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Hiking is a great way to get outdoors and exercise. But most of us would never even dream of hiking the length of the United States. Trevor Thomas, an avid hiker from North Carolina who lost his sight in 2005, is preparing to hike the entire span of the Continental Divide Trail
Thomas, an adventure sports junkie, is planning to start a journey this summer through some of the nation’s most rugged and remote terrain. Although he expects to hike the majority by himself, he will be accompanied by three others to help him navigate the more difficult sections of the trail. As a part of Team Farsight, Thomas plans to not only challenge his physical and mental abilities on the trip but also raise public awareness and expectations for the blind community.
A veteran hiker, Thomas has already backpacked the full length of the Pacific Crest Trail (2,650 miles) and the Appalachian Trail (2,175 miles), making him the first blind person to attempt and complete either hike. Though he had assistance on the Pacific Crest Trail through deep snow and poorly marked areas, Thomas completed the Appalachain Trail alone. This next hike will mark Thomas’s completion of the “Triple Crown” of hikes in the nation.
Known as the “King of Trails”, the CDT was created in 1978 to help preserve the wild, scenic “backbone” of America. The trail passes through five states, including Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Colorado, and New Mexico. Along the way, Thomas and his team will also pass their fair share of mountain ranges, including the Rockies, the San Juans, the Sawatch Range, and the Grand Tetons. Set to start in June, the grueling thru-hike will take roughly six months to complete.
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