Thru-hiking list with dates, locations, etc.

[Bryan]

Listed here in chronological order are the persons we are aware of that have traveled the distance of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall.

The actual distance of the Great Wall, including the actual locations of the starting and ending points, what branches and paths need to be followed, and what constitutes walking the entire distance, is controversial. This is because the Wall is not a single, continuous structure, but consists of several different walls built at different times and places for different purposes. Often existing walls that had been built earlier were joined up at later times to make longer walls, and in several places, there are multiple layers of walls separated by varying distances.

Therefore, we have not tried to judge who did and did not make a “legitimate” trek, but just listed people that have made it from their starting point to their destination.

Dr. William Edgar Geil was the first to travel the distance of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall from Shanhaiguan to Jiayuguan. He did not travel on foot, but his 1907 journey was very impressive and you can read about it in his book.

Liu Yutian was the first documented individual to travel the distance of the Ming Dynasty Great Wall, completing his journey from west to east in 1984.

Dong Yaohui was another early Great Wall trekker. Leaving from Shanhaiguan in 1984, he and two companions explored the Great Wall for 508 days, exploring branches and eventually reaching Jiayuguan in 1985. He is currently the president of the China Great Wall Society.

Si Lai was still another early Great Wall explorer. He traveled from Shanhaiguan to Jiayuguan as described in his 1986 book, Journey Along the Great Wall.

William Lindesay is known as the first foreigner to travel the length of the Great Wall. His first attempt, leaving Shanhaiguan heading to the west, was unsuccessful. His second attempt, leaving Jiayuguan in 1987 heading to Shanhaiguan, was ultimately successful, carrying him 2470 kilometers, although he was repeatedly detained and delayed.

Kevin Foster bicycled selected parts of the Great Wall from Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan in 1990.

Eddie Davis and Beau Bacevicius in only 109 days in 2000 walked 1800 miles from Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan.

Gayle Hall was the first woman to walk the distance of the Great Wall. She traveled with two Chinese companions from Yumenguan to Shanhaiguan over 174 days in 2002.

Izabela Jankowska and Miranda Ford hiked from Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan from April through October in 2002 and April through August in 2004.

Brendan Fletcher and Emma Nicholas completed the distance from Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan from June, 2006 through July, 2007.

Diego Azubel completed the journey from Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan in 2000 to 2001, accompanying Nathan Gray for part of the route.

Nathan Gray, a member of the Great Wall Forum, completed the journey from Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan from 2000 to 2002.

Kevin Gilbert Jones and Paolo Antonelli also accompanied Nathan Gray and Diego Azubel at the beginning of their trek, but I do not think they completed the journey to Shanhaiguan.

Jamie Bradish went from Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan and then returned to Jiayuguan to journey all the way to Dandong from 2006 to 2008.

Tarka L’Herpiniere and Katie-Jane Cooper made the most complete trek yet, traveling 4300 continual kilometers from Yumenguan to arrive at Tiger Mountain in Dandong in 2007.

Mark Scholinz, a member of the Great Wall Forum, hiked 4780 continuous kilometers from Jiayuguan to Shanhaiguan including many alternate loops and offshoots over 276 days in 2007.

Robert Loken, a member of the Great Wall Forum, began his thru-hike at Jiayuguan in March of 2009 and is in Shanxi as of January, 2010.

Several of these trekkers are listed on our Thru-hiking links thread with links to their Web sites or sites containing more information.

This post will be updated as new and better information becomes available. Please feel free to reply if you have additional information or corrections.