Donovan Rice — Iceman — is an experienced thur hiker, who’s done the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and Continental Divide Trail (CDT).
Rice started thinking about a massive thru-hike loop of his state, Colorado. His idea was to stitch together existing trails and form new ones where necessary.
All 11 of Colorado’s national forests, three of its national parks, 13 14,000’ers and 47 13,000’ers.
Rice set off on his Great Colorado Route from Gunnison National Park on May 14, 2026. He traveled ultra-light, carrying just six kilos of gear, with just a quilt instead of a sleeping bag and a tarp rather than a tent. …
… he describes the route as “definitely not beginner-friendly” — due to plenty of cross-country terrain, off-trail navigation, and route-finding — it doesn’t require mountaineering skills.
Colorado Hiker Creates Ultimate Thru-Hike Across His Home State
Incredible thru-hike and an amazing display of endurance! Covering all those forest districts and 14,000’ers with such an ultra-light setup (six kilos!) is next-level. Coming from Nepal where we manage high-altitude expeditions over at Nepal Himalaya View Treks, I really appreciate the grit it takes to pull off a loop like this. Great work, Rick!”