Worcester man completes second Long Path hike

The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y.
·2 min read

Jul. 24—Tom Walsh, a 66-year-old hiker, trail volunteer and cancer survivor from Worcester, completed the Long Path Hike Tuesday, July 23, becoming the first person on record to hike the trail both northbound in one trip and southbound in one trip, according to the New York-New Jersey Trail Conference.

It took Walsh 37 days to complete the 360-mile hike, including some rest days, according to a news release from Otsego 2000. He hiked the Long Path northbound in 2020.

"It was beautiful and brutal," Walsh said in a statement about hiking the Long Path southbound from Thacher State Park in Voorheesville to 175th Street in Manhattan.

In addition to the personal challenge, Walsh used the hike to raise awareness and funds for patient services at Bassett Cancer Institute and for Otsego Outdoors. He estimates he raised more than $5,000, and donations are still coming in.

The hike was not without its challenges.

He hiked in 98-degree heat and faced early mornings with 42-degree cold. He hiked through pouring rain on flooded trails. He hiked up and down the Catskills and over the George Washington Bridge.

Despite blisters and weight loss, Walsh persevered and credits the help of fellow hikers and Friends of the Long Path, who provided food, rides, company and encouragement.

"I saw amazing things and met amazing people," Walsh said.

Otsego Outdoors, a collaborative program of Otsego 2000, the Otsego County Conservation Association, the Otsego Land Trust and the Butternut Valley Alliance, promotes year-round recreation in and near Otsego County and offers seasonal Otsego Octet Challenges.

Walsh credited Bassett Healthcare Network for saving his life twice. This year, the funds he raised for Bassett will go to support expenses for cancer patients at the Bassett Cancer Institute.

This is Walsh's fifth charity hike. Counting the Long Path Hike, he has walked more than 1,360 miles on these hikes and raised $25,000 for nonprofit organizations.

On his first day back at his home in Worcester, Walsh said that he wants to do something again next year.

"I'm not sure what, but it will probably be a hike or a walk," he said.

Donations, which will be split evenly between Bassett Cancer Institute and Otsego Outdoors, are still being collected online at otsegooutdoors.org or by mailing a check, made payable to Otsego 2000, to Otsego Outdoors c/o Otsego 2000, PO Box 1130, Cooperstown, NY 13326.