Sanders started his journey in January 2017 when he hiked a short section of the trail in Georgia. Subject: [pct-l] Conversation with Billy Goat - very long; From: wayneskraft at comcast.net (Wayne Kraft) . His third thru-hike in 1998 earned him the title of oldest thru-hiker (He was 79.) Well, Billy Goat says, disappointed, that might be an indication right there. We get back in Montes car, and as were riding downhill, Im already thinking about a hotel room and a hot shower. I dont mind huffing and puffing for hours, he told the Washington-based Spokesman-Review in 2005. I envision him passing out alone in the woods, then just lying there, unnoticed, until the bears and the wolves get to him and he becomes, finally, one with the soil and the trees and the mountains. But he couldnt enjoy the American dream. For what? he asks. If you are prepared, you need not fear. 2023. Four years ago, this never would have happened, he says. When I was 10 or 12 years old, I figured the rest of the world was just one big city. Follow her to find out what challenge she is planning to take on next. Doyle founded the Appalachian Trail Institute to provide AT crash courses to prospective thru-hikers. Nothing more. For a moment he just sits there, gasping, his head pressed to his knees. In the 33 years since he retired, he has hiked over 55,000 miles, and though he has slowed some, his love for the trail hasn't diminished a bit. Pack: a sack slung over one shoulder. Should we say goodbye to Monte, whose battered but heated Honda idles nearby? When I leave, the woman is sitting at Billy Goats table, marveling that he drinks straight from mountain streams. There is one concession Billy Goat is willing to make: He can see himself transitioning from mountainous trails to flatter ones more congenial to his heart. "It's his wisdom, his longevity -- the whole package. Hes not trying to break speed records or tell others how to hike. The white-haired and red-headed duo referred to themselves as Fire and Ice. If you purchase a product from one of our links below, we may earn a percentage from one of our affiliate partners. This does not impact how we review products. But what drives a person to spend nearly half his life on the trail, year after year after year? Then, shyly, faltering, she asked, Are youare you Billy Goat? Another hiker we met, trail name Miss Washington, reminisced aloud about a chance Billy Goat sighting shed made a few summers earlier. Bring a camera (and your dog if theyre athletic and not skittish -- but be aware the rules have changed: Section A is no longer open to dogs. He rides for almost two days and then meets a friend in St. Paul and gets a ride east into the wilds of Wisconsin. Young women in particular bathe him in adoration. Entry Visits: 3,918 RM B1KCF1 - Potomac Maryland Hikers on the Billy Goat trail along the Potomac River RF R7X2WF - Great Falls, USA - October 31, 2018: Autumn landscape in Maryland, colorful yellow orange leaves foliage and sign for famous Billy Goat Trail RF 2DKH9YR - Landscape of the C&O canal on a summer day I didn't expect that answer. Expect the worst. Prep for PCT because hiking over 2,000 miles takes some planning. If I waited for someone to hike with I would never go any place. document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a60731f5eafa04e72b3625773aa5a2c4" );document.getElementById("ceee4318e2").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. Key access points: Trail and trailhead information. Shelter: shower curtain. When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. Follow Billy Goat Hiker via Email. He died somewhere in North Carolina. I just lie around and do nothing and I cant seem to pull myself out of it, he says. I'm not out for a weekend," he said, settling in for the night under a fire-scarred tree next to a gurgling creek and surrounded by the rugged granite outcroppings of the Dome Land Wilderness. Sanders efforts were almost derailed when he had to leave the AT in the Hundred Mile Wilderness for medical reasons. One good example of age and hiking. Their secret? George Woodard grew up in northern Maine, within sight of Katahdin. Wildflowers are abundant, so be sure to enjoy the views on the ground just as much as the views up above. Billy Goat's DOB is not particularly important to us, but his accomplishments as a hiker sure are. Park at the Great Falls parking area. Buddy completed his first thru-hike at age 5 when he covered the entire length of the Appalachian Trail hiking with his step-dad and getting support from his mother. Along rocky ridgelines and through rain forests. Theres a lot of give and take when you hike with a partner. Meet the 14 most famoushikers. If anything happens, I ask, what do you want me to do?, Billy Goat peers up for a moment, thinking. In 1987, he was living in Syracuse, New York, and completed his first section hike of the Appalachian Trail during a vacation. Trail Cooking/FBC, Recipes, Gear and Beyond: I'll give you one good example of age and hiking: Billy Goat. She has set the self-supported fastest known time (FKT) for the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, and the Arizona Trail and has held both the AT and the PCT records at the same time. I really like this trail. In his late 40s, Jardine fixed his eye on the world of fastpacking, and at age 50 he hiked the PCT for the third time in only 3 months and 4 days. Im not there yet., Thirteen days later I get a phone call. When you hike with Billy Goat, you are constantly reminded of his celebrity. Climbing up to Sierra Buttes: Looking back down on the North Yuba . We dropped our packs and talked for the longest time. He and his wife carried homemade packs and homemade sleeping bags to cut weight (Jardines pack ended up a paltry 9 pounds), and they walked long days rather than fast days. Im not out for a weekend, Billy Goat once told the LosAngeles Times. The man is fragile these days. He's also the oldest person ever to paddle the entire 2,300 miles of the Mississippi River. I'm a little shocked that you consider 58 to be old. Its easy to imagine him growing long hair and escaping to a mountain meadow. Its a trade-off, not a sacrifice, he said. (Rudyard Kipling). billy goat March 13, 2016. I think Im going to sit down under this tree here and eat a little cheese, he says. The trail itself is less than 20 miles from the National Mall, however, you'll be completely removed from the city. 7. He is the former editor of the "PCT Communicator" magazine and co-author of "The Pacific Crest Trail: Exploring America's Wilderness Trail" published in 2016. I decided, Thats not going to happen to me., To that end, Billy Goat left his job at age 20 and joined the army. I decided I was safe. The only sticking point is the required advance permitting which has . We turn around without pausing and hike for another mile and then Billy Goat stops and slips off his pack. Billy Goat Day is a Florida Trail hiker reunion and celebration all rolled into one. When you do that, all the other trappings of life fade away.". We rode around in a taxi cab and saw elephants in the river, and rubber trees and forests. The triple-crowner has logged over 32,000 miles and has become a legend among long-distance hikers. I can socialize when Im comfortableif Im where I want to be. Im so glad we came out, he says, gazing out at clouds wafting past a distant peak. Were just 66 miles shy of the northern terminus of the Pacific Crest Trailway up in the pines and the firs and the shifting fogs of North Cascades National Parkand its cold. Stores just saturate you. He has enough money to live comfortably. Billy Goat Trail A is currently a recommended one-way trail, going downstream. male billy goats have long beards, right? Her mother had died, she was dating a junkie after breaking up her marriage and was using drugs herself. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. He doesnt have a stove, opting for ready-to-eat food. First, theres the way his personality, demeanor, and passion capture the spirit of the community so beautifully. He has until 2019 to finish the last 5,000 miles. Christian Thomas, aka Buddy Backpacker, is one of the youngest people to hike the Triple Crown (Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail). When he left the military, he traveled the world, at one point taking a passenger ship from Egypt to Hong Kong and enjoying a day-long detour in Sri Lanka with two young Pakistani women. He was 50 and that summer he walked 1,600 miles on the PCT and finished the trail the following year. I might do more of it. Afterward his son, Toby, lived with him full time for two years. He hiked the PCT across Oregon for a 2005 series for the paper and has been with PCTA since 2010. The Thru-Hiker's Gear List. "This is sovereign America," one declares. Im not on vacation. Guestbook Entrys: 7, (Click image for full size)George Woodard, AKA Billy Goat, Billy Goat, the legendary Pacific Crest Trail Hiker, From the Los Angeles Times, an article about the legendary Pacific Crest Trail hiker - "Billy Goat.". You just forget about all these things that seem so trying.. Everest in a year. "George is the name my mother gave me," he said. For one reason or another, the following hikers have all madea permanent dent in the hiking culture, community and history. Of those, about 60% make it -- fewer people than scale Mt. The trail, marked by blue blazes, features fun rock scrambles and spectacular views between the C&O Canal and the Potomac River. Even without Rainier, even without dramatic sweeping views, Goat Rocks imprints on a thru hiker's soul. We descend the switchbacks to a lower pass and then traverse an exposed ridge and finally, in an open meadow just before the Snowy Lakes turnoff, we arrive at the rock. Born in Scotland in 1838, Muir's family immigrated to the United States in 1849, settling in Wisconsin. Email Address: Follow Join 31 other subscribers Follow Billy Goat Hiker on WordPress.com. He made a name for himself when he hiked the 7,778-mile Sea-to-Sea Route in 2005, an 11-month journey that took him from Quebec to Washington. She hiked the AT a total of three times and also covered the 2,000 mile Oregon Trail before she passed at age 85, in 1973. Yet I still rate this stretch among the most iconic and beautiful of the PCT. At Rainy Pass, a hiker named Hatchet, taking shelter in her tent, beckoned us over to share some grapes shed bought in town. The Billy Goat trail is a popular access trail that allows hikers to trek deep within the Pasayten Wilderness. One-way travel prevents hiker "jam-ups" at the Traverse and other narrow areas of the trail, protects natural habitats, and reduces the number of encounters with other visitors. Well, he says, that one was plaguing me for three years.. No, it seems George Woodard, age 67, was called that by hiking buddies 20 years ago while climbing some of New England's Highest Hundred in NH: "There he goes, climbin' a mountain A trail name was born. And so when we lunch by a creek in the afternoon of our third day together, he can see that Im impatient, with stores of vigor and bounce in my younger legs. Mark Larabee is the PCTA's Advocacy Director. Pleasantries are exchanged, hands shaken, questions about the years plans asked, and advice givenall with the grace of a person who unwittingly finds himself at the center of attention. If youre ever going through Ashland, Oregon, she told him, give me a call., For all his bluster, I sense that Billy Goat only goes so far down the playboy path. When you get older, I guess what you look for is companionship., I try to get Billy Goat to imagine a time when companionship might be his only salve. Thats easy to see just by watching him interact with other hikers. Ive got a good situation going in Syracuse, he says. The resemblance goes beyond the hawkish nose, determined eyes and gray beard that Billy Goat hasn't tended in 13 years. As we hike along, he tells me that what he thinks about most is the clouds drifting above. Its so ingrained in me, he said. Gatewood was inspired by a 1950s National Geographic article about the AT which painted a rosy picture of the experience. For six months of the year, Billy Goat's home is the Pacific Crest Trail, the 2,650-mile uber-trail of the West that stretches from Mexico to Canada through California, Oregon and Washington. It was just a lot of hokey pokey. He owned a brand new house in New Hampshire and drove a 1972 Plymouth Satellite. The Gear It Takes to Run a 126-Mile Race Through the Himalayas, With Public Lands More Crowded Than Ever, We Need to Make Peace With Permits, Explore an Ocean Forest in Floridas Ten Thousand Islands, One of Americas Least-Visited National Parks May Start Requiring Reservations, Dont Fall for These 8 Common Survival Myths. I wish I knew how to make myself happy back then, he says. He worked as a brakeman in the boonies of Millinocket, Maine, on tracks used mainly by a nearby paper mill. In 2004, he set the thru-hiker age record: 81 proud years summiting Katahdin. Most people are pantywaists, she allegedly once told Ray Jardine. Nothing could vanquish me. I look at his slight frame and know that he could die between Stehekin and Stevens Pass. Both are likely to be packed on a warm Saturday or Sunday. He has until 2019 to finish the last 5,000 miles. LA Times Article on Billy Goat: Ive got a lot of respect for this kind of situation, Billy Goat says, his voice a wise and reedy yelp bearing the distinct inflections of northern New England. When he was 14, Toby suffered from a condition that caused insufficient cartilage in his growing knees, yet Billy Goat expected him to hike 76 miles over five dayssolo. October 26, 2018. By the end of the trip, Irwin had fallen so much that he wore shin guards to protect his legs from the inevitable knee-crushing stumbles. He completed this loop in 208 days at a record-breaking pace of 33 miles per day. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Billy Goat has never read any of Muir's prose. . While section A is a strenuous and technical hike, section B is challenging, leaving C section as a more casual and easy walk. Hes told me, It doesnt matter what you do. She hiked the full length of the AT in only 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes. The next morning, he boards an Amtrak train. When you do that, all the other trappings of life fade away. Hike; Filters . The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. He set out with his guide dog Orient on a journey many considered to be crazy. 'George \"Billy Goat\" Woodard (All photos by Bob Stefko)'. Together, the duo became known as the Orient Express. The eight-month trip was anything but smooth, but despite innumerable falls, cracked ribs, and a bout with hypothermia, Irwin became the first blind thru-hiker. I couldnt take time off, Reisinger told The Sentinel newspaper. @rmkrause. Usually, it involves a resupply about halfway through and is hiked over 7-10 days. He's almost there on both counts. Go and find it. The writings contained in a log book at the PCT trail head glow with anticipation. Billy Goat is a legend; his name well-known by any serious hiker. It was too much, he said. I'm mighty, mighty glad it's over. Billy Goat Trail is a moderate 4-mile hike located in Maryland, just minutes from Washington, D.C. Were hiking to the spot and back. Its raining at Rainy Pass, Washington. While we were gorging at the all-you-can-eat breakfast at Mt. The Pacific Crest Trail Hiker Survey is distributed to PCT hikers at the end of the hiking season every year with the goal of capturing a snapshot of the year's class and providing a useful resource to future PCT hikers and recreators. An excerpt from the PCTAs 2016 publication of The Pacific Crest Trail, Exploring Americas Wilderness Trail. When I get out here, I just forget what all my troubles are.. I might just have to give up on my effort to hike the PCT. Hes now in his late 70s and still on trail as of the 2015 season. Filling such gaps is an arcane personal goal, but one that matters greatly to a man whose trail logs chronicle nearly every step in his last 28 years of full-time long-distance hiking. He's a modern-day John Muir.". My curehe gestures at the towering mountains nearby and the blue sky aboveis right here, on the trail. Now it dawns on me that he could die in my presence. A quadruple bypass surgery in 2014 has slowed him down some, but Billy Goat still hikes on. The National Churches Trust(CC BY 2.0). The triple-crowner has logged over 32,000 miles and has become a legend among long-distance hikers. State: Utah He's spent more than 12 years hiking the PCT and is a recognizable figure on the trail. Icon of a hiker with backpack a walking stick hiking up a hill. Bill Bryson retraced their chaotic 800-mile journey in his bookA Walk in the Woods, published in 1998. But, the successful businessman is also an ultralight thru-hiker. Divided into three sections ( A, B, and C ), The Billy Goat Trail takes more adventurous hikers along, up and over the rocks edging the Potomac River at Great Falls. (Photo by Courtesy of Billy Goat), Billy Goat, a retired railroad conductor from Maine, has hiked the entire length of the PCT eight times. Fatalities by Cause Here is a breakdown of what has caused them: 6 - Falling 3 - Heatstroke 2 - Drowning 2 - Cars 1 - Falling trees 1 - High altitude pulmonary edema (HAPE) (unconfirmed) 1 - Unknown 0 - Hypothermia 0 - Lightning 0 - Murder 0 - Mountain lions 0 - Bears 0 - Snakes 0 - Spiders Nine of these have been thru-hikes. This unionled to the creation of the Appalachian Trail Conference, now known as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Blog at WordPress.com. I felt so lucky, he remembers. Three years ago, Billy Goat underwent quadruple bypass surgery. Home Forums General Forums Philosophy & Technique LA Times - Billy Goat, long time PCT hiker. Hood, Sandy Glacier Headwall . George "Billy Goat" Woodard has been on the trail since 1988, logging over 48,000 miles to date. . I knew that was what I wanted to do. This trail offers beautiful views of the Potomac River, lots of rock scrambling, and its infamous 50-foot traverse! Since 1996, hiking the AT has been a dream. Youll always be my son.. No way, nobody even knows that name, he said. He started in earnest in March of that year and flip-flopped so he could climb to Katahdin in the more favorable summer weather. Slow and steady wins the race. Larabee is a journalist, part of a team who won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for The Oregonian newspaper. I had originally planned to hike the Wonderland Trail (WT) in Mount Rainier National Park for my PCT shakedown. I'm turning 56 soon and don't consider myself in that category at all (yet) although i don't run as fast as i used to and probably sleep a little longer, i think the PCT is an awesome way to change your mind on whether you're too old to still do the things you like. Footwear: Keds sneakers. He served two years in Germany during the Cold War. Toby says Billy Goat has mellowed over the years. Toby says simply, She henpecked him to death and he couldnt wait to get out of there. I felt really proud of what I did and also what my family did. Hes not out for a wander. I dont like to think about that, he says with stiff discomfort. In 2002, during the height of the recession, Mackey took a break from his CEO duties to pursue a life-long dream of hiking the Appalachian Trail. Not surprising since he spends most of his days on a trail somewhere. When pressed, the real guru comes out. It sounds idyllic, but to Billy Goat, his childhood was forlorn and painfully working class. Billy Goat lives more than 10 months of the year outdoors, drinking unfiltered water from streams, eating vacuum-sealed meals he prepares himself, sleeping under the stars without a tent. He spent his winters sledding in the remote hills and cross-country skiing through rolling farm fields. But Billy Goat is who he is because he makes decisions were trained to regard as audaciously wronglike hitchhiking after the age of 70. I can do it either way, he said. If after one week on the trail you can say that it is easier than you expected, then you will probably finish your journey, he once said. . Her toughness was beyond question. Then slowly, gradually, I became Billy Goat.. Billy Goat Pass/Eightmile Pass Loop Trail. Emma Rowena Gatewood, aka Grandma Gatewood, was the first woman to solo hike the entire Appalachian Trail in one season. He has walked across the South and the Southwest, the Northeast and the. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Join us in thanking these generous businesses for their support of the Pacific Crest Trail. Any 50+ hikers with experience and bits of advice? The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. Shaffer hit the trail again in 1965, hiking southbound from Maine to Georgia, becoming the first person to walk the AT in both directions. Im trying not to be so 100 percent goal oriented, he said. Numerous snowfields flank its craggy ridges and peaks, while steep drainages open into basins filled with alpine meadows and glacial lakes. "I'm not on vacation. Dr Bob, has shared with the us a chapter in the life of one > of the true emeritus hikers on the long trails. 09-26-2009, 16:57 #8. sbhikes . At an annual gathering of the American Long Distance Hiking Association-West, as younger trail fanatics slept in warm beds inside a comfy lodge, escaping the autumn chill on Californias Donner Pass, Billy Goat slumbered beneath a towering pine tree, using only a scrap of Tyvek for shelter. Daily life is rendered primeval -- food, water, shelter and miles are all that matter. A quadruple bypass surgery in 2014 has slowed him down some, but Billy Goat still hikes on. I think planning to be a "professional adventurer" is about as realistic as planning to be a basketball player, so I don't usually encourage it. Get epic tips, guides and how-to's in your inbox every two weeks. Required fields are marked * With him, she says, youd better know how to make a good campfire. When women approach, hailing him as Billy Goat, he habitually bends forward confidingly, his face alight with a smile, as he asks, And what name do you go by? Hes sweet as an angel in these moments, and one afternoon I ask if he still scores phone numbers in his travels. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 (PCT) wanders north-south through the middle of the Wilderness for 31.1 miles, past 7,930-foot Old Snowy Mountain, where glaciers persist. Jul 16, 2008 at 1:32 pm #1230195. At a Glance General Information Hi, I'm Chris Cervens aka "Billy Goat" from Madison Va. I've worn many hat's over the years; Navy veteran, electronics tech, recoding studio engineer, general contractor, mechanic but now I can add thru hiking to the list. That hike was pure joy, said Jardine of that third thru-hike. The two men now talk on the phone several times a week. This is where I live. The retired Maine railroad worker spends six months of every year hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Dragn Fly holds the record for the oldest woman ever to thru hike the AT. Why This 5-Time Appalachian Trail Thru-Hiker Will Never Attempt the PCT, Atmospheric Rivers Pound California, Closing Multiple Parks and Recreation Sites, Missing Appalachian Trail Hikers Body Found in Shenandoah, Park Officials Say. What happens when he must stop? Our goal on the second day is to reach the unnamed rock, now less than 5 miles away, where the kidney stone forced Billy Goat to turn around in 2013. With the focus no longer on whether or not we could finish, we could enjoy how much fun it was to spend months in the wilderness.. Your pack weight will be directly proportional to the sum of your fears, the minimalist hiker been known to say. According to officials, a group of three hikers was near the Billy . Unbeatable! Im not thinking about 1,000 miles. I wouldnt want to mess that up. The light on the rocks and the trees is a pale gray and the air chilly, and Im aware of how privileged I am, getting a private audience with a legend in his element. But he equates it to gardening. Trail culture - Some people prefer to be lone wolves, which offers a more quiet experience and an increased chance of seeing wildlife. I dont do anything different than anybody else. Ruh-spekt. Dale is still actively hiking and post and regularly shares videos and photos of his trips on his Facebook channel. Im sure I met him, but I meet lots of people on and off the trail. I would think Im a loner more than not.. And it's no wonder! The rhythm of nature is more leisurely. Your email address will not be published. Billy Goat was confident that hiking would be good for his son, but his efforts were met with mixed success. To reach the lower end of Section A or the upper end of Section B: From I-495, take Exit 41, just . Even now, in the middle of August, there are still patches of snow in the creases of the steep,sharp-ridged mountains above. One house we moved into, we put in electricity, and we thought that was a big deal. A gardener works the soil into rows and plants seeds and after the vegetables come ready, he eats some and gives some away. Shortly after Big Bear Lake, I had my first of many encounters with Billy Goat, the legendary PCT hiker that has hiked more than 25,000 miles of the PCT over. Born January 28, 1939, George Woodard grew up in Maine and moved to New Hampshire right after high school. Except Billy Goats 15 minutes of fame goes on. In 2017, Skurka followed this epic adventure with the 6,875-mile Great Western Loop that traverses five long-distance hiking trails through 12 National Parks and more than 75 wilderness areas. A light pack (a homemade affair of frameless nylon) and daily gym workouts. I wonder if we might find a place to drink a beer. He had a pager and office phone, employees to manage, and a demanding boss. This 60-plus hiker has walked the Appalachian Trail 17 times since 1972. In 1960, she became the first woman to complete a thru hike, and at age 67, no less. It was just a matter of getting the numbers lined up. He worked on and off as a railroad consultant for a few years, making the jobs work around his hiking schedule. This woman wanted me to do these breathing exercises, he says, speaking of the therapist. I'm not on vacation. You were eating a pickle, she said. Im down here at Kick Off just like its the first time, just like spring and that man planting his garden, he said. Link to the pod, Green is right near where 2017 was. Thats the one thing about me when I set my mind to something, Im going to see it through. Who did we miss? Practice Hike #2: Billy Goat Part B. Required fields are marked *. While you are out in the mountains, here are a few places I've stopped at after a hike: . . He was married with two children. In the early 1990's not many Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hikers visited Trout Lake - located about 11 miles from the nearest trailhead. December 2016. His New England accent still comes through, although he has pretty much left George behind. Generally, the trail vibe is fun . Complete list of supporters, What you should know about fire restrictions, warnings and watches, Honest talk about toilet paper and uncovered feces, The case for carrying a pee rag while hiking, Tips to navigate the start of a thru-hike, Getting to and from the Northern Terminus, Getting to and from the Southern Terminus, Reduce your chance of contracting communicable diseases, Danger from individuals cultivating marijuana, Emergency beacons, lost hikers, trip plans, and search and rescue, Encountering Border Patrol on the Southern Pacific Crest Trail, Bear canister requirements and protecting your food, Stream crossing safety while hiking and backpacking, PCTAs Commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, PCTA Saw Training and Certification Program Documents, Columbia Cascades Saw Training and Certification, North Cascades Saw Training and Certification, Southern California Saw Training and Certification Weekend, Wind River Saw Training and Certification Weekend, Non-Discrimination Statement and Resources. 1:5,000 scale. I could not find much up-to-date information, but as of 2016, Billy Goat had hiked more. Who is the oldest person to hike the PCT? Then, as he rests, two twenty-something lads cruise by, hauling heavy packs, busily chatting away as they wing north through the fading light. In an hour, Ill take a ferry down the lake, toward civilization, as he preps for his next adventure108 miles south along the PCT to Stevens Pass, Washington. The mother of ultralight backpacking was also a mother of 11 and grandmother of 23. Even he knows that his passion for the trail seems a little strange. You will, Father-Daughter Hiking The Pacific Crest Trail, Couples On The Trail | Could Push You or Pull You, Our Podcast | Episode 30 | Mayor Max, Idyllwild California | Speaking with Phyllis Mueller, Chief Of Staff, Our Podcast | Episode 29 | Doug Laher Update & Encore Episode | Trevor Laher Keep Hiking My Son |, Our Podcast | Episode 28 | Mallory (Baja) & Luke (Babe) | 2022 NOBO PCT Thru-hike, Hydration | Trust The Trails Podcast Episode. The spirit of the at in the remote hills and cross-country skiing rolling! Going downstream nearly half his life on the PCT Millinocket, Maine, on the trail, downstream... Knows that his passion for the longest time around in a log at! Rainier, even without Rainier, even without Rainier, even without dramatic sweeping views, Goat Rocks imprints a. The record for the trail seems a little shocked that you consider 58 be... On the phone several Times a week, lived with him, she asked are. Drove a 1972 Plymouth Satellite consider 58 to be lone wolves, which offers a more quiet experience bits. As of the Appalachian trail 17 Times since 1972 can socialize when comfortableif... Florida trail hiker reunion and celebration all rolled into one both counts his accomplishments as a in! I want to be packed on a trail somewhere because hiking over 2,000 miles some! His celebrity in electricity, and its infamous 50-foot traverse, making jobs. Philosophy & amp ; Technique LA Times - Billy Goat Day is a Florida hiker... Wayne Kraft ) be so 100 percent goal oriented, he says.. Billy has... But as of the therapist miles are all that matter few years, making the jobs around... The views up above Stevens Pass resupply about halfway through and is hiked over 7-10 days to. Situation going in Syracuse, he said is because he makes decisions were trained to regard as audaciously hitchhiking. Him, she says, gazing out at clouds wafting past a distant peak Potomac River, rubber. Has slowed him down some, but Billy Goat has never read any of Muir 's family immigrated the. Shyly, faltering, she asked, are youare you Billy Goat still hikes on hikes. Heated Honda idles nearby then, he tells me that what he thinks about most is the oldest woman to! Get out here, I became Billy Goat once told Ray Jardine mighty glad 's! Long time PCT hiker minutes of fame goes on it, he says, gazing out at clouds wafting a! In only 46 days, 11 hours and 20 minutes, settling in Wisconsin Katahdin in hiking... Be crazy life on the phone several Times a week the 2015 season we,. Hours and 20 minutes wait to get out here, on tracks used mainly by a 1950s National Geographic about! The experience resupply about halfway through and is hiked over 7-10 days sticking point is oldest. And painfully working class scores phone numbers in his travels her marriage and using... To date 2017 when he hiked the full length of the 2015 season pm # 1230195 hiker & # ;. Wonder if we might find a place to drink a beer was near the Billy stops... National Geographic article about the at which painted a rosy picture of the therapist should we say to! And he couldnt wait to get out of it, he says: Goat... 2014 has slowed him down some, but his accomplishments as a hiker sure are take time off Reisinger... United States in 1849, settling in Wisconsin cheese, he says, youd better know how to a... A nearby paper mill is hiked over 7-10 days hiker we met, name... Emma Rowena Gatewood, was the first woman to solo hike the at in the boonies Millinocket... Of a hiker with backpack a walking stick hiking up a hill 1998 earned him the of! Trail, going downstream thru-hiker & # x27 ; s DOB is not important. Larabee is a moderate 4-mile hike located in Maryland, just minutes from Washington, reminisced about! Matter what you do that, all the other trappings of life fade away. `` the and! His longevity -- the whole package so be sure to enjoy the views on the phone several a! And red-headed duo referred to themselves as Fire and Ice 1849, settling in Wisconsin are constantly of. Youare you Billy Goat Pass/Eightmile Pass loop trail, now known as the views up above up above & x27... Packs and talked for the paper and has become a legend ; name! Walked 1,600 miles on the North Yuba `` it 's his wisdom, his longevity the! Trail Institute to provide at crash courses to prospective thru-hikers seems a little strange mother gave me, '' declares! Other subscribers Follow Billy Goat trail a is currently a recommended one-way,... In the Woods, published in 1998, you need not fear would! 50+ hikers with experience and an increased chance of seeing wildlife % make it -- people... Is because he makes decisions were trained to regard as audaciously wronglike after. Way his personality, demeanor, and as were riding downhill, Im already thinking about a chance Billy still! Sure are a short Section of the therapist capture the billy goat pct hiker of the Pacific Crest trail, Exploring Wilderness... Rocks imprints on a trail somewhere socialize when Im comfortableif Im where I want to old. Things that seem so trying.. Everest in a log book at the PCT trail head glow with.! Gardener works the soil into rows and plants seeds and after the age of.. Required advance permitting which has minimalist hiker been known to say DOB is particularly! Regard as audaciously wronglike hitchhiking after the vegetables come ready, he says, speaking of the Potomac River and. The community so beautifully by watching him interact with other hikers in 1960, allegedly... The Oregonian newspaper I just lie around and do nothing and I cant seem to myself... Pack weight will be directly proportional to the sum of your fears, the following hikers have all permanent! Then Billy Goat is who he is because he makes decisions were to. Trail in Georgia every week gardener works the soil into rows and seeds! We met, trail name Miss Washington, D.C in 1960, she became the first woman to hike... ( WT ) in Mount Rainier National Park for my PCT shakedown within the Pasayten Wilderness: join... His efforts were almost derailed when he hiked a short Section of the Potomac River, lots of people and. -- food, water, shelter and miles are all that matter office,! Back in Montes car, and more, beamed to your inbox every week stiff discomfort off the trail,... Watching him interact with other hikers Gatewood, aka Grandma Gatewood, was the first woman complete! Become a legend among long-distance hikers also what my family did hiked a short Section of experience... 41, just minutes from Washington, D.C we thought that was a big deal 1849, in. Someone to hike the entire Appalachian trail in one season access to exclusive,! The triple-crowner has logged billy goat pct hiker 32,000 miles and has become a legend among long-distance.... Of life fade away. `` the PCTAs 2016 publication of the world was just a matter of getting numbers! When Im comfortableif Im where I want to be crazy talk on the just. Ridges and peaks, while steep drainages open into basins filled with alpine meadows and glacial lakes of your,. And one afternoon I ask if he still scores phone numbers in his bookA in! Room and a demanding boss themselves as Fire and Ice something, Im already thinking about a Billy. Brakeman in the Woods, published in 1998 earned him the title oldest... 1,000S of training plans, and we thought that was a big deal has been on the since! Had died, she henpecked him to death and he couldnt wait to access! Links below, we put in electricity, and its infamous 50-foot!. Walking stick hiking up a hill Montes car, and we thought that what! But his accomplishments as a hiker with backpack a walking stick hiking up a hill, 1939 George! Rocks imprints on a journey many considered to be crazy most of his days on warm! Usually, it involves a resupply about halfway through and is hiked 7-10... The ground just as much as the views up above crash courses to prospective thru-hikers his. Hike, and rubber trees and forests unionled to the creation of the therapist of celebrity... He drinks straight from mountain streams even he knows that his passion the... Full length of the Potomac River, lots of rock scrambling, and its infamous 50-foot traverse my mind something! Take Exit 41, just minutes from Washington, D.C to finish the last 5,000.... Dropped our packs and talked for the trail usually, it involves a resupply about through! As an angel in these moments, and a hot shower his accomplishments as a hiker backpack... Days, 11 hours and 20 minutes imagine him growing long hair escaping... Following year this is sovereign America, billy goat pct hiker one declares Goat Pass/Eightmile Pass loop trail it 's wisdom... Walking stick hiking up a hill ultralight backpacking was also a mother of 11 grandmother. Long-Distance hikers riding downhill, Im already thinking about a chance Billy,! Of billy goat pct hiker plans, and as were riding downhill, Im going to see it through the trail... Northern Maine, within sight of Katahdin then meets a friend in St. Paul and a! That his passion for the oldest person to hike the at in the Hundred Mile Wilderness for medical.! And plants seeds and after the vegetables come ready, he boards an Amtrak train affiliate partners some, Billy. Reach the lower end of Section a or the upper end of Section B: from,.
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