What does an experienced politician, bicycling advocate, and native Texan do to fill up their time when they retire? If you鈥檙e Charles Gandy, you try to create a Texas version of the Pacific Crest Trail. Gandy is spearheading efforts to develop the xTx trail, a 1,500-mile thru-hike that crosses Texas from Orange to El Paso. We chatted with Gandy to understand his vision for the trail, challenges with its development and what participants can expect.
The xTx will be a unique way for adventurers to see and experience the state. 鈥淭his ain鈥檛 Dallas. This ain鈥檛 Houston,鈥 Gandy says. 鈥淚鈥檓 inviting people to get to know Texas by dirt, and it鈥檚 a whole different deal than Texas on paper. I鈥檓 excited about sharing the friendly and dirty sides of Texas.鈥 The trail, which will be open to hikers, bicyclists, and equestrians, runs through three major Texas regions (East, West, and ) and winds through Devil鈥檚 River, , Santa Elena Canyon, and Hueco Tanks. Gandy is excited to showcase parts of the state that often fly under the radar.
鈥淓ast Texas is one of the most beautiful parts of the state, and you would never see it or learn about it unless you walked through it,鈥 he says.
Developing the xTx has come with its own unique challenges. About 90 percent of the Appalachian Trail and PCT are located on public land. In Texas, however, about 96 percent of the state鈥檚 land is privately owned, so almost the entire xTx will cross private land. For Gandy, that means speaking with (and securing deals) with about 100 individual landowners. He presents the xTx as a potential way for ranchers to earn money for the upkeep and maintenance of their land.
鈥淩anchers are making money in the fall on hunters, and then it鈥檚 dormant during the wintertime, and that鈥檚 hiking season,鈥 he says. 鈥淚鈥檓 showing them how they can extend their season. I, as a hiker, can stay in their guest house for money or camp outside for free. We want to show them the big idea and how they can participate.鈥 Gandy also has to convince landowners to install wells or watering holes on their land, since there is currently on the entire trail route.
When you hear Gandy鈥檚 life story, it鈥檚 as if every moment was designed to lead him to found xTx. After getting a degree in political science, Gandy worked in Texas politics and for the Texas Nature Conservancy; he later founded BikeTexas, an advocacy group devoted to expanding biking access. Gandy has spent years building relationships with local philanthropists, politicians, and nonprofits. Gandy is taking a life鈥檚 worth of political and advocacy skills and applying them to each conversation he has with a rancher. 鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a hundred different scenarios that we get to negotiate with a hundred different landowners,鈥 he says.
Since officially launching this summer, xTx has received a groundswell of support and donations from hikers and other outdoor enthusiasts. 鈥淎s a hiker, I鈥檓 surrounded by these 30 year olds, they鈥檙e taking on these big, hairy challenges. And they鈥檙e turning out, they鈥檙e the ones that are looking to be the trail angels of tomorrow,鈥 Gandy says. 鈥淭hey鈥檝e done their big thing, and now they want to help other people do it.鈥
As far as timetables are concerned, Gandy has given himself five years to ink deals with all the parties necessary to make xTx happen, and he鈥檚 got a strategy in place. 鈥淚鈥檓 sincere about inviting hikers out next spring to what we鈥檙e calling 鈥楽weaty Taste of the xTx鈥 and hosting people to participate in hikes [of sections of trail].鈥 He鈥檒l talk with small business owners and point to trail towns on the PCT and AT experiencing economic development. The project has an approximate budget of $5 million dollars to develop trail infrastructure, set up watering holes and secure landowner agreements.
By 2030, the first thru-hiker should get to experience the reality of Gandy鈥檚 dream in Texas. Gandy is confident that his slow-but-steady, deliberate approach will work, in part because patience and inspiration are in no short supply. For Gandy, the xTx project is the culmination of his life鈥檚 work.
鈥淭his is a legacy project for me,鈥 he says. 鈥淚 get to play the role that Benton MacKaye played for the Appalachian Trail or Clinton Clarke did for the Pacific Crest Trail.鈥
For more information on the xTx, visit .听