On November 21, 1990, Bill Irwin, 50, arrived at Mount Caddin in Maine, completing the Appalachian Trail, after starting his journey on March 8.
The Appalachian Trail is a hiking trail in the United States. The route is about 3,500 miles and passes through 14 states in the eastern United States, from Springer, Georgia (located in the southern part of the route) to Mount Caddin in Maine (located in the northern part of the route).
Irwin's achievement drew great national attention because of his disability, for he was the first blind person to complete the walk.
Unlike most travelers, Erwin did not use official guides to cross the trail, but his son, Billy, made audio tapes containing information on the path from Georgia to the Delaware River in Pennsylvania. Recordings reached Erwin in the mail during his journey and contained relevant information such as mileage between major landmarks and streams, shelter locations, huts, hostels, shops, post offices, bed and breakfasts.
And what about rocks, cliffs, shelves, streams and bridges, which were enormous obstacles to navigation? He left this to his best friend, his "Orient" dog, who helped him along the way to interpret the route by changing the pace, hesitating, and guiding his feet in a careful and deliberate manner.
