2/12/25 - Media Alert & Invite: Sweaty Taste of the xTx: 1st 100 Miles
For Immediate Release February 12, 2025
Media Alert: Texas is getting its first cross-state trail for hiking, biking, and trail riding—come see the kickoff for the first 100-mile group ground-proofing!
Media Contact: Melissa Balmer Email: Melissa@PedalLove.org Text (360) 265-2883
Images and videos from the trail are available upon request.
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Austin TX – The xTexas Trail Project is a 1,500-mile target-rich trail through the heart of Texas, intended for use in winter and early spring by hikers, cyclists, and equestrians. This legacy project was ideated by fifth-generation Texan, active outdoor advocate, thru-hiker, and thru-cyclist Charlie Gandy. It’s a project of the non-profit BikeTexas.
Join us on March 10th for the “Sweaty Taste of the xTx: The First 100 Miles,” which will kick off at 7:00 am at Quicksand Creek on the Sabine River just off the I90 and end at Livingston.
Find more details here: Sweaty Taste of the xTx: The First 100 Miles — xTexas.org
This is the first group ground-proofing adventure for the draft xTx route. Over seven days, Gandy and a group of seasoned volunteers of self-supporting hikers, cyclists, and equestrians will travel the first 100 miles of the route Gandy has put together, gathering information on the trail’s conditions, water sources, camping locations, resupply, and more.
The Sweaty Taste kickoff at Quicksand Creek will also mark the start of two longer journeys, as two men attempt to travel the full route, collecting important data for future improvements along the way:
Fifth-generation Texas (now Washington state resident) Rhea Wallace will travel Gandy’s draft route by bike.
Moondog Roop of New Mexico will travel the route by skateboarding and hiking. Follow his adventures for the trail here: Moondog Roop - YouTube
Gandy, Wallace, Roop, and other participants who are participating in the ground-proofing, such as retired veterinarian and endurance rider Tracy Kelly of Waco, are happy to speak with the media.
Journalists with the skills to participate in the group ground-proofing are welcome to join in for a day, or for the entire trip.
About the xTexas Trail Project
While Charlie Gandy was hiking California’s Tahoe Rim Trail in June of 2024, he began to wonder why his home state of Texas didn’t have its own cross-state, long-distance trail. He decided to do something about it. By August, the xTexas.org website was launched and Charlie had begun ground-proofing a route that would share the wonders of Texas with other trail enthusiasts.
The xTexas Trail Project draft route begins on the Louisiana border, rambles through quiet public backcountry paved and gravel roads, public trails, state and national parks, and will also cross private ranch land, and farms once permission has been established. It ends in El Paso, and includes Big Bend and the Guadalupe Mountains.
The xTexas Trail Project exceeded its launch fundraising goals, and has garnered the interest of over 200 volunteers thus far, eager to share their time and talent. The trail project has been featured in CNN’s 5 Good Things Podcast, the Houston Chronicle, Texas Monthly, The Texas Standard, and Texas Public Radio, among other publications. Find out more at xTexas.org.
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