Darrell Beauchamp started his thru-hike on June 18, 2023 from the Western Terminus. Chris “Chicken Fat” LeBlanc began his long-distance hike on July 4, 2023 from the same location.
Chicken Fat, named for the enormous amounts of fried chicken he ate while hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2014, caught up to Beauchamp on July 25. They walked 30 miles together and camped in the Dispersed Camping Area along the Table Bluff Segment. They were talking and laughing like long-time friends when they reached the Ice Age Trail Alliance headquarters.
Chicken Fat, overhearing Beauchamp lament his lack of a trail name, sought to help him acquire one, immediately offering several options based on what he knew about Beauchamp. By the time the two hikers posed in front of the Alliance’s metal mammoth sculpture, it sounded like “Duckbill” was going to stick. Beauchamp, a retired engineer, had outfitted his water bottle with a duckbill valve, a feature he was proud of, and Chicken Fat knew it.
Hiking the Ice Age Trail is Beauchamp’s first-ever thru-hike. Recently retired and a Wisconsin native, he decided to try long-distance backpacking. He quit, he said, for about three hours, after almost getting run over while walking on Highway 64, a connecting route five miles east of Gilman. However, after a Trail Angel’s assistance and a good night’s sleep, he was ready to cinch his pack and hit the Trail.
A low point for Beauchamp was almost getting hit. The long grass and challenging terrain along the Mondeaux Esker Segment also caused him to question his most recent life choice.
The high points were exciting: walking on top of beaver dams and the night a bear ambled through his campsite. He shined his flashlight, and it ran away. Beauchamp said he wasn’t afraid. He was too tired to care – immediately falling back to sleep. And another high point: meeting Chicken Fat.
Chicken Fat, overhearing Beauchamp lament his lack of a trail name, sought to help him acquire one… By the time the two hikers posed in front of the Alliance’s metal mammoth sculpture, it sounded like “Duckbill” was going to stick.
Chicken Fat hails from North Carolina, where he’s a high school history teacher. The kind who emails his students on the first day of summer and reminds them school starts in 67 days. He’s making the most of his summer vacation, though.
He allocated 23 days to hike the Ice Age Trail; his only goal was to see how far he could get. Chicken Fat happily called his sister-in-law, who lives in Madison, announcing he’d made it to Cross Plains. By the time his ride arrived, he had a hearty meal on his mind, with Beauchamp having suggested State Street’s Parthenon Gyros as a great place to eat.
Chicken Fat’s lowest point arrived along “one of the segments north of Merrill.” “The mosquitoes,” he said, “were just insane. I had a bug net and long sleeves and doused myself in DEET, and they didn’t care. They still came after me.” Luckily, his suffering only lasted five miles before the mosquitoes diminished and returned to being “normal mosquitoes.”
His high point: Hiking the Devil’s Lake Segment. The beauty was outstanding. It felt mystical. He could see why Devil’s Lake is the state’s most popular park. Of course, meeting “Duckbill” was another quality moment along the Trail.
