ATHOL – It was in 1965 that John Holston of Athol took a family first hike up Mount Monadnock.

Since then, he has been a constant on the trails, and recently completed his 50th yearly hike up Mount Washington in the White Mountains in New Hampshire.

Holston, 72, first went up the mountain in 1974 with his cousin Bobby Rouleau Jr. This trip was up the Ammonoosac Ravine Trail and down the Jewell Trail, with a round trip of 10 miles and an elevation gain of 3,800 feet elevation gain, taking about eight hours to complete.

Holston credited an active youth spent outdoors as the inspiration for his love of hiking.

“It was just what we did,” said Holston. “Once you start, you don’t stop. I think it’s good.”

During the last 50 years, Holston has also hiked all of the presidential peaks in the White Mountains, Mount Katahdin in Maine, Mount Mansfield in Vermont, Mount Marcy in New York and many others. He was accompanied during many of the hikes by his wife Diane, his brother Jeff and his sister Julie.

Holston said that hiking up Mount Washington, one can see the Atlantic Ocean, New York, Vermont and the Presidential Range. Holston said that while the view is amazing, he really enjoys the physical challenge of the hike.

“Having seen it 50 times, it still hits me when I get to the top,” he said of the view.

For the last 25 years, Holston’s hikes have been solo, though he always takes the time to speak to people he meets on the trails. One time, he brought his guitar on a hike and began playing whle at a campground where he was staying the night, stopping when he heard someone playing a keyboard. The two began an impromptu jam session.

“You’re hearing everybody’s life story,” he said.

Holston has also hiked at all of the Quabbin gates, Tully Mountain and Mount Monadnock more than 100 times each. He has section hiked the Metacomet-Monadnock trail (117 miles) with his brother and also helped cut the first section of the Tully Trail in 1998 with the Mount Grace Land Trust.

Holston is an avid disc golfer at Tully Dam’s disc golf course (his nickname is “S” Curve Johnny). Once a year for the last 18 years Holston has played 100 holes in a row(5-1/2 times around the 18 holes, 300 throws, 10 miles, 4-1/2 hours). Holston has had many hole in ones at Tully.

In addition to hiking, Holston is a bicycler and rides 50 miles every week. Another yearly ride he has done for the last 35 years is 30 miles to Mount Monadnock for the hike. He was accompanied on many rides in the mid 1980s by Mark Ainsworth.

Today, Holston still hikes about six miles every day. His total hiking/walking mileage would be the equivalent of hiking around the circumference of the Earth – twice.

When asked if he has contemplated hanging up his hiking shoes, Holston said it’s something he thinks about now and then, especially when it comes to being injured while on the trail. At the same time, he’s eyeing Mount Chocorua in New Hampshire as his next hike.

“I meet people from all over the world on the trail, ask them where they are from,” he said. “When I see someone awestruck, I can latch onto their awestruckness.”

Max Bowen can be reached at mbowen@atholdailynews.com or at 413-930-4074.