Greetings from a guest at Charlie’s Twin Lakes Lodge

Image: The Twin Lakes Lodge as it looked during Charlie’s ownership. By Charlie Gandy

Charles-

You don't remember me, but I remember you. 

I stayed with you in Twin Lakes on a rainy night in 2007 while hiking the CDT. I remember for several reasons. One, I'm transcribing my hiking journals, which refreshes memories. Two, another guest that night, a young woman from Texas, a fellow traveler who was riding her mules on an attempted thru-ride of the CDT. Third, you had an interesting thank-you note from Karl Rove, who remembered you from Texas politics. Fourth, you share the name of a designer friend's former business partner, so that's two Charles Gandy's for me. Fifth, you cleverly trained your dog to lie next to you on the sofa; I have photographic proof.

Another friend sent me the article on XTX. What an excellent idea, the kind that come to you while hiking. I've had a few since 2007 while hiking, since it has taken me until October of last year to finish the triple crown. I was on the PCT section of the Tahoe Rim Trail last fall, doing a section of California I skipped due to snow after finishing through the Cascades to Canada.

I love hiking. Not just being out there, but going somewhere new every day and not knowing what you will encounter next. Strange and out of the way places. The people you meet on the trail and in towns along the way are people you would never meet otherwise. 

I think about a national network of trails: hiking, biking, equestrian. And aquatic, with lake and river sections. I've hiked some in Europe; their system is extensive. The GR system in France would keep you busy for decades. But that's Europe. Things are different here.

I also think e-bikes will get people moving in new ways. I've road walked on dirt roads for days at a time. Not my favorite thing, but what you have to do when walking cross country. When I read about the combination of dirt road and trail on your proposed XTX, the first thing that occurred to me was to combine a bike and hike trip. You probably thought the same. 

I think a good case for a national trail network could and should be made. But it might start by connecting cross-state trails. Then hooking up with established Trails like the AT and CDT. I think your XTX could be the nebulous of a series of intra-state trails. You seem to be a politically savvy person. How could this idea be sold to states?

Your idea is exciting. I see a lot of potential. This is an economic plus for small towns that a trail passes through or are close enough to hitch to for a resupply. Anybody with a spare bedroom or yard can make a few bucks. Lots of churches let hikers camp and use facilities. Some small towns, like Trout Lake, WA, have organized volunteers giving hikers rides back and forth to the trail; this brings in big bucks and benefits everyone. I've visited small town stores that would not exist without seasonal hiker business. Hell, you lived in Twin Lakes. You know the score and can see how this could grow organically. 

Give me a call anytime. I'd love to hear more and brainstorm. I'm running low on trips to plan; maybe this is next.