Preparing for the Colorado Trail: A Project Management Approach to Adventure

I’m thrilled to announce that I’ll be hiking the Colorado Trail next summer, targeting August/September! This journey went from an idea to a discussion in April 2024. To then begin to plan for training, I’m eager to share the process with you.

The Colorado Trail is one of the most beautiful long-distance hikes in the country, stretching 485 miles from Denver to Durango. Preparing for such a journey requires more than just a love of hiking—it takes careful planning, strategy, and organization. As someone who thrives on project management in my professional and personal life, I’m approaching this adventure with the same tools and techniques I use daily.

Organization has been key, and I’ve been following tips from The Colorado Trail website and a helpful guidebook I’ve been reading: The Colorado Trail Guidebook. These resources have given me insights into fitness preparation and gear essentials. Preparing for a hike of this magnitude requires a solid training plan. I’ve been steadily working on my fitness, focusing on endurance, strength, and flexibility. Over the past several months, I’ve been hiking regularly and building up the miles.

Just like any big project, hiking the Colorado Trail can feel overwhelming when you look at it as a whole. That’s why I’m breaking it down into smaller, manageable sections, much like the sprints in an Agile methodology. There are 28 segments of the trail, each with its own challenges, from elevation gain to weather variations. I plan to tackle each segment step by step, assessing the elevation profile, potential campsites, and water sources. I’m also preparing for the mental aspect of the hike—long stretches of isolation, unpredictable weather, and physical fatigue.

While I love the thrill of adventure, I’m also tackling this as a personal project, and that’s where my project management skills come into play. I’ve been organizing my training schedule, tracking my progress using AllTrails, and setting up a dedicated workspace on Monday.com. This allows me to keep everything streamlined and organized, from my gear checklist to planning hikes with local communities.

There are, of course, challenges to overcome. One of my “good fears” is camping solo—being out in the wild and managing unpredictable weather and wildlife. But it’s all part of the adventure! I’ve hiked several trails to prepare for this, including Vail, Colorado; Bryce Canyon in Utah; and Waimea Canyon in Hawaii. Each trail offered its own challenges, from steep switchbacks to higher elevation gains.

This is not just a hike; it’s a personal project. Managing this adventure with both a sense of excitement and a clear strategy is essential, and I look forward to sharing my full planning process with you soon.
Have you ever embarked on an adventurous hike or solo trip? How did you plan for it, and what challenges did you face? I’d love to hear your story!