.

[@eliseott]

thank you!!

[@Jor0716]

Super helpful! Thanks thanks!

[@eliseott]

awesome! you are welcome!!

[@LordQuiche]

I got completely smashed by economic conditions coming over from the UK to the PCT this year. I had to ring home and borrow which I was very embarrassed about!

[@eliseott]

yes!! the inflation was a lot and I know my aussie friends were dismayed at the dollar conversions dropping quite a bit, I imagine it was similar for the UK. No thru-hiker gets through all by themselves - don't be ashamed!

[@DARTHDANSAN]

Thanks for break down also make sure you start investing . You are young and have time on your side . Research the stocks O JST PSEC and many others . Your future self will be grateful

[@eliseott]

Yes! I am super into financial independence (part of why I felt like it would be helpful to share my CDT spending). Long term investing is a must.

[@billprice6458]

Good vid. Thanks for the tips.

[@eliseott]

I’m glad you enjoyed!

[@bingbangboom892]

Nicely Done

[@eliseott]

thank you!

[@robertsanders8866]

Thank you 👍great vid as always!!

[@eliseott]

thank you! glad you enjoyed!

[@mattbubu3701]

Thank you Elise!

[@eliseott]

You’re welcome, thank you for watching!

[@wanttogo1958]

That was a very detailed summary. I appreciate the detail. Based on other estimates I've seen for thru-hike costs of the other Triple Crown trails, I think your costs are inline with those. Do you think having boxes mailed to you periodically would cut food costs any? I noted you sent yourself or had sent to you very few. I have noted that most successful thru-hikers discourage mailing yourself food boxes for a variety of reasons. Postage is so expensive now I wonder if any potential savings is lost through that cost.

[@eliseott]

Thank you! I'm glad you liked it. And it's nice to know I fall in line with other hikers. I sent myself boxes from towns while I was on the trail when I knew a town coming up wouldn't have a good resupply. There are definitely maybe 5 or so towns on the CDT where it's wise to send a box due to either the price of the resupply or the availability. I would probably agree with the majority and say I wouldn't send boxes beforehand. I did that on the PCT and ended up not wanting to eat a lot of the food I'd packed before I left. And you are tacking on about $20 for a flat rate box every time you send one (so yeah I think even if the resupply is pricey you would probably still come close to breaking even). So I'd say only send it to places you know you need it (unless you have dietary restrictions).

[@wanttogo1958]

@@eliseott thanks for the quick response. I'm looking forward to your upcoming vlogs covering the rest of your journey along the CDT. Happy New Year!

[@ASTHECROWFLIESHIKING]

It is expensive. Great video and channel. Well done. New follower here. Crow✌️

[@eliseott]

Yeah I think it's more than people realize BUT still cheaper for me than 6 months of living regularly. Thanks for being here :)

[@EllenLangfordPaints]

well done!

[@eliseott]

thanks!!

[@chrisc.3472]

Did you buy resupplies and send them ahead often?

[@eliseott]

only about 5 times on this trail, and I always just did it a town or two before

[@OneWeekGetAway]

How many days did this cover? Would be useful to understand the cost per day average (on trail - not including pre-trekking expenses)

[@eliseott]

Good question - I was on trail April 15-September 30. So around 165 days, comes out to about $48/day (scary when you consider a lot of days I spent no money, which just goes to show how much you spend in town 😂)

[@OneWeekGetAway]

@@eliseott Thanks for the quick response! So about 1500 a month - including all the splurges. Not bad at all

[@eliseott]

@@OneWeekGetAway yep! I often joke it’s less than what I spend at home 😂 but obviously not having income while you’re hiking makes it trickier to plan for.

[@scottkimber4829]

I enjoyed following you on Insta while your were hiking this summer! Did you use an app to track expenses and if so which one?

[@eliseott]

thank you!! and I should have (would have made the prep for this video a lot easier ha) but I just went back through my CC statements (I purposely only used one) and venmo. And then I kept a note of my cash transactions. That said, I've heard good things about Mint.

[@biomorphic]

How long did it take in total? To have a better understanding of the overall monthly cost.

[@eliseott]

I started April 15 and finished roughly September 30 (when you factor in filling in the section in New Mexico at the end)

[@themagicsquid4592]

How long did the PCT and CDT take you?

[@eliseott]

about 5 months each!

[@GB-Outdoors]

Hi, thanks for the great vid. Would you say these costs would be comparable with the PCT? Thanks

[@eliseott]

My guess is that they would be pretty similar! When I was looking at other videos I came across this one from a PCT couple that hiked this year; kzbin.info/www/bejne/homvcod5jpxlesU and their numbers on the PCT were similar to mine on the CDT.

[@GB-Outdoors]

@Elise Ott thanks for the link and thanks for the reply

[@backcountryemily]

I spent $6,200 (on trail expenses only) in 2018 - I think groceries are WAY more expensive right now though w inflation in CA, OR, and WA.

[@CarlosDangerTheThird]

40 year high Inflation sure doesn’t help

[@eliseott]

definitely not, I felt that impact with every grocery run haha