>>442744Each has its challenges, IMO.
With the AT you gain a lot more elevation but it's by far the most travelled and has less distance between resupply points. If you're hurt on the AT help is no more than a day away, if that.
The Continental Divide Trail is longer and the least traveled. It's unmarked in points. Longer distance between supply points. Help could be a long fucking way away. You MUST push for miles because you pretty much have to finish before winter in the dakotas.
PCT isn't as long and is getting more popular but there are long distances between water sources and you're dealing with more extreme biomes... Deserts, mountain ranges, forests, snow fields, all in one hike.
Were I to hike all three, I'd start out with the AT to get my endurance built up and have the social aspect for fun/to fall back on in an emergency. Then do the PCT to test being a 'loner' for some stretches and deal with extremes. Finally the CDT to put it all to the test.
The CDT really does seem like the final boss of the Triple Crown. I'm a Marine, have done a number of long distance hikes and multi day excursions, but I would NOT trust myself to head out onto the CDT for my first portion of the Crown.
The PCT is shorter
