Hiker finishes all 11 NST's - The News Tribune 10/9/09

[gsingjane]

Lakewood man finds more trails to explore
Quest: He sets precedent with National Scenic Trails

JEFFREY P. MAYOR; The News Tribune | • Published October 09, 2009

Almost a year after he completed his quest to hike all of the National Scenic Trails, Bart Smith has added the system's three newest trails to his tally.

In doing so, Smith has hiked more than 18,000 miles and is the first person to hike all 11 of the designated scenic trails.

Earlier this week, the 50-year-old Lakewood man reached the Pacific Ocean and the end of the Pacific Northwest Trail.

The 1,200-mile trail was added to the National Scenic Trail system, along with the New England Trail and the Arizona Trail, in March.

Smith said he was struck by the beauty of the 817-mile Arizona Trail as it goes through the Sonoran Desert and then across several mountain ranges.

“The Sonoran Desert is really beautiful,” he said. “The heat was bad, but I was fortunate that all the springs were flowing. As long as I had water, I was OK.”

Of course, there was the time his water filter broke as he hiked through the Mazatzal Wilderness.

“I was forced to drink the water I could find,” Smith said.

He was able to call REI from a remote ranch to get a filter sent to the next town. “The woman who still lives there had a cell phone hooked up to a satellite dish. Her ranch was grandfathered into the wilderness area,” Smith said.

“It’s been good, but it’s been really tough, especially coming off last year because that was really tough,” he said of this year’s treks.

Beyond his individual experiences, Smith said he has noted ecosystem changes along the way.

“Forest fires in 2006 burnt huge amounts of forest. It’s something I’m seeing over and over again, our wilderness forests are all burning off,” he said. “In the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the Pacific Crest Trail, you go through miles and miles of burnt forests.

“And where it’s not burnt, you have the pine bark beetle that’s killing off lots and lots of trees.”

Smith, who began this epic journey back in 1991, has published four photography books based on his hikes. He is negotiating with National Geographic to do a book on all the national scenic trails.

Pacific Northwest Trail: “It goes through some really rugged country. You go through the Pasayten Wilderness, and it’s really rugged,” Smith said. “It then goes through North Cascades National Park and then some rugged logged areas in the foothills of the North Cascades.”

Arizona Trail: Smith admits he got about a month head start before the official designation was approved.

“I had a short window of opportunity to do the Arizona trail because you can’t start too late because of the heat,” Smith said. “It also goes over some mountain ranges at 7,000, 8,000 feet and you get into snow.

“I was surprised at how physically demanding it is. In a number of locations, the trail is almost like brand new,” he said. “I commend the Arizona Trail Association for all the work they’ve done. But there are some sections where the trail is still a work in progress.”

New England Trail: This is the shortest of the scenic trails at just 220 miles. The trail heads north-south as it goes through Connecticut and Massachussetts. “It’s very pleasant. It’s a pretty easy trail compared to the others,” Smith said.

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640

jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

[Crazy Legs]

Impressive. I hope National Geographic works a good deal with him. That's a book I'd be interested in for sure.

[dmax]

That would make a good book. Maybe it'll be out by the time I finish White Blaze Fever. I've been reading this for quite a few weeks. It's a good book. I'm hope to finish it this week so I can mail it back to Country Roads. I have the Ordinary Adventurer waiting on the counter to start next.

[Tangent]

That's pretty neat. I'd like to do that someday.

[gsingjane]

Lakewood man likely first to hike all National Scenic Trails


THE NEWS TRIBUNE
Published: 10/22/09 12:05 am | Updated: 10/22/09 1:50 am

As long as there are new national scenic trails to hike, Bart Smith will don his hiking boots.

Almost a year after he completed his quest to hike all of the National Scenic Trails, Smith has added the system’s three newest trails to his tally.

In doing so, Smith has hiked more than 18,000 miles and is likely the first person to hike all 11 designated scenic trails.

At the end of September, the 50-year-old Lakewood man reached the Pacific Ocean and the end of the Pacific Northwest Trail.

The 1,200-mile trail was added in March to the National Scenic Trail system, along with the New England Trail and the Arizona Trail.

Smith said he was struck by the beauty of the 817-mile Arizona Trail as it goes through the Sonoran Desert and then across several mountain ranges.

“The Sonoran Desert is really beautiful,” he said. “The heat was bad, but I was fortunate that all the springs were flowing. As long as I had water, I was OK.”

Of course, there was the time his water filter broke as he hiked through the Mazatzal Wilderness.

“I was forced to drink the water I could find,” Smith said.

He was able to call REI from a remote ranch to get a filter sent to the next town. “The woman who still lives there had a cell phone hooked up to a satellite dish. Her ranch was grandfathered into the wilderness area,” Smith said.

“It’s been good, but it’s been really tough, especially coming off last year because that was really tough,” he said of this year’s treks.

Beyond his individual experiences, Smith said he has noted ecosystem changes along the way.

“Forest fires in 2006 burnt huge amounts of forest. It’s something I’m seeing over and over again, our wilderness forests are all burning off,” he said. “In the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the Pacific Crest Trail, you go through miles and miles of burnt forests.

“And where it’s not burnt, you have the pine bark beetle that’s killing off lots and lots of trees.”

Smith, who began this epic journey back in 1991, has published four photography books based on his hikes. He is negotiating with National Geographic to do a book on all the national scenic trails.

Here is his take on the three trails:

Pacific Northwest Trail: “It goes through some really rugged country. You go through the Pasayten Wilderness, and it’s really rugged,” Smith said.

“It then goes through North Cascades National Park and then some rugged logged areas in the foothills of the North Cascades.”

Arizona Trail: Smith admits he got about a month head start before the official designation was approved.

“I had a short window of opportunity to do the Arizona trail because you can’t start too late because of the heat,” Smith said. “It also goes over some mountain ranges at 7,000, 8,000 feet and you get into snow.

“I was surprised at how physically demanding it is. In a number of locations, the trail is almost like brand new,” he said. “I commend the Arizona Trail Association for all the work they’ve done. But there are some sections where the trail is still a work in progress.”

New England Trail: This is the shortest of the scenic trails at just 220 miles. The trail heads north-south as if goes through Connecticut and Massachussetts. “It’s very pleasant. It’s a pretty easy trail compared to the others,” Smith said.

Jeffrey P. Mayor: 253-597-8640

jeff.mayor@thenewstribune.com

blogs.thenewstribune.com/adventure