Late last month, I took off for a day to explore some of the hiking trails in Southeastern Ohio. I headed south to the Wayne National Forest and saw a sign near Burr Oak State Park that read, “Buckeye Trail Event.” After doing some hiking around Wayne National Forest, I decided to see if I could find some more information on the event at Burr Oak.
After some online research, I found a weekend event called the Emma Grandma Gatewood Solstice Hike (or EGGS Hike, as it is commonly known). For those who do not know, Emma “Grandma” Gatewood was a minimalist hiker and mother of 11 children who, at age 67, became the first woman to thru-hike the Appalachian Trail (the A.T.) solo. She subsequently became the first person to thru-hike the A.T. three times, the second a year later in 1956, and then again in 1964. Additionally, she hiked 2,000 miles of the Oregon Trail in 1959. She was posthumously inducted into the A.T. Hall of Fame in 2012.
The director for the 2023 EGGS Hike was Byron Guy. He is the Buckeye Trail Association Old Man’s Cave Section Director. The Buckeye Trail Association breaks down the trail into sections, with volunteers coordinating the conservation efforts in their respective sections and often coordinating events associated with their sections. The EGGS hike consists of 20-, 40-, 60- and 80-mile hikes. This year, 98 hikers participated, with 61 finishing.
I asked Guy what the key was to the successful completion of hikes such as this.
“Many attribute their success to eating better on the trail and properly timed electrolytes with sporadic water hydration (think drink when you feel thirsty) between water sources and ‘camelling up’ at water sources (think drink as much as you can handle, as camels do)," he said. "In essence, they listened to their bodies on the multiple training hikes they all took.”
Training for this type of event takes time and dedication. I planned on undertaking the Mammoth March and Burr Oak, which follows much of the same route as the EGGS Hike, in August. Due to some unfortunate family commitments, I have not had the time to prepare for the hike properly, so I decided to train from now until next year’s event rather than risk injuring myself or suffering the disappointment of not finishing.
“Most hikers train by wave training. Going on three to four short hikes (6-10 miles) with weight, then a longer (12-16 miles) with a base weight (water and food only). Wash, rinse, repeat," Guy said.
These events happen all over the country, and there are many opportunities here in Ohio for event hikes. The Buckeye Trail Association website is a great place to find local events or other events within the state if this type of hike interests you. I plan to attempt the EGGS Hike next year and have committed to preparing for the hike.
One of the key things when training for this type of hike is moderation. As mentioned, taking shorter hikes with some increased weight to build up your body, and then a longer hike with the weight you would likely carry on the trail to build up endurance. Hikes like this take planning and commitment to prepare for, and not everyone who starts can finish. Don’t get discouraged if you don’t make the mark, and work within your body's limits in preparation and participation not to injure yourself.
If a difficult hike is in your plans, take the time to plan and prepare your training routine, and enjoy the time you spend preparing as well. Proper nutrition and hydration, and keeping an eye on the weather, will make all the difference when hiking this time of year. With the rapid weather changes we are prone to during these warmer months, be prepared for anything while on the trail, and as always, be safe, have fun and get outside!
