Below is a tentative outline of what trails we are intending to tackle in the next few years. It’s a pretty ambitious list but we need to get going while we’re still able. Granted, we are not in as good of shape as we were a few years ago. That’s why we’re starting off with some shorter trails in Europe that aren’t as demanding building up to the 2 trails that are really what’s driving us in 2017—Tour du Mont Blanc (similar in length to the Wonderland Trail and it’s the highest mountain in Europe between France, Italy, and Switzerland) and GR20 Corsica which is considered the toughest trek in Europe even though it’s only a little over 100 miles.
We have had several influences in coming up with this list. My mentor at the Stage Company in Carbondale, IL was instrumental in our choosing the Camino. Nick Earle hiked this trail when he was 78 years old after his wife had died. She used to carry a good luck stone with her and Nick dropped it on the pile at the cross on the trail. It was a very touching story he shared with Pam and me over dinner a few years ago.
We were originally going to hike the Cotswold Way because of a book (The Unexpected Pilgrimage of Harold Fry) recommended by our good friends, Peter and Marcia, whom we met in Scotland and have gotten together with several times since. After running into a few English men and several guys from Wales (who are in no way biased about the undiscovered beauty of their country), we were persuaded to hike the Pembrokeshire Coastal Path instead.
Another influence for us was John and Jenny whom we met on the Wonderland Trail. The GR10 is on their bucket list and they have hiked the GR20 already. We spent many evenings talking about these trails with them while we were hiking the Wonderland Trail.
Peter thru-hiked the AT before it was the “In Thing” to do—way back in 1971 (I was only in 2nd grade when he accomplished this feat). Marcia did it a few years later. They will be joining us for a large section of Maine next year. In addition, we met Michelle “Brownie” Pugh when we were on the Wonderland Trail (author of Love at First Hike). But probably one of my biggest accidental influences was the younger brother of one of my best friends growing up—Steve Johnson. When I got divorced way back in 2006 (the same year of all the devastating floods in Mt Rainier—coincidence?), Steve got me off the couch and back on the trail after 20 years of excessive eating. We went to Mt. Rainier, Olympic, North Cascades, Isle Royale, and the Smokies: all of which I’ve gone back to again (almost all, since we got the Wonderland Trail this past year we didn’t go to North Cascades). Surprisingly, Steve doesn’t have a desire to hike the long trails because he’s like a male shopper on the trail—get in, get what you want, and get out.
I’ve had a desire to complete the Triple Crown ever since I heard that it was called that. I’ve even heard of the “Grand Slam” but I’m not sure if it’s official, but that would be the Triple Crown with the American Discovery Trail thrown in (but that might get me into a little bit more trouble than I need right now if I bring up that topic with Pam—we’ll visit that subject in the end of 2021).
Most importantly, I couldn’t/wouldn’t be attempting this without my wonderful wife by my side. When we first started dating she told me she would like to try backpacking (I had just gotten back from hiking the Annapurna Circuit in Nepal). I put her to the test and bought her a pack for Christmas and booked plane tickets for Scotland so we could do our first hike together—the West Highland Way. The rest is, as they say, history.
2017
April 8—Fly to London
April 9—Bath
April 10—End of May: Pembrokeshire Coastal Path, Wales (186 miles)
May—June Camino de Santiago St Jean Pied de Port, France
To Finisterre via Santiago (526 miles)
July—August GR10 Pyrennees Traverse Hendaye (Atlantic Coast)
To Banyuls-ser-Mur (Mediterranean Coast) (538 miles)
Sep 1-15 Tour de Mont Blanc Les Houches, France (110 miles)
Sep 16-30 GR20 Corsica Calenzana to Conca (108 miles)
Oct-Dec Norway, Germany, Italy
Nov Cotswold Way, England ?
Dec 7—Return to London
Dec 9—Return to USA
2018
Feb 2 Check In Amicalola Falls Lodge, Dawsonville, GA
Feb 3—Hike approach Trail to AT (7.8 miles)
Feb 4—September Appalachian Trail (approx. 2200 miles)
October—Fly to New Zealand
October—April ‘19 Te Araroa (appox. 2000 miles)
2019
April—October Pacific Crest Trail (2650 miles)
Winter—South America
Peru, Argentina, Ecuador, Paraguay, Uruguay, Bolivia
Machu Picchu
2020
March—October Continental Divide Trail (3100 miles)
Winter—SE Asia; Cambodia, Viet Nam, Thailand, Laos
2021
April (3 weeks) Nepal—Everest Base Camp
June-July Pacific Northwest Trail (1200 miles)
August John Muir Trail (211 miles)
September West Coast Trail, Vancouver Island, Canada (47 miles)
If we survive and complete this list, we will complete the Triple Crown and will have hiked in excess of 13,000 miles. At this point, we may slow down if Pam gets her way. I honestly hate to put this in writing because I know Pam will get overwhelmed when she reads this list.
Noticeably missing from the list are any trails in Iceland, Australia, Alaska, and Sweden all of which Pam has expressed a desire to hike. I also haven’t included any trails we might choose to hike in South America or SE Asia which we will figure out in the future. We will continue hiking as long as our bodies and funds hold out.