He has walked across the South and the Southwest, the Northeast and the West. He is 77 years old and, ever since retiring at age 49, he has hiked roughly 150 days a year. Shaffer, also known as The Crazy One, was the first person to walk the entire Appalachian Trail in a single journey, a feat many believed impossible at the time. 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. With nearly a mile of fun rock-hopping, and spectacular views of the Potomac River along the way, this circuit is loads of fun with plenty to see. I just have to come to grips with that reality.. I dont know, he finally says. Afterward his son, Toby, lived with him full time for two years. Its interesting to look back, he says, and to see how many times I started out before five in the morning, and how many 14-hour days Ive done., Hiking is Billy Goats job. 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. 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. Hes almost there on both counts. I had to keep at it. She told her adult children that she was going for a walk and started the thru-hike wearing a simple pair of Keds sneakers, and carrying nothing but a blanket, a raincoat and a plastic sheet inside a homemade denim bag. 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. The only sticking point is the required advance permitting which has . Day 5. male billy goats have long beards, right? All three can be accessed from the townpath between Great Falls Tavern and Carderock. Something lost behind the Ranges. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. The most venerated hiker in PCT history is outside, however, standing beside the large wooden sign that welcomes visitors to Rainy Pass trailhead. A light pack (a homemade affair of frameless nylon) and daily gym workouts. I have become Billy Goat by happenstance. Its sunny and cloudless. I felt really proud of what I did and also what my family did. He carries what he needs in a backpack weighing less than 10 pounds. We didnt have indoor plumbing. His hair, untrimmed since 2004, is an unruly tangle of gray cascading down from the rim of his broad khaki hat, and his long beard, likewise untrimmed, is a bounteous mist of tiny white whorls. Billy Goat has hiked all over, about 45,000 miles since he started counting when he was in his 40s and section hiking the Appalachian Trail. "He's the heart and soul of the PCT," said Monte Dodge, 50, who hiked the length of the trail when he was 19 and does a portion of it nearly every year. I suggest that Billy Goat circle it, just so no one can dispute his claim to have reached it, and he does so, moving at a slow, self-satisfied saunter. He approaches his work with the rectitude of a railroad man, and he has standards. Join us in thanking these generous businesses for their support of the Pacific Crest Trail. He served two years in Germany during the Cold War. Hike; Filters . Then sea kayaking. I wanted to run away., Billy Goat says that he wasnt comfortable at home, in part because his mother was intrusive and possessed of an anxiety and nervous disorder that also afflicts him and his son Toby Woodard, 46, who lives in Maine. Unbeatable! The writings contained in a log book at the PCT trail head glow with anticipation. I had never spent much time in the vast outdoors, but after I quit drinking I couldnt get enough of it.. I have no recollection of him. When you hike with Billy Goat, you are constantly reminded of his celebrity. I think its a fair trade-off for what I get out of it.. Im down here at Kick Off just like its the first time, just like spring and that man planting his garden, he said. Even without Rainier, even without dramatic sweeping views, Goat Rocks imprints on a thru hiker's soul. Create a website or blog at WordPress.com * Stunning 3D shaded mapping. I met Billy this > past summer on the JMT while hiking up Pinchot Pass. In 1987, he was living in Syracuse, New York, and completed his first section hike of the Appalachian Trail during a vacation. (Which was bestowed on him when a friend saw him scramble up a steep slope and said, There goes Billy Goat.) As he puts it himself, Thirty years ago I was George Woodard. If you stay in one place long enough, he's sure to come along eventually. He lives in Portland. The Billy Goat Trail is appropriately named. Were in Stehekins sole campground, on the shore of the lake, enjoying peaches I bought just down the street at a garden stand. In 2008, she followed the Long Trail FKT by setting the women's fastest known time for the Appalachian Trail in 57 days and 8 hours. Im feeling weak and dizzy. I definitely saved the best for last. If you purchase a product from one of our links below, we may earn a percentage from one of our affiliate partners. Its a trade-off, not a sacrifice, he said. 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. When I ask Billy Goat what hes thinking about, he says, People Ive known over the years: family members, other hikers, people Ive worked with. In many ways, Billy Goat looks as old as weather itself. I look at his slight frame and know that he could die between Stehekin and Stevens Pass. Footwear: Keds sneakers. 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. 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.. In 1990, he undertook the trail with kneepads and a guide dog, Orient, in lieu of map and compass. From his youth, Muir was prone to wandering and exploration. GOAT ROCKS WILDERNESS, WA. I tell people two things: give yourself three weeks to get your body in shape and get your mind in shape, he said with a happy chuckle. Casual trailside conversations have left many with the impression that hes simply the PCTs gentle and beloved grandfather. Pharr Davis set out again on the AT to beat the women's and men's FKT record in 2011, which she did. 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. Look! he says like a kid whos been confined on a summer day. The trail's southern terminus is next to the Mexico-United States border, just south . When I finish a hike, I start thinking about the next year a day after I get home. Blog at WordPress.com. We rode around in a taxi cab and saw elephants in the river, and rubber trees and forests. On the second day of our hike, I awake at dawn. He has until 2019 to finish the last 5,000 miles. . Larabee is a journalist, part of a team who won the 2007 Pulitzer Prize for breaking news for The Oregonian newspaper. "This is where I live. "It's like my life is beginning," one hiker hoping to make it to Canada wrote. Length: 4.2km. Wild. Tag: George "Billy Goat" Woodard. While some might say he has sacrificed a lot for his lifestyle, he would disagree. When pressed, the real guru comes out. I'm mighty, mighty glad it's over. He rides for almost two days and then meets a friend in St. Paul and gets a ride east into the wilds of Wisconsin. Born January 28, 1939, George Woodard grew up in Maine and moved to New Hampshire right after high school. I just went to my 60th high school reunion, and everyone there, they were just old and bald and fat. I kept thinking, I have three sisters back in Maine and they wouldnt even know how to change trains in Chicago., After that, Billy Goats life might have blossomed into a hippie daydream. A quadruple bypass surgery in 2014 has slowed him down some, but Billy Goat still hikes on. Might he have lessons to teach me? Emma "Grandma" Gatewood He is appalled by the profusion of ill-equipped soul seekers that have washed up on the PCT since the 2012 publication of Cheryl Strayeds memoir, Wild. The hike. 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. Required fields are marked * . He doesnt have a stove, opting for ready-to-eat food. While we were gorging at the all-you-can-eat breakfast at Mt. Sanders efforts were almost derailed when he had to leave the AT in the Hundred Mile Wilderness for medical reasons. For a loop hike with children, hike downstream on the Towpath from the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center to the Billy Goat Trail segment B, total mileage approximately 4.5 miles (see map). Sign up for Outside+ today. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. To his fans, the man embodies all thats great about thru-hiking. When Hikers Die, Why Are We So Quick to Judge. Most people are pantywaists, she allegedly once told Ray Jardine. PCT Hiker Story/Profile George "Billy Goat" Woodard | On-Trail since 1988 You might also like SmartTV YouTube PCT Binge-Watching April 3, 2022 Couples On The Trail | Could Push You or Pull You April 3, 2022 More Of CLASS OF 2021 FINISHING NOW November 3, 2021 Leave a Reply Your email address will not be published. The Billy Goat Trail is one of the most well known hikes in the Metro D.C. area, and for good reason. Im sure I met him, but I meet lots of people on and off the trail. The most venerated hiker in PCT history is outside, however, standing beside the large wooden sign that welcomes visitors to Rainy Pass trailhead. Hes had diabetes for more than two decades. Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail. Irwin wrote a book entitled Blind Courage about his journey from alcoholism to Christianity and eventually the AT. He said his legs are in shape and he has good stamina, but his heart still doesnt get enough oxygen for the big climbs of the PCT. I dont mind huffing and puffing for hours, he told the Washington-based Spokesman-Review in 2005. The glaciers gleam on the mountains above, and most of the time we walk without speaking, the only sound the steady clomp of our shoes. 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. Three miles in, as we near treeline at dusk, he collapses trailside, complaining of chest pains. Sanders returned home to Tennessee to recover for ten days and almost didn't come back to the trail. Hes out there year after year because he loves life on the trail. Hes not out for a wander. 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. Hood, Sandy Glacier Headwall . 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. With these people, I am. He's also the oldest person ever to paddle the entire 2,300 miles of the Mississippi River. He was 9 years old when he finished the Continental Divide Trail and put the caps on the Triple Crown. He hikes alone a lot but is not averse to hiking with others. He proposes that I go ahead and meet him in Stehekin. But hiking season is not over. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Stay tuned as I plan to hike from Stehekin to the Canadian border later this summer and complete my goal of hiking every inch of the Pacific Crest Trail. Emma Rowena Gatewood, aka Grandma Gatewood, was the first woman to solo hike the entire Appalachian Trail in one season. 3428. The Six Hikers Kristin "Lost" Gates - The first woman to traverse Alaska's Brooks Range. Eventually what was once a trail completely disappears, and there it is, the wilderness untrammeled. 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. Chris also wrote How to Hike the Appalachian Trail. Billy Goat was confident that hiking would be good for his son, but his efforts were met with mixed success. Billy Goat is legendary for his no-nonsense advice and his unruly hair and beard which he has been growing for decades. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. Hiking Billy Goat Trail Section A in Maryland Lauren November 1, 2022 Family Travel One of the most popular hikes in Maryland is Billy Goat Trail, section A by Great Falls. I have a big old house with a lot of room.. Born in Scotland in 1838, Muir's family immigrated to the United States in 1849, settling in Wisconsin. He didnt have a heart attack, but he had a quadruple bypass operation on his heart. Choosing a selection results in a full page refresh. Pacific Crest Trail hikers frequently say that . I see a lot of hikers who have no idea whats in front of them, he says during a break later that day. He worked as a brakeman in the boonies of Millinocket, Maine, on tracks used mainly by a nearby paper mill. Billy Goat was on this part of trail and I spotted him the next day. His 50,000-mile goal looms, but Billy Goat is trying to keep it in perspective. Practice Hike #2: Billy Goat Part B. We didnt have much of anything, he says of his family. Dale is still actively hiking and post and regularly shares videos and photos of his trips on his Facebook channel. The Ice Age Trail lays before him now, gentle and rolling and lined with maples and cedars. 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. I hardly even recognize that name.. Billy Goat rarely leaves the house when hes in Syracuse, and if he lingers for more than a month, he tells me, his depression sets in. British-American writer Bill Bryson has traveled the world writing about his life and adventures with a distinct humorous touch and conversational tone. Were climbing now, gaining 2,000 feet over 5 miles on our way to 6,800-foot Cutthroat Pass, and the sun has escaped the clouds. No, Billy Goat is nature. As we hike along, he tells me that what he thinks about most is the clouds drifting above. . Hi, Billy Goat, she says with a southern accent. The book was eventually adapted into a comedy film starring Robert Redford and Nick Nolte in the roles of Bryson and Katz. Create a personalized feed and bookmark your favorites. Your pack weight will be directly proportional to the sum of your fears, the minimalist hiker been known to say. 250 reviews of Billy Goat Trail - Section A "Just 20 minutes or so past the Georgetown crowds, the dramatic Billy Goat Trail takes weekend warriors thru 4.7 mostly rocky miles in a patch of land between the C&O Canal and the Potomac's Great Falls rapids. 'George \"Billy Goat\" Woodard (All photos by Bob Stefko)'. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. It was cold worka matter of digging the switches out of the snow at 3 a.m.and his colleagues were hard-bitten old guys whom he regarded as trapped. At a Glance General Information One house we moved into, we put in electricity, and we thought that was a big deal. If I had another week I would fall on my face. They had great-grandchildren and canes and walkers. The more I learn the more I realize I don't know. The National Churches Trust(CC BY 2.0).
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