December update!
Image: Big Bend National Park by Ken Hartlein/Getty Images via Canva
Here’s wishing you and yours a very merry Christmas season!
What an extraordinary time we’ve had with the launch of the xTexas Trail Project over the past six months! It’s all unfolding in such a remarkable way. In June Charlie came up with the idea of a cross-Texas trail while hiking in Lake Tahoe California, by the beginning of August I had the website designed and live and the first video created (with Charlie’s voiceover) to share the vision.
In September, Charlie’s longtime friend Pam LeBlanc wrote about this big hairy goal legacy project in The Texas Monthly online, and things heated up. I gained a whole new appreciation for the idea of earned media. Reporters from other news media outlets began reaching out for interviews, and even more surprisingly, stories began showing up that Charlie hadn’t even been interviewed for. Then a Fox News interview with Charlie was posted online in the middle of October and we began to feel a bit like we’d been shot out of a cannon as the website traffic, email newsletter subscriptions, and donations jumped significantly.
One of the most amazing things is the remarkable outpouring of interest from those around Texas (and beyond!) who want to roll up their sleeves and actively help us make it happen. Thank you. I’m still amazed that over 250 people have reached out via our first volunteer survey or sent us notes via the website contact forms to let us know how they can help. I’m still figuring out the best ways to organize all of these passionate talented people into their various interest groups.
Because of your support, we hit our project launch fundraising goals! In the new year, we have a big new fundraising goal so we can start working on the trail water, lodging, Wi-Fi, and supply needs. We’ll need to raise 5 million dollars over 5 years to create a sustainable legacy trail.
As I write this, Charlie’s on the road again. He’s fine-tuning the route in the East, moving the starting point further North upon the recommendation of a landowner in the region who wants to be one of the first rest and refueling places. He’ll have the new GPS map posted soon to share with you all.
This spring Charlie will be organizing three separate events for March that he’s calling “The Sweaty Taste of Texas.” More details on that soon, but the idea is that he’ll host three 60–90-mile hikes/rides on three different segments of the trail (East, Hill Country, West). Please note: These first expeditions will be for seasoned hikers, mountain bikers, and equestrians to test out different aspects of the trail, and plan what needs to be done next.
Stay tuned as the adventure continues!