Circuit hikers of Ohio’s longest trail

The Buckeye Trail is more than 1,400 miles today, but it wasn’t always that long, and it wasn’t always a loop. Here are the hikers who’ve completed the entire trail in different eras—whether in one push (thru-hike) or over many trips (Section hikes).

It is a real achievement to hike the Buckeye trail! The Buckeye Trail Association celebrates trail finishers with patches, recognition, and the opportunity to add your name to the list of trail finishers below.

Post-loop Buckeye Trail finishers

In 1980, the Buckeye Trail grew to a 1,200-mile loop, later extended to 1,400+ miles with the addition of the Wilderness Loop in 2005. All those listed below hiked the entire trail as it existed at the time.

Class of 2025 (TrailFest 2024-2025)
Ian Koenig (FKT Record) (2024)
Don Pattison (2024)
Louis Agoston (2024)
Nancy Chovan Hoffner (2024)
Tammi Craig (2025)
Stacey Harless (2025)
Elizabeth Waters (2025)
Alan Monnin (2025)
Neal Monnin (2025)
Lauren Slate (2025)
Mary McKean (2025)
Kathy Fix (3rd Time) (2025)
Roxanna Lehman (2025)
Mary Beth Spitznagle (2025)
Jeri Getts (3rd Time) (2025)
Emily Nighswander (2025)
Todd Herzog (2025)

Class of 2024 (TrailFest 2023-2024)
Karen Fisk (2nd Time) (2024)
Bob Fox (2024)
Richard Morgan (4th Time) (2024)
John Kadle (2024)

Bill “TripTik” Hines (2023)
Meg “Meriwether” Sondey (2023)
Raman “Old Dead Eye” Ras (2023)
Jon Martin (2023)
Mike Brown (2023)
Torri Brown (2023)
Jay Shutt (2023)
Cindy “Trip Advisor” Somers (2023)
Jeri Getts (2nd Time) (2023)
Jo Rawley (2023)
Pat “Rock Flipper” Fett (2023)
Kay Russell (2023)

Timothy J. Murphy (2022)
Patrick Buffington (2022)
Kristine Stevens (2022)
Susanne Klein (2022)
Dennis Betts (2022)
Christina Costarella (2022)
Matt Patterson (2022)
Michael Foulkes (2022)

Dain Sutton (2021)
Josh Horsfall (2021)
Daniel Schmidt (2021)
Richard Daugherty (2021)
Jeff Yoest (2021)
Sandy Bartlett (2021)
John Smilek (2021)

Eileen Gerson (2020)
Dan Herris (2020)
Cathy King (2020)
Julie Melzak (2020)
John Chappel (2020)

Cheryl Kreindler (2019)
Kyle Browning (2019)
Luke Bushatz (2019)
Chad Hiser (2019)
Jim Logsdon (2019)
Lucas Smith (2019)
Dale J. Wical (2019)
Andrew “Mr. Truth” Prill (2019)
Karen Fisk (2019)
Jim Gilkey (2nd) (2019)
Richard Morgan (2nd) (2019)
Kathleen Fix (2nd) (2019)
Jacob Thompson (2019)
Maria Wingard (2019)
Jen Weaver (2019)
Bonnie Spencer (2019)
CW Spencer (2nd) (2019)
Nancy Shepherd (2019)
Nathan Simpson (2019)
Karen Power (2019)
Jeri Getts (2019)

Everett Brandt (2018)
Mike Brown (2018)
Torri Brown (2018)
Tim Gerber (2018)
Mary Ruth Grubbs Green (2018)
Jeanne DeLaney (2018)
Don Lenc (2018)

Randall Roberts (2017)
George Tyo (2017)
Beverly Phillips (2017)
Joan Young (2017)
Mei Ling Liber (2017)
Preston Hudson (2017)
Tom Helbig (2017)

Karen L. Walker (2016)
Dianne K. Bell (2016)
Chuck Hewett (2016)
Beth Hewett (2016)
Sterling Deck (2016)
Martin Strange (2016)

Mary L. Warren (2013)
Lisa A. Strohm (2013)
Kathleen A. Fix (2013)
Jim Gilkey (2013)

Denise Hill (2012)
John Fetzer (2012)
Gary Wooddell (2012)
Gwendolyn I. Wooddell (2012)
CW Spencer (2012)
Richard Morgan (2012)
James Wright (2012)

Andy Niekamp (2011)
Bob Simons (2011)
Michael E. Hooper (2011)
Paul G. Imhoff Jr. (2011)

Sean Owens (2010)

Bob Pond (2009)
Connie Pond (2009)
Peter W. Cottrell (2009)
Joyce G. Cottrell (2009)
Karen Krause (2009)
Ted Krause (2009)

David Janosko (2008)
Kenny Janosko (2008)
Chris McIntyre (2008)

Richard E. Harris (2007)
Mary Baldwin (2007)
Mary Jane Decker (2007)
Beth Hanna (2007)
Harvey Hanna Jr. (2007)
Jeanne Henry (2007)
Ed Horvath (2007)
Sharon Horvath (2007)
Laszlo Prisko (2007)
Rose Prisko (2007)
Marty Ritzert (2007)
Gayle Shroy (2007)
Robert Shroy (2007)
Denise Tobiasz (2007)
Dave Tobiasz (2007)

Don Beattie (2005)
Steven W. Trimble (2005)
Louisa J. Kreider (2005)

Peter Cottrell (2004)
Joyce Cottrell (2004)
Patrick Hayes (2004)
Sandy S. Garry (2004)
William T. Schultz (2004)
Cecilia Hartman (2004)
John A. Bowers (2004)
John Rethman (2004)

Amy Anslinger (2003)
Brent Anslinger (2003)
Ruth Brown (2003)
Robert C. “Bob” Brown (2003)

Lisa Daiber-Zintek (2002)
Anne Snedaker (2002)

Jim Runk (2001)
Dana Zintek (2001)

Jay Abercrombie (2000)
John Merrill (2000)

Harold Schneider (1999)

Leo Deininger (1994)

Spencer Allen (1992)
Gary K. Calvert (1992)
Thelma Hill (1992)
Dick Wiegandt (1992)
Darlene Wiegandt (1992)
Don Hoffman (1992)

Paul Daniel (1990)

Lynn Schreiber (1988)

Jytte Hansen (1987)

Tom Lavelle (1986)
Jim Sprague (1986)

Michel Brindo (1984)

Robert Starker (1983)
Jim Ball (1983)
Charles W. Briggs (1983)
Jeanette (Kozeny) DeSimone (1983)
Gene DeSimone (1983)
Cecil Dobbins (1983)
Wilma Howard (1983)
Louise McConough (1983)
Victor Sandoff (1983)
Lowell Sanford (1983)
Louis Shainker (1983)
Clifton Tate (1983)

Pre-loop Buckeye Trail Finishers

Before 1980, the Buckeye Trail wasn’t a loop. These hikers completed the entire existing trail of their time. By 1980, the Buckeye Trail had grown to 658 miles long.

520 Mile Trail Finishers

Husband and Wife Team were the First “Known” Finishers of the Trail
Dr. Kenneth Francis Rupp (Husband) (1970)
Evelyn Rupp (Wife) (1970)

Friends Hiked Together
Steve Inkel (Age 17) (1972)
Mark Larsen (Age 15) (1972)

Boy Scout Group Hiked Together
Clifford Dean Thorniley (31) (June 1974)
Roger Jones (Age 14) (June 1974)
Rick Welsh (Age 14) (June 1974)
Carl Darren Cooperider (Brother) (Age 13) (June 1974)
Craig Dennis Cooperider (Brother) (Age 15)(June 1974)

Group of 4 Women Hiked Together
Marion Pat Ellis (May 1975)
Judy Gibson (May 1975)
Ellen Mumma (May 1975)
Helen Bowen (May 1975)

571 Mile Trail Finishers

Group Finished Together
Donna Seither (Nov 1975)
James Feeley (Nov 1975)
Louise McDonough (Nov 1975)
Frank Cepp (Husband) (Nov 1975)
Miriam Cepp (Wife) (Nov 1975)

Remainder of Group Finished Together
Jane Pendley (Apr 1976)
Rachel Hartman (Apr 1976)
Gene C. DeSimone (Apr 1976)
Emily Gregor (Apr 1976)
Helena Hart (Apr 1976)
Victor George Sandorf (Apr 1976)

Family Who Also Finished in Group
Donald L. Howard (Husband) (Apr 1976)
Wilma Howard (Wife) (Apr 1976)
Kenneth Howard (Age 13) (Apr 1976)
Brian Howard (Age 12) (Apr 1976)

658 Mile Trail Finishers

Group Finished Together
Daniel A Springate (Husband) (Nov 1978)
Garnett (Bird) Springate (Wife) (Nov 1978)
Cecil Dobbins (Nov 1978)
Charles W. Briggs (Nov 1978)
Clifton Tate (80) (Nov 1978)
Gene C. DeSimone (Nov 1978)
Jeanette (Kozeny) DeSimone (Nov 1978)
Louis “Lou” Shainker (Nov 1978)

Special Recognition and Currently Held Records

The are the currently known records based on available verifiable information.

FOUR TIME FINISHER
Richard Morgan - Only person, male or female, to finish the entire Buckeye Trail 4 times. (07/30/2024)

THREE TIME FEMALE FINISHERS
Kathy Fix - First woman to finish the entire Buckeye Trail 3 times. (05/25/2025)
Jeri Getts - Second woman to finish the entire Buckeye Trail 3 times. (06/29/2025)

YOUNGEST FEMALE TO FINISH THREE TIMES
Jeri Getts - Finished at 63 years old.

OLDEST FEMALE TO FINISH THREE TIMES
Kathy Fix - Finished at 64 years old.

THREE TIME MALE FINISHERS
Richard Morgan - Only male to finish 3 times. (May 2021)

TWO TIME FEMALE COMPLETIONISTS
Kathy Fix - First woman to finish 2 times. (10/20/2019)
Jeri Getts - Second woman to finish 2 times. (05/22/2023)
Karen Fisk - Third woman to finish 2 times. (05/04/2024)

YOUNGEST FEMALE TO FINISH TWO TIMES
Kathy Fix - Finished at 58 years old.

OLDEST FEMALE TO FINISH TWO TIMES
Karen Fisk - Finished at 67 years old.

TWO TIME MALE COMPLETIONISTS
Jim Gilkey (October 2019)
Richard Morgan (October 2019)
C.W. Spencer (October 2019)

OLDEST MALE TO FINISH TWO TIMES
Jim Gilkey - Finished at 73 years old.

OLDEST MALE THRU-HIKER OF THE BUCKEYE TRAIL
Don Lenc - Completed it at 72 years old in 2018.

OLDEST FEMALE THRU-HIKER OF THE BUCKEYE TRAIL
Unknown - Please email Cindy at CentralOhio@BuckeyeTraiil.org if you believe you may have this record and it will be verified.

YOUNGEST MALE THRU-HIKERS OF THE FULL LOOP BUCKEYE TRAIL
Lucas Smith (1st of Two Youngest Thru-Hikers at 18 Yrs Old) (79 Days) (08/07/2019)
Dain Sutton (Youngest SOLO Thru-Hiker at 18 Yrs Old) (86 Days) (07/17/2021)

YOUNGEST FEMALE THRU-HIKER OF THE BUCKEYE TRAIL
Mei Ling Liber - Through hiked it at 31 years old.

Please email Cindy at CentralOhio@BuckeyeTrail.org if you believe you may have this record and it will be verified.

OLDEST FEMALE SECTION HIKERS
Victoria Livingston - Completed the entire Buckeye Trail with her husband Dave on July 12, 2026 setting the new record for the Oldest Female Section Hiker!

Victoria was 79 years old (hiking from the age of 76 to 79!)

The following women were all 77 years old when they finished.
Jeanne Henry - Completed the 1,310-mile trail in 2007
Mary Ruth (Grubbs) Green - Finished the 1,444 mile trail together in 2018
Jeanne DeLaney - Finished the 1,444 mile trail together in 2018

YOUNGEST FEMALE SECTION HIKER OF THE BUCKEYE TRAIL
Emily Nighswander - Completed the trail at 31 years old in 2025.
Please email Cindy at CentralOhio@BuckeyeTrail.org if you believe you may have this record and it will be verified.

OLDEST MALE SECTION HIKER
Jay Shutt was 71 years, 10 months old when he completed it.

Please email Cindy at CentralOhio@BuckeyeTrail.org if you believe you may have this record and it will be verified.

SETS OF BROTHERS WHO COMPLETED THE BT TOGETHER
Alan and Neal Monnin (Section Hiked 1,444+ FULL LENGTH trail) (04/13/2025)
Brian (12) and Ken (13) Howard (Section Hiked 571 mile trail) (April 1976)
Craig Dennis (15) and Carl Darren (13) Cooperider (Thru-Hiked 520 mile trail) (06/02/1974)

ONLY ONE FAMILY COMPLETED THE BT TOGETHER
The Howard Family completed the 571 miles trail in April 1976
Wilma, Don, Ken, and Brian Howard

ONLY ONE FATHER AND SON DUO HAS SECTION HIKED THE TRAIL TOGETHER
David M. Janosko and Kenneth J. Janosko (who was 16 when he finished.)

COUPLES WHO FINISHED THE TRAIL TOGETHER
There have been 24 couples who completed the trail together.

21 couples were Section Hikers
The last couples who finished were:

  • Dave Bradford and Victoria Livingston (07/12/2026)
  • Richard and Francis Snell (05/19/2026)
  • Mike and Torri Brown (04/09/2023)
  • CW and Bonnie Spencer (10/12/2019)
  • Gary and Gwen Wooddell (03/19/2012)
  • Ted and Karen Krause (Aug 2009)
  • Bob and Connie Pond (04/02/2009)

3 couples Thru-Hiked the BT

  • Brent and Amy Anslinger (11/16/2003)
  • Peter W. and Joyce G. Cottrell (Aug 2009)
  • Chuck and Beth Hewett (07/06/2016)

MARRIED ON THE BUCKEYE TRAIL
Cindy Somers is the first/only Completionist who was married on the Buckeye Trail (Ash Cave in 2012.)

YEARS WITH THE MOST COMPLETIONISTS
“Class of 2019” - There were 21 Finishers.
“Class of 2025” - There were 17 Finishers.

YEAR WITH THE MOST FEMALE FINISHERS
“Class Year” 2024-2025 - 11 of the 17 Finishers were female.

FASTEST KNOWN TIME RECORD
There are 3 Fastest Known Times on Record.
Everett Brandt was the first to hold the record at 55 days. (08/06/2018)
Josh Horsfall later finished in 39 days, 5 hours. (11/04/2021)
Ian Koenig holds the current record at 35 Days 8 Hours and 46 Minutes. (09/06/2024)