SYCAMORE GRADS HIKE APPALACHIAN TRAIL When the Appalachian Trail beckoned,
He thinks his Sycamore background
Bill Ristow answered. In the end, after
certainly played a part in his ability
more than 2,000 miles and a summer of
to overcome adversities, both on the
hiking, the Sycamore alum discovered
trail and as he has grown into his adult
something important – that taking the
life. “Intelligence doesn’t really count
time for himself really mattered.
for anything without hard work and dedication,” he says. “I think developing
Ristow, talking about how he chose to hike
good habits, especially good study habits,
on the historic trail, says, “At the time, I was
is really key. Get it done in a structured
just kind of trying to figure out what kind
way rather than saying, ‘I’m sorry, I got
of job, out of a series of unappealing jobs,
this. I’ll finish this in ten minutes.’ I think
I wanted to do. I thought to myself, ‘Wait
it’s one that I have worked to develop
a minute. I’ve been working a little bit, but
since I left Sycamore but wish I had
I’m not by any means tied to this job. I have
started working to develop much earlier.”
time. What if I went for a month or two months or the whole thing?’”
// A 2016 Haverford College graduate who
(LEFT)
& SAM RISTOW
summer-long excursion along the trail, Bill walked with his brother for part of the trip
majored in History, Bill had plenty of time to
and connected with new trail friends on the
Bill would join his younger brother, Sam,
think and meet new friends as he traversed
rest of the route. “Sam and I were together
who had already planned to hike the trail,
the trail that spans fourteen states, along
until mid-April, but he was really doing his
taking a semester off from college to do
the crests and valleys of the Appalachian
own hike,” Bill says. “He started around
it. Both brothers were Boy Scouts, so they
Mountain Range. While more than 3 million
March 1. To be clear, the Appalachian Trail
weren’t afraid of tackling something as
people visit the trail every year, just over
hike was his idea initially.”
outdoorsy and difficult as hiking a trail.
3,000 people attempt to “thru-hike” the
“It’s something that I always kind of
entire footpath in a single year.
// People from across the globe are drawn to the trail for a variety of reasons, such
wanted to do with one of my friends,” Bill says. “It’s something I’d heard of
Completed in 1937, the Appalachian
as reconnecting with nature, escaping the
through Boy Scouts years ago. I always
National Scenic Trail is a unit of the
stress of city life, meeting new people,
loved backpacking. Then my brother was
National Park System and is the longest
deepening old friendships, or experiencing
going to do it, and I hadn’t really thought
hiking-only footpath in the world. The
a simpler life. “I ended up deciding that
of doing it at this point in my life.” With
trail goes from Springer Mountain,
it was probably the best time in my life to
a sibling already committed, Bill decided
Georgia to Katahdin, Maine.
do a trip this long, and I’m very glad that I did,” Bill says. “I think probably it is the
to go, and is glad he did. From March 28
14
BILL
to September 30, 2017, he was a part of a
“Walking the trail was something so far
best thing I’ve ever done. I would hike alone
community of hikers who spent their days
outside of anything I’ve really done before
most days, but I would meet up with friends
walking the trail.
or since,” Ristow says. “I’ve been hiking with
almost every night and camp together. I’m
the Boy Scouts, but nothing like this.” On his
still in touch with most of them.”
