Determining Speed of Trevor Thomas, a Hiker Who Is Blind

At the end of last semester, Jim Clark, mentioned that he intended to speak to his class about a blind hiker, Trevor Thomas. I remembered seeing a documentary with my husband about a year ago and wondered if it was the same hiker. It was. I decided to read about his experiences and the hikes he has made. The more I learn about him, the more impressed I am by his accomplishments. He has hiked the Appalachian Trail, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Tahoe Rim Trail, the Long Trail, the John Muir, the Colorado Trail, and the NC Mountain to Sea Trail. He has also climbed to the summits of Mt. Mitchell, Mt. Whitney, Mt. Rose, Mt. Friel, and Mt. Elbert. Most of his climbs have been with his guide dog, Tennille. The following films will be inspirational for students and teachers alike. There is also a worksheet at the end of this post where students can determine the speed of some of the hikes.

Trevor Thomas is also the founder of Team FarSight, an organization which challenges the social misconceptions of people who are blind by showcasing their abilities.

Themes that may be appropriate to discuss after the videos include: independence, self-determination, self-advocacy, O&M, echolocation, and guide dogs (among others).

Video 1: Trail of Trust: The Story of the blind hiker Trevor Thomas, UNC-TV

This 15-minute video is about Trevor Thomas, a blind hiker who lost his vision as an adult and determined to hike the Appalachian trail after hearing a blind speaker who had hiked Mount Everest. In this video Trevor utilizes hiking sticks and hikes with other hikers. He hiked the Appalachian trail in 2008.

Video 2: Trevor Thomas The Blind Hiker

In this video Trevor hikes with his guide dog, Tennille, on a solo hike for the first time. He successfully navigates the trail from the North Carolina mountains to the sea with the assistance of Tennille.

Video 3 : Trevor Thomas, Blind Hiker: CT Overview

In this short video Trevor’s determination is clear as he returns to hike the Colorado Trail (CT) after a first attemp is not successful. Though not his longest hike, he describes it as his most diffiicult.

Video 4: Be Extraordinary: Trevor Thomas: A film by Seth Epstein

This beautifully shot professional short film highlights the various hikes Trevor has been on and his self-determination.

Video 5: Trevor Thomas the Blind Hiker Completes the Mountain to Sea Trail

This 11-minute video discusses guide dogs and canes, as well as highlighting the hike. It could be used as a launching point for a discussion of whether students feel they are treated differently by others when their canes are noticed.

Video 6: Trevor Thomas, Blind hiker: Envision the Path

Trevor discusses hiking using his senses including echolocation, microclimates, breezes, etc. He also speaks about why he has chosen to hike as a blind man, including a desire to be an example to young people who are blind about the possibilities that exist for their lives. The video ends with a short review of all of Trevor’s hikes.

Video 7: Trevor Thomas, Holiday Luncheon 2013

Trevor speaks at a fundraiser for Guide Dogs for the Blind. Video 4 about Trevor’s Mountain to Sea trail is included in this 22-minute video. Topics of interest in this video include the use of technology (his iPhone) by Trevor Thomas on his hikes, and his bond with his guide dog.