[pct-l] Celebrities on the trail

[jgus at sunbow.org (Gustafson)]

I saw Bill Walton in Death Valley at the end of October this year, at 
the Death Valley Century and Double Century bicycle event (he rode the 
100-miler).  He appeared unbelievably huge, particularly since he was 
surrounded at the rest stop by ordinary-sized mortals.  His bicycle is 
the biggest I have ever seen.  Clearly, he is still athletically 
inclined, and as he lives in San Diego, it would not be at all odd for 
him to be out hiking parts of the PCT down there.  However, I'm 
guessing that hiking any great distance would be difficult for him as 
he has trashed his ankles (I believe they have been surgically fused) 
and knees during his basketball career, and it was painful to see him 
just walking across the street to the rest stop port-a-potty.  It was 
also (no disrespect intended) a bit entertaining to see him scrunch 
down to try to get into it.  The Death Valley Century is a challenging 
ride, with 4200 feet of accumulated climbing, and even more so for a 
Big Person.  I can testify that hauling more than 150 pounds body 
weight uphill, even on a lightweight road bike, is a handicap.  My hat, 
I mean my helmet, is off to him!

Two Legs

On Dec 11, 2005, at 10:06 AM, pct-l-request@mailman.backcountry.net 
wrote:
> Subject: [pct-l] Celebrities on the trail
>
> A farmer in Campo told me he saw Bill Walton starting the trail at the
> border.  Anything to that?
>
> Greg Colvin