Times Observer photos by Jessica N. Rex Derek Childs is pictured with his father, Larry, and mother, Christina.

Derek Childs, a 2024 Eisenhower High School graduate, and his parents have a heck of a story to tell about his trek along the Appalachian Trail.

Childs and his parents shared that story recently at Allegheny Outfitters.

Speaking about his experience using a slide show with pics of all the scenic views and more, one could tell that Childs had chosen something that was life changing. Serving as sort of a “gap” year after high school before heading off for additional schooling, Childs was excited to share all about the experience. He and his mother talked and showed what little gear that he had taken with him during the 134-day excursion. Having useful and compact gear was crucial to the success of enduring the whole trail. Childs went through about four pairs of hiking shoes, and sets of trekking sticks – which he also used to also prop his tent up. In the beginning there was some struggle with weather and missing home. But by mile marker 200, Childs was able to let go of some of the doubts he had about taking the trip.

The visit from family during Easter really helped him keep going in those beginning weeks. Some of the periods of trials on the trail were encountering the damage from Hurricane Helene, making it difficult to find the trail, requiring a detour. Perhaps one of the worst things he faced was the Norovirus, which hit him hard but it didn’t keep him from going on once he had quickly recovered.

He encountered people from all over the world and explained how the fellow hikers he met became his “tramily,” and that the communities along the way were supportive, allowing different amenities such as hot showers and cookies – just some of the comforts Childs must have missed while being away from home. He also gained the nickname “Pony Boy” because while on a portion of the hike, Childs met a pony who tried to steal his water pack.

The Appalachian Trail runs more than 2,000 miles in total and spans from Georgia to Maine, about 550 miles of which runs through the state of Virginia. Getting through that portion was one of the toughest feats and although he was ready to crush the state, Childs found out that a lot of people quit the trail while in Virginia.

“There were no more milestones after that. Every milestone after that was not as exciting, since no new states were part of it for quite some time,” Childs said.

He had to get himself in a mindset of keeping going. The “Rollercoaster” part of the trail was tough, but having the “tramily” made it easier. Hiking alone the first part of the trip, Childs eventually made a best friend who was from Rhode Island and they hiked together the rest of the way.

In all, Childs took about 10 “zero days,” one in which his father, Larry Childs, came for a visit. More visits happened along the way as well including his girlfriend and friends. At about the 1,000 mile marker in Harpers Ferry, W.V., is an unofficial halfway point of the trail. According to online research, Harpers Ferry is considered the “psychological halfway point” of the Appalachian Trail, although the actual mileage halfway is in Pennsylvania. Visitors can explore the Appalachian Trail Conservancy headquarters and enjoy various hiking options in the area. Once that goal is met the Appalachian Trail Conservatory gives hikers a new number. Childs was now number 355 but had started out as the 1,546 hiker. That means that a little over 1,100 people had dropped off the trail for various reasons, or Childs had passed them.

The official halfway point in Pine Grove State park where he happily participated in a challenge to eat a large amount of ice cream in one sitting. It is also where Childs was reminded of a quote that his teacher and football coach, Jim Penley, had said to him: “Don’t go onto a hike with a purpose, but let the trail expose that purpose while you hike.” Childs said that he relied on Penley’s quote while often pondering why he was doing it.

Hitting Pennsylvania (“Rocksylvania”) 1,200 miles at the heart of the state was an accomplishment that made Childs feel at home and helped him to put one foot in front of the other especially since more visits from close friends allowed him more “zero days” and he got off the trail to have some fun quality time together. He knew once he made it to his home state, and then crossing into New Jersey, there was no turning back – he was determined to finish the hike. Getting through all the New England states was great, as each new state came much quicker than the others.

Christina Childs, Derek’s mother, shared that it was an experience in letting go and realizing that her son, now a young man, was doing well out there on his own. She sent a total of 23 resupply boxes along the way.

“My mom helped me out so much on this trail. She had sent me food package after food package; never having to go hungry nor having to stop in towns very much for those items,” Childs said.

Once Childs was out of Pennsylvania and continuing north, it became more difficult to track where he was, said his mother, “I felt, ‘Okay, he doesn’t need mom anymore’ and I couldn’t plan where to have things sent to him any longer.” The days that went without calls were tough. Childs was doing the trail for his mom who could live vicariously in his experience, although she mentioned that she hasn’t given up the idea of doing it one day herself. Father Larry Childs added, “For 134 days, life for us was on hold.” Some nights were spent with the father and son watching Yankees games together by Facetime when he was able to stay in a hotel.

Reaching Vermont and feeling super human, Childs fell in love with the scenery there. Mt. Killington was a place where he read a sign, “The mountains will be just as cold and lonely tonight as they were 200 years ago: Point of no return.”

Admitting he was scared, Childs carried on and soon hit the Day100 milestone. He started to feel confident as a hiker.

Maine is the 2,000 mile marker where Mount Katahdin was the toughest to conquer. Childs was once again reminded of pondering the purpose of the 134 day trek. He wasn’t ready to stop but then went down that mountain, having accomplished his journey, just shy of 4.5 months on the trail.

If it weren’t for all of the support along the way, Childs may have wanted to give up. Many hikers do not finish the trail for one reason or another. Budgeting was an issue and he started with about $5,000, but others said double that amount would be needed. Childs was able to finish the trail having spent less than the $5,000 that he had started with. Many people ran out of money and dropped off the trail. Childs went from hiking around 12 miles per day, up to 20-26; with a 17 miles per day average. The biggest day came towards the very end of the trail, hiking 42 miles in one day, which took 16 hours, 13 of which were hiking. His mobile phone went with him, and was used sparingly but many times for the useful app called “Far Out” which has no need for cell service. Meanwhile his mom used old school paper maps and marked them with notes on where he stayed, the weather conditions he faced, and where resupply boxes could be sent. An audience member asked if he had seen a real Bigfoot, Childs responded with, “I went the entire trail without seeing Bigfoot. Believe it or not, the day I finished I saw Bigfoot and he came and got me. That was my dad.”

As a young man preparing himself for what lies ahead in his future, Childs has an experience like no other under his belt. In January, Childs will be heading to Georgia to attend the Southeast Lineman Training Center. He reflects on how he didn’t think he’d want to hike a long trail ever again, but after a few months of being home, he said that the Pacific Crest Trail, the nearly 2,700 mile trail from Mexico to Canada, is now calling him next. Childs said that having that solitude and time to think and being away from everyday norms helped him forget the worries and helped him realize the important things in life.