A continent can have more than one divide. North America is home to between three and five divides; the number is uncertain because, as an example, there are no agreed upon boundaries to where the Atlantic Ocean ends and the Gulf of Mexico begins.

the Great Divide

Most of the divide runs along the crest of the Rocky Mountains, through British Columbia and along the British Columbia–Alberta border in Canada, and through the states of Montana, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico in the United States.

Most scientists believe that the Rocky Mountains formed due to two tectonic plates crashing into each other and creating shock waves, which eventually created the high peaks we see in the Western United States. Of course, this happens very slowly- it takes millions of years for a new mountain range to fully form.

Continental divides are found on every continent. For example, the Continental Divide of the Americas, or the Great Divide, runs through much of North and South America. It separates the water that runs toward the Pacific Ocean from the water that runs toward the Atlantic and Arctic Oceans and the Gulf of Mexico.

It’s all about how the world’s rivers flow Continental divides separate one drainage basin from another. They are used to define the direction that an area’s rivers flow and drain into the oceans and seas. The best-known continental divide is in North America and it runs along the Rocky and Andes mountain ranges.

14,278′

The Divide causes them to drop a great deal of their moisture on the west side allowing the now much drier air to descend the east slopes resulting in an arid landscape. From Helena north to the Canadian line, the Continental Divide has put its greatest mark on the weather.

A continental divide is seen as any natural (not man-man) boundary separating precipitation which in this case includes rivers, rainfall, snowfall, etc that flows into two oceans.

The Mississippi River System, also referred to as the Western Rivers, is a mostly riverine network of the United States which includes the Mississippi River and connecting waterways. The Mississippi River is the largest drainage basin in the United States.

The Continental Divide serves as a separating line for the water flow in the United States. Water from rain and snow falling on the west side of the mountain range flows into the Pacific Ocean while water on the east side flows into the Atlantic.

You can drive north on it or south, it’s completely up to you. Be fully prepared for any weather, though, because even in July, some of the higher passes through the Rockies could be clogged with snow, or inundated with vicious storms (hail, rain, and/or snow).

Absolutely beautiful views as you move up Pikes Peak…. view the Continental Divide from different spots as you make your way up the mountain. There was a foot of snow on the mountain and it was spectacular!

The most famous Continental Divide of the Americas is also called the Great Divide. It separates the watersheds of the Pacific Ocean from those of the Atlantic Ocean. It runs from Alaska, through western Canada along the crest of the Rocky Mountains to New Mexico.

This is considered a scenic adventure route and most riders take two weeks to travel the length. Many riders camp along the route while others choose from many hotel options. Self Guided American Adventure: The Great Continental Divide Route (GCDR) is designed to be a self-guided adventure.

For four to six months of walking, CDT thru-hikers have a laundry list of concerns that outpace those of many other long trails: grizzly bears, lightning storms, avalanche danger, unmarked or non-existent trails, long food and water carries, weeks at altitude, and raging snowmelt-filled river fords.

For those who decide to hike the Continental Divide Trail from North to South, then the best time to start is late April, generally finishing in September. If you start earlier, the risk is to encounter snow in in the San Juans of Colorado, if you end later, the same snow can hit you in Montana.

five states

There are relatively few deaths on PCT thru-hikes, considering the number of hikers, and the main causes of death are heat exhaustion, falls, and drowning due to either misadventure or bad luck. There have been 15 deaths on the PCT since 1983.

The Great Trail

The CDT is much more difficult logistically than the AT or the PCT. Resupply points are few and far between with at least 5 to 7 days or more between towns. Finding and paying for a shuttle is much more critical on the CDT. The CDT is a relatively dry trail with long sections between water sources in every state.

You should plan to complete the hike within 6 months, otherwise you’ll freeze to death (possibly literally) during the colder months. Most people over 10-20 miles a day, with a 16-mile-a-day average. Some days you’ll walk more; some days you won’t walk as much.

150 people

“Hiking the PCT is hard, sometimes very hard. But compared to the life off-trail, the life on the trail is easier. There are fewer concerns. You still have some, but they are very basic.

Can you camp anywhere on the PCT? The answer is: No, you cannot camp just anywhere you want on the trail. While the PCT might sometimes look like one big campground with plenty of flat spots, you cannot make any place you want your campsite.

As hard as it will be, it’s 100% worth it. The Pacific Crest Trail is notorious for having the lowest completion rate of any long distance trail, and you’ll see why when you’re on it. If you’re planning to hike the PCT, it takes commitment. Don’t give up on yourself too quickly when the going gets tough.

Is the PCT well signed and marked? The trail is generally well marked to the standard that it’s supposed to be signed to. This is a wilderness trail and signage is kept to a minimum. Signs should be present at all trail junctions and road crossings.

An advocacy group for the Pacific Crest Trail has urged hikers to stay off the path in the San Jacinto Mountains, calling the stretch “extremely dangerous” with steep snowconditions in the area where one hiker fell to his death and authorities had to make several rescues in the area in recent days.

Yes, there are still technically grizzly bears (also known as brown bears) on the PCT, your chances of coming across one are slim to none. This is in the area that encompasses the North Cascades, through which the Pacific Crest Trail travels for just 18 miles.

On average it costs about $6,000 to hike the PCT. That said, the cost of your hike can easily amount to several thousand dollars higher (a common scenario) or lower (if you’re disciplined and your hike is setback-free). Ask people how much they spent hiking the PCT and the answers vary.