Gaudet conquers rare triple crown of hiking

SANDPOINT — Fred Gaudet never set out to accomplish the rare triple crown of hiking — the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Coast Trail and the Continental Divide Trail.

But after hiking more than 8,000 miles while completing the three famous trails, he admits it felt nice to be recognized recently, when the American Long Distance Hiking Association awarded him a Triple Crown plaque.

The 72 year-old retired college administrator, who lives in Hope during the summer and Arizona in the winter, has a passion for hiking, routinely cranking out more than 20 miles a day on his many journeys.

“The fun part is planning it out,” says Gaudet, noting that’s a big part of the challenge. “There is also a great diversity of landscape and people that you meet along the way.”

Gaudet first conquered the 3,200 mile Continental Divide Trail from 2003-07, battling dehydration and a stress fracture along the way. Unlike the other two trails, it’s not uncommon to go weeks between seeing another person, as well as weeks above 11,000 feet elevation.

Next up was the Pacific Coast Trail, as Gaudet once again went solo for the 2,700 mile trek, starting in 2008 and finishing in 2010.

Once those two legs were finished, it seemed only fitting to slay the trifecta, so Gaudet set out on the 2,200 mile Appalachian Trail in 2010, finishing last year after getting interrupted by Hurrican Irene.

Suffice it to say, hiking 20-plus miles every day by yourself for months on end can be grueling, both mentally and physically.

“Sometimes you zone out, other times you think about where’s the next water, next town,” describes Gaudet, who couldn’t name a favorite hike, noting each has pluses and minuses. “I’ve never solved any problems of the world, just going ahead one step at a time — make a goal and reach it.”

Gaudet’s friend Phil Hough, who also completed the triple crown with wife Deb Hunsaker, says Gaudet is one of only 174 hikers recognized as finishing all three hikes. For perspective, there are more than 3,000 people who have climbed Mt. Everest, or about 18 mountaineers for each triple crown winner.

Hough says most people think immediately of the physical challenges, which are many, but the most challenging aspect is mental. Simply getting up each day and continuing onward.

“Your job becomes walking. All you’re doing all day is walking, eating and sleeping,” says Hough, who along with Hunsaker is one of only four couples to complete all three hikes. “It takes a lot of focus to do that for five months. It plods on, and takes so much time.”

When Gaudet isn’t hiking, a hobby he picked up upon retirement, he volunteers to help maintain local trails. Still going strong, he’s already making plans to conquer the 800 mile Idaho Centennial Trail and the 500 mile Camino de Santiago trail in Spain.

Compared to past hikes, those should be mere child’s play for Gaudet.