Current base weight: ~8lbs (phone is worn weight, just to mess with y’all)

Location/temp range/specific trip description: CDT NOBO Late April/Early May or SOBO Mid/Late June 2025

I Sobo’d the CDT in 21 with a very similar setup. In 21, I hiked the Big Sky Alt, the Grand Teton, and the Gros Ventre range. This time I have a few different routes I want to take:

Montana/Idaho border

Grand Teton (again)

Gros Ventre (again)

Wind River High Route

Slowlans 14

In New Mexico, I am planning a couple of different options:

1) Incorporating the eastern part of the Northern New Mexico Loop from Cuba to Chama(or Chama to Cuba if SOBO)

Or

2) Incorporating the AZT and GET to start or end from Doc Campbell’s in the Gila Wilderness

Budget: I’m not trying to spend too much more, but I will if it makes sense. But probably no more than $2-300

Non-negotiable Items: Honestly, I like all of my gear listed, and don’t want to switch much. Pack and sleeping bag and clothes system are probably the biggest non-negotiables. Shelters could be switched around.

Solo or with another person?: Solo

Additional Information: This is an ambitious goal of mine, and I realize it is subject to change. But as of right now, that is my tentative route. My main questions aren’t so much focused on gear to lighten my load, but more so to make sure it is adequate. I have a few different options listed for shelter, sleep, and cooking, and the ones I am leaning towards are marked as quantity 1, and the others are marked as quantity 0.

I will be hitting the ground running and will be starting with high mileage days from the beginning. My original plan is to start NOBO in early May but I can also start in late April. I can also switch to SOBO and start in mid to late June. My main reasoning for the extension in New Mexico is not to want to get to Colorado too early and have to wait for snow to melt or to flip. I want to do the San Juans and not go low, but don’t want to deal with much snow.

I prefer to hike big miles and long days, my previous CDT trip took me 105 days, so I am experienced with pushing miles from the beginning of my hike. I will be spending the winter training for this as well as an ultramarathon I am running beforehand in mid-April.

Lighterpack Link: www.lighterpack.com/r/tgpxdo

Questions:

1) Will my gear be sufficient for the high routes?

2) Starting Nobo would the AZT-GET or the Northern New Mexico Loop addition make more sense?

3) Would SOBO give me a better weather window for some of the objectives?