That’s a very good question. Fortunately the CDT Coalition provides excellent resources to help in planning this first part of the journey. The dates are determined by some key factors, heat and water in New mexico, and Cold and snow in Colorado. Taken from the trusted source of Halfwayanywhere’s survey:

Northbound
April 20
Average start date
M = April 20

Northbound
May 2
Average start date of hikers who said they would like to have started earlier

Northbound
April 19
Average start date of hikers who said they would like to have started later

I’ve broken the process into 4 steps. So far I have completed the plans for Steps 1, 2, and 3.

Step No. 1: Book a one way ticket from Seattle, WA to Tuscon, AZ. 

Complete: A PDF of the ticket is below.

Alaska Airlines Itinerary

Step 2: Get the public transit (Sun Tran) ticket from the airport to the Grayhound Bus Station

Complete: no reservation necessary

From Tucson International Airport to Tucson, 801 E 12th St, Tucson, AZ 85719

Walk from inside the airport to the Sun Tran island just outside; catch bus number 25/26 Downtown at 9:40 PM. Arrive at Euclid and 12th about 43 minutes later 10:43 PM. Walk .1 mile to the Gray Hound Bus Station

All Transit Rides Are Free

Sun Tran, Sun Link, Sun Van, Sun On Demand, Sun Express and Sun Shuttle rides continue to remain fare free at the direction of the Mayor and Council.

Step No. 3: Book a one way ticket on Greyhound Bus from Tuscon, AZ to Lordsburg, NM.

If I am getting to the bus station at about 10:45 PM (April 17th) It’s pretty late to get a hotel room.

I schedule the earliest bus to Lordsburg at 4:30 AM ( April 18th). My sister said that should be fine. She says it’s only about 5 hours and there are lots of interesting people to talk to at bus stations at night. 

Gray Hound Bus Itinerary

It’s nice they included a map!

Step 4: Schedule the ride on the Continental Divide Trail Coalition Shuttle from Lordsburg, NM to Crazy Cook, NM, the southern terminus of the Continental Divide Trail.

Not Complete (yet). But here are the details:

Located in a remote desert area on the border of Mexico and New Mexico, about 30 miles south of the town of Hachita, the southern terminus of the CDT (the “Crazy Cook” monument) is difficult to access. CDTC offers a shuttle service from Lordsburg, NM to Crazy Cook to assist hikers interested in traveling along the southernmost sections of the CDT.

Each seat on the shuttle includes:

* Ride from Lordsburg, NM to Crazy Cook (Southern Terminus)

* Water cache service

* One-year membership to CDTC, which can be used to receive discounts from select outdoor retailers & some businesses in CDT Gateway Communities.

* Completion Certificate (upon completing the entire CDT – International shipping not included)

* CDTC swag!

* Booking your shuttle with CDTC helps support local CDT communities

Pick up location:
207 Shakespeare St.
Lordsburg, NM 88045
Check-in no later than 6:15 AM the day of your reservation

I’ll have a day in Lordsville to mail resupply packets and hopefully meet some other hikers! Find a good place to spend the night, take a shower, get a good meal, on the morning of April 19th catch the shuttle to Crazy Cook terminus. It will be a short day hiking but that gets my first full day on the trail to be April 20th!