How the xTexas Trail Project Started
On June 15, 2024, Charlie Gandy was hiking in Lake Tahoe California and dealing with far more snow than he realized he’d need to. He began wondering why his home state of Texas didn’t have its own cross state trail.
After all, Texas would be the perfect place weather wise when other long-distance trails were inaccessible due to snow and other weather challenges.
The more Charlie thought about it, the more he liked the idea. He called his wife Melissa (back home in Poulsbo WA) and told her about his big new hairy goal: create the first cross-state Texas trail for hiking and biking to be travelled in late fall, winter, and early spring. He’d need her help to create the website and social media. “I’m in,” she said, “but only if horses are included. It needs to be a hiking, biking, and equestrian trail.” Charlie said sure, why not?
Our 1st Year Timeline: Things moved fast!
July ‘24: Charlie began researching the most rugged, romantic, and remote route across Texas he could imagine. He included all of his favorite places and mapped it out both with physical maps and Ride with GPS.
August ‘24: The xTexas Trail Project website was launched.
September ‘24: The xTx officially became a project of BikeTexas. Charlie hit the road doing the first level of in person ground-proofing and presented at the Texas Trails & Active Transportation Conference. The trail is featured in Texas Monthly.
October ‘24: Donations started pouring in as more media outlets pick up the story. The xTx was featured in Fox News online, the Good News Network, Gear Junkie, Chron.com and more.
November ‘24: Over 200 people completed the 1st xTx volunteer survey offering their time, talent, and treasure to make the trail happen. The xTx maked it into The Texas Standard, CNN’s 5 Good Things Podcast, and more. Landowners like Pene Ferguson of the White House Ranch in West Texas, Brandan Jacob in East Texas, and Beverly and Cobra Garland (who end up buying land along the route) reach out to become key players in making the trail happen.
Winter ‘24/‘25: The xTx ended the year beating its initial funding goals. The first xTx “Show & Tell” event was hosted at BikeTexas. People came from across the state to learn more, including veterinarian and endurance equestrian Tracy Kelly and her cycling husband Stewart. The xTx was featured on Texas Public Radio.
Spring ‘25: We host the 3/10 “Sweaty Taste of the xTx: The 1st 100 Miles.” Bicyclists, equestrians, and hikers joined Charlie for a week of adventure testing out the route. Cyclist Rhea Wallance went on to complete 1,200 miles of the draft route. “Show + Tells” were hosted in San Marcos and Sanderson. Charlie hosted 3 group ground-proofing expedition hikes through Big Bend’s Santa Elena Canyon for the xTx. The xTx was featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, Conde Nast Traveler, and more
Summer ‘25: We’re in fundraising mode for next year’s budget as we develop the “xTx Horse Health Standards” to help guide communities to make the trail safe and scenic for everyone, and design prototypes for the needed “watering holes” along the route (which includes water, shelter, and tech hookups).
Ground proofing continues to find improvements. Important conversations are happening with ranch owners about routing the trail across their property and agencies about routing the trail across public lands.
Several events are on the horizon! We’re scheduling “Show & Tells,” planning “The Sweaty Taste of the xTx: Hill Country edition for early November, and we’re planning Charlie’s January 1st departure with the goal of hiking the full route (you’re invited to join him!). The xTx is featured on the Texas Parks & Wildlife Better Outside podcast.
Shown in the images from the top: 1) Charlie’s first ground proofing trip out west visiting old friends and favorite places in Marfa. 2) Spending the New Year at Pene Ferguson’s White House Ranch near Marfa. 3) The Bike Texas xTx “Show & Tell” event in Austin in February. 4) Charlie being interviewed at The Texas Standard 5) Sweaty Taste of the xTx: 1st 100 Miles ground proofer and equestrian team leader Tracy Kelly. 5) Journalist and photographer Pam LeBlanc hiking Santa Elena Canyon with Charlie this late spring.