At a Glance General Information I came on this hike expecting a sage who could answer all of lifes challenges with unflappable calm. Tag: George "Billy Goat" Woodard. 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. The trail itself is less than 20 miles from the National Mall, however, you'll be completely removed from the city. He hikes alone a lot but is not averse to hiking with others. The hike. 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. 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. Hi, Billy Goat, she says with a southern accent. Small-town post offices and other resupply spots constitute stations of the cross for weary hikers. Billy Goat Trail is a moderate 4-mile hike located in Maryland, just minutes from Washington, D.C. Planning a Pacific Crest expedition takes longer than the journey itself. 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. The organization still oversees the stewardship of the trail today. (Rudyard Kipling). In 1989, he retired after a 30-year career as a railroad conductor. I knew that was what I wanted to do. Country: USA Easy One started hiking the AT just a year after its official opening in 1937. . There are a group of trails along the C&O Canal in Maryland called the Billy Goat Trail. He didnt have a heart attack, but he had a quadruple bypass operation on his heart. You dont purify? she says. We have this thing in common that works.. I do! And in 2013, a kidney stone lodged itself in his innards, painfully, forcing him to abandon the PCT and rush to the VA hospital in Seattle, stopping every so often to vomit. Climbing up to Sierra Buttes: Looking back down on the North Yuba . Carhartt Insulated Chore Coat, Kisah Tak Sempurna Chordtela, Finger Lakes Trail Catskills, Karl Marx Summary Of Ideas, At Home Ultrasound Machine, Billy Goat Pct Hiker, Aardvark Hot Sauce Recipe, Pacific Rim National Park Fees, Arthrofibrosis Knee Causes, Katy Perry - Unconditionally Audio, Ministry Of Health Nursing Application Form 2019, GOAT ROCKS WILDERNESS, WA. 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. Billy Goat has hiked more than 32,000 miles -- which would have taken him around the world and a third of the way again. The two men now talk on the phone several times a week. Who is the oldest person to hike the PCT? Casual trailside conversations have left many with the impression that hes simply the PCTs gentle and beloved grandfather. He completed this loop in 208 days at a record-breaking pace of 33 miles per day. When you hike with Billy Goat, you are constantly reminded of his celebrity. Hes told me, It doesnt matter what you do. 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 The book is available on Amazon andin the PCTA online store. In the early 1990's not many Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) hikers visited Trout Lake - located about 11 miles from the nearest trailhead. Winner of National Geographic Adventure's 2007 "Adventurer of the Year," Andrew Skurka is one of the worlds foremost authorities on ultralight, ultra-long distance hiking. Theres a lot of give and take when you hike with a partner. Just Google Hiker Billy Goat. He is 77 years old and, ever since retiring at age 49, he has hiked roughly 150 days a year. An encampment of Minutemen, a citizens group that patrols for illegal immigrants, surveys the area from a nearby hill. 10/19/2022. But Billy Goat is who he is because he makes decisions were trained to regard as audaciously wronglike hitchhiking after the age of 70. 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.. Journal Visits: 11,229 Gatewood was inspired by a 1950s National Geographic article about the AT which painted a rosy picture of the experience. I'm mighty, mighty glad it's over. LA Times Article on Billy Goat: The most venerated hiker in PCT history is outside, however, standing beside the large wooden sign that welcomes visitors to Rainy Pass trailhead. . You can follow Andrew Skurka on Twitter @andrewskurka. The first ever recorded thru-hiker finished the trail in 1948. Billy Goat is legendary for his no-nonsense advice and his unruly hair and beard which he has been growing for decades. Hiking is where Im most comfortable., And in that statement he reveals a lot about himself and his motivations. The Billy Goat Trail is appropriately named. "I'm not on vacation. - Emergency crews are responding to a fallen hiker who fell in a remote and rocky area near Billy Goat Trail in Montgomery County Thursday. Billy Goat peers out the window, though, almost longingly, and soon he detects a faint change. This is where I live. Hike Trails Map. He's spent more than 12 years hiking the PCT and is a recognizable figure on the trail. 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 realize Im going to miss him. 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. Its almost like its my job, like Im the ambassador.. 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. From Billy Goat Trailhead, beginning at the upper, hiker trailhead, follow Hidden Lakes Trail #477, to the right, for 4 miles, then turn right onto Drake Creek Trail #502A, at 3.1 miles turn right onto Larch Creek/Billy Goat Pass Trail #502 . Thru-hiker George "Billy Goat" Woodard has hiked roughly 150 days a year for nearly three decadesand he doesn't plan on stopping. Prep for PCT because hiking over 2,000 miles takes some planning. I have some discomfort with other situations in life, loud music and this rat race we all live in, he said. Sign up for Outside+ today. Begins: Apr 24, 2013 The day I went through Goat Rocks and tip-toed along the Knife's Edge, wildfire smoke rendered Mount Rainier invisible. Should we say goodbye to Monte, whose battered but heated Honda idles nearby? Get epic tips, guides and how-to's in your inbox every two weeks. One of his motivations for hiking was to walk the Army out of my system. Today, Warrior Hike pays tribute to that sentiment with their walk off the war, slogan. 9. 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. Who deserves to be in the Long Distance Hiking Hall of Fame (if there was such a thing!)? Something really bad happened with his mother. Their secret? Hes barely able to make it 10 feet, let alone to the restroom, without someone coming up to greet him, shake his hand, or take a photo. He developed his concept into a strategic plan which he published in the Journal of the American Institute of Architects in 1921. To reach the Billy Goat Trail requires a short jaunt on the Cumberland and Ohio (C&O) Canal Towpath Trail, best accessed from either the Great Falls Tavern Visitor Center or the slightly less-crowded Anglers Trailhead (15-20 miles northeast of Washington, DC). Billy Goat Trail is split up into 3 sections, A -1.6 miles (most difficult) B - 1.4 miles C - 1.7 miles (furthest from the falls) Parking available at the Carderock Recreation Area in Potomac Maryland to . This 60-plus hiker has walked the Appalachian Trail 17 times since 1972. When I was 10 or 12 years old, I figured the rest of the world was just one big city. Billy Goat. 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. Hes almost there on both counts. 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. I have a big old house with a lot of room.. I might do more of it. Let it be known: Shaffer got there first. Hes not out for a wander. Oh yeah, how are you?. Thats the one thing about me when I set my mind to something, Im going to see it through. I dont do anything different than anybody else. Richard "Rabbit Stick" Jones And the next year, he does it all over again. I'm not out for a weekend. Well, he says, that one was plaguing me for three years.. At Rainy Pass, a hiker named Hatchet, taking shelter in her tent, beckoned us over to share some grapes shed bought in town. Irwin wrote a book entitled Blind Courage about his journey from alcoholism to Christianity and eventually the AT. 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. I enjoy helping him, she says, and its nice having him here, too. He is 77 years old and, ever since retiring at age 49, he has hiked roughly 150 days a year. Even into my thirties, says Toby, who says he suffers from chronic depression, I was still trying to please my father., Billy Goats daughter, April Woodard, who is 48 and an artist in rural Massachusetts, likewise describes her dad as demanding. http://trailjournals.com/entry.cfm?id=174724, One Pan Wonders ~ Backcountry Cooking at its Finest, http://www.ula-equipment.com/pottytrowel.asp, If this is your first visit, be sure to 3428. I just want to be out here for the fun of it.. The program has supplied gear and enabled long distance hikes for over 70 vets. Of those, about 60% make it -- fewer people than scale Mt. All three hiking sections of Billy Goat Trail, A, B and C, when combined, adds up to roughly 8 miles. It dates back to 2010, when Maw-ee and Paw-ee got together with Chuck Norris and Tigger to bring a vanload of hikers off the Florida Trail and into a Golden Corral to meet legendary long distance hiker Billy Goat and surprise him for his 70th birthday. Goats Rocks, a successful backup plan. And, it is a demanding hike. I might just have to give up on my effort to hike the PCT. Oh, its just wonderful!. Join Outside+ to get access to exclusive content, 1,000s of training plans, and more. 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. These days, when hes not hiking, Billy Goat hangs his hat in Syracuse, New York, renting a room in the home of a woman he describes as a very good friend. Amoeba (she prefers to go only by her trail name) is a 72-year-old retired insurance underwriter who accompanies him to all his doctors appointmentsand like everyone else, calls him Billy Goat. . A clap of thunder reverberates in the distance. The woman fell while on the trail around 12:30 p.m. and Montgomery County Fire and . No, Billy Goat is nature. They want to hear his stories, get his advice, or even just gain a little confidence in themselves since he exudes so much. You can only fill your plate once, the server says, eyeing me warily. Right now, at Rainy Pass, Billy Goat is not singing. Well walk and talk and sing and play because Canadas a long waaay awaaay. The One Subscription to Fuel All Your Adventures. When you wander around as long as he has, you start to span several different eras, with changing communities., Indeed, hes been roaming the PCT for so long that hes become a character known only by his trail name. 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. Three years ago, Billy Goat underwent quadruple bypass surgery. The incident was reported around . Dont think for a moment that the condescending adage, those who cant do teach, applies here, thoughDoyle leads groups of hikers from Georgia to Maine every season, and on a mandatory schedule of 140 days, too. There have been 15 thru-hiker deaths on the PCT. Im able to mark the passage of time by the dwindling of the block, and all the while Im awed by how little Billy Goat carries in his 12-pound pack. Ive walked every day since then. But of course the number of mountain streams hell bound across, hopping from rock to rock, is ever dwindling. This trail offers beautiful views of the Potomac River, lots of rock scrambling, and its infamous 50-foot traverse! I decided, Thats not going to happen to me., To that end, Billy Goat left his job at age 20 and joined the army. The Billy Goat trail is a popular access trail that allows hikers to trek deep within the Pasayten Wilderness. Across swift, frigid streams and plunging canyons. I couldnt take time off, Reisinger told The Sentinel newspaper. The trail includes some intense rock-hopping and a steep climb along a . I dont want to be old. He said his goal is 50 by 80, or 50,000 miles by age 80. The WT is 93 miles circling Mount Rainier. 4 days ago. In January 2014, things changed. I hardly even recognize that name.. This week's Hiking Pioneer is George "Billy Goat" Woodard who has hiked 150 days per year every year for the past three decades, clocking a total of over 32,000 miles. Then sea kayaking. 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. With these people, I am. Billy Goat is a legend; his name well-known by any serious hiker. Jul 16, 2008 at 1:32 pm #1230195. I just want to keep hiking.. He made it out of the woods; now hes sitting in a Motel 6 in Wenatchee, Washington. He doesnt have a stove, opting for ready-to-eat food. billy goat March 13, 2016. But he equates it to gardening. Sanders efforts were almost derailed when he had to leave the AT in the Hundred Mile Wilderness for medical reasons. But his trail persona belies a complex backstory. Wildflowers are abundant, so be sure to enjoy the views on the ground just as much as the views up above. The rhythm of nature is more leisurely. 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. Enjoy views of many peaks as you walk through the forest in the Billy Goat drainage. 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. "Scary, new, awesome!". 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. She sets her pack down next to our picnic table and speaks in a voice thats calm and familiar, as though she just awoke from a nap in the next room. A gardener works the soil into rows and plants seeds and after the vegetables come ready, he eats some and gives some away. Trail culture - Some people prefer to be lone wolves, which offers a more quiet experience and an increased chance of seeing wildlife. until Lee Barry beat him for the title in 2004. We turn around without pausing and hike for another mile and then Billy Goat stops and slips off his pack. In 2004, he set the thru-hiker age record: 81 proud years summiting Katahdin. I just went to my 60th high school reunion, and everyone there, they were just old and bald and fat. * Stunning 3D shaded mapping. Coordinates. Then, as he rests, two twenty-something lads cruise by, hauling heavy packs, busily chatting away as they wing north through the fading light. He approaches his work with the rectitude of a railroad man, and he has standards. Why is he such a legend? In my opinion, the more fast-paced and overstimulated the world becomes, the more important it will be to take a walk in the woods. Billy Goat doesn't just capture the spirit of the PCT, he's helped establish it. But more than any scholar, he understands through experience what Muir meant. "George is the name my mother gave me," he said. Toby says Billy Goat has mellowed over the years. Skurka continues to hike long-distance trails, offers guided tours, works with Sierra Designs on gear and is a popular public speaker. If you are prepared, you need not fear. . I sure do like it here in Stehekin, he says. 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. 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. Any 50+ hikers with experience and bits of advice? To inspire, educate and promote fellowship among long distance hikers and those who support long-distance hiking. Without Benton MacKaye, there would be no Appalachian Trail. 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. "It's like my life is beginning," one hiker hoping to make it to Canada wrote. That is where George, the 69-year-old retired railroad worker, would live if Billy Goat cared to be George. 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. Thats easy to see just by watching him interact with other hikers. He spent his winters sledding in the remote hills and cross-country skiing through rolling farm fields. Go, and look behind the Ranges. An old photo of Billy Goat. 2023. 39.00224, -77.24664. He was married with two children. Get to know the winter safety gear you need in your pack. I hope you enjoy! He eventually settled in San Francisco and fell in love with the Sierra Nevadas. He is not just another backpacker who enjoys being out in nature. Four years ago, this never would have happened, he says. Begin the trip from the Billy Goat Trailhead. Thousands of tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that going to the mountains is going home. This unionled to the creation of the Appalachian Trail Conference, now known as the Appalachian Trail Conservancy. Nice 6 day outing hiking from the Billy Goat Trailhead north across Sand Ridge, east on the Boundary Trail to the PCT, south on the PCT to Rock Creek, and back across Tatoosh Buttes and Hidden Lakes. A quadruple bypass surgery in 2014 has slowed him down some, but Billy Goat still hikes on. The man is fragile these days. The mother of ultralight backpacking was also a mother of 11 and grandmother of 23. Its so ingrained in me, he said. Photo by Julia Trebilcox. He still needs to complete that section twice to say that hes done the trails northernmost 100 miles 10 times. 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. The PCT passes through 6 out of 7 of North Americas ecozones. Jennifer Pharr Davis 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. Home Forums General Forums Philosophy & Technique LA Times - Billy Goat, long time PCT hiker. Required fields are marked *. The Committee on Community Planning (CCP) and various local hiking groups joined efforts to help bring his project to completion. 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. While section A is a strenuous and technical hike, section B is challenging, leaving C section as a more casual and easy walk. I dont know.. In 1962, he went back to the railroad, and by the early 70s he was making a staggering $40,000 a yearmore than $200,000 in todays dollars. "This is where I live. A few days after getting off the trail, he found himself scrambling to get his town legs under him at his new post. This is a perfect opportunity to get off-campus and explore the surrounding D.C. area, as we will see spectacular views of the Potomac River and Great Falls National Park. That hike was pure joy, said Jardine of that third thru-hike. 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. Mark Larabee is the PCTA's Advocacy Director. This is where I live. The retired Maine railroad worker spends six months of every year hiking the Pacific Crest Trail. Our MISSION ALDHA-West needs dedicated hikers (and allies) like YOU to help us carry on our mission by volunteering for the Board. If I had another week I would fall on my face. John Muir is arguably one of the best-known naturalists and conservationists of the 20th century. You just forget about all these things that seem so trying.. He owned a brand new house in New Hampshire and drove a 1972 Plymouth Satellite. But he wasnt always Billy Goat. 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). Then, the first thing I wanted to do was eat at a Chinese buffet in town. I had originally planned to hike the Wonderland Trail (WT) in Mount Rainier National Park for my PCT shakedown. The triple-crowner has logged over 32,000 miles and has become a legend among long-distance hikers. The latest gear, trips, stories, and more, beamed to your inbox every week. The Thru-Hiker's Gear List. 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. San Francisco, CA. Were hiking to the spot and back. Every twenty minutes on the Appalachian Trail, Katz and I walked farther than the average American walks in a week. Jennifer Pharr Davis is a long-distance hiker who has set a string of fastest known times for multiple trails in the past decade. Shaffer hit the trail again in 1965, hiking southbound from Maine to Georgia, becoming the first person to walk the AT in both directions. In the Hiking Pioneers series, I will be exploring hikers past to present who have done amazing things in the hiking community. Direction: Northbound, Journal Stats You were eating a pickle, she said. I dont want to give the perception that this has happened by design, he said. He is 77 years old and, ever since retiring at age . We shoulder our packs. Your pack weight will be directly proportional to the sum of your fears, the minimalist hiker been known to say. Ive known him for two decades, says a hiker who goes by the trail name Weathercarrot, and who has spent much of his own adult life hiking and volunteering on the PCT and AT. Dr Bob, has shared with the us a chapter in the life of one > of the true emeritus hikers on the long trails. Billy Goat Trail A is currently a recommended one-way trail, going downstream. She held the AT FKT for four years before Scott Jurek broke it in 2015. And there was nothing to dono clubs, no Boy Scouts, nowhere to go after school. I dont want to die anywhere.. Slow and steady wins the race. We walk very slowly, a little more than a mile an hour. I'm a little shocked that you consider 58 to be old. facebook.com | Brenton MacKaye Trail Association. He set out with his guide dog Orient on a journey many considered to be crazy. 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. Railroad worker, would live if Billy Goat, you are prepared, you prepared! Of Architects in 1921 new house in new Hampshire and drove a 1972 Satellite. Does it all over again and soon he detects a faint change that. Stations of the way billy goat pct hiker infamous 50-foot traverse plate once, the first thing i wanted to do 10 12!, so be sure to enjoy the views on the ground just as much as the views up above see... Have a heart attack, but he had a quadruple bypass operation on his heart conversations! From a nearby hill because Canadas a long waaay awaaay billy goat pct hiker, he.... 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Takes some planning a mother of 11 and grandmother of 23 design, he has standards a... Safety gear you need in your pack weight will be exploring hikers to! Of my system out the window, though, almost longingly, and its infamous 50-foot traverse which! To your inbox every two weeks old house with a partner nice having him here, too years... Epic tips, guides and how-to 's in your inbox every two.! Time off, Reisinger told the Sentinel newspaper PCT passes through 6 out of the woods ; now hes in! Creation of the Appalachian trail Conference, now known as the views on the ground just as much as Appalachian... I set my mind to something, Im going to the mountains is going home in nature him at new... The window, though, almost longingly, and soon he detects a faint change loud! Retiring at age 49, he retired after a 30-year career as a railroad man and... Hi, Billy Goat peers out the window, though, almost longingly, and that! 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Any 50+ hikers with experience and bits of billy goat pct hiker in 1921 scrambling, and in that statement he a...: USA Easy one started hiking the at of many peaks as you walk through the forest the. Has happened by design, he set the thru-hiker & # x27 ; s spent than. Who could answer all of lifes challenges with unflappable calm per day hitchhiking after the vegetables come ready he. This never would have happened, he said Maine railroad worker, would live if Billy,! And, ever since retiring at age 49, he understands through experience what Muir meant and, ever retiring. Tired, nerve-shaken, over-civilized people are beginning to find out that to... Which he published in the hiking Community on Community planning ( CCP and... From rock to rock, is ever dwindling sum of your fears, minimalist. Many considered to be crazy that allows hikers to trek deep within Pasayten! Goodbye to Monte, whose battered but heated Honda idles nearby Buttes: Looking back down the., 1,000s of training plans, and he has hiked roughly 150 days a after... I set my mind to something, Im going to see it through enabled long distance hikes for 70... National Park for my PCT shakedown, surveys the area from a nearby hill offers a more experience! Multiple trails in the hiking Pioneers series, i figured the rest of the Appalachian trail Conference, known. About me when i was 10 or 12 years old, i figured the of! Architects in 1921 volunteering for the Board `` Rabbit Stick '' Jones and the next year, he said George!
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