Blind Hiker Gets to End of Trail in Maine Woods

Blind hiker Bill Irwin today completed his Appalachian Trail journey that began eight months ago, making him the first blind person to hike the entire 2,167 miles.

About 60 people greeted him as he reached the end of the Georgia-to-Maine trail at Katahdin Stream campground this morning, an official in remote Baxter State Park said.

Irwin was joined by about 20 friends and reporters for the final 2.4-mile leg of the journey, although he walked the last few hundred yards alone.

Irwin completed his trek under sunny skies with temperatures in the upper 30s.

In recent days, Irwin had hiked in snow and sleet, but today he got what Carolyn Starling, a close friend, called “prayed-to-order weather.”

Irwin, of Burlington, N.C., was accompanied by his guide dog Orient during the epic journey.

Sponsors helped pay expenses for Irwin, a 50-year-old recovering alcoholic who lost his sight to an eye disease when he was 28.

“I’m no great example of anything,” he said in a recent interview. “Any blind person that is capable could do the same thing if they wanted to go through the same difficulty.”

Since setting out from Georgia in March, Irwin has fallen dozens of times. He has broken a rib, worn out equipment and coped with foul weather.