Billy W Mitchell (GeckosTrails)

My name is Billy W. Mitchell. Gecko is the trail name that I am known by in the thru-hiking community. I am an avid hiker, backpacker, and camper. I like to let people know about hiking trails, outfitters, and places to visit. My mother used to always tell me that I had the most incurable case of wanderlust she had ever seen. It's true. As a child growing up in the rural piney forests of southeast Texas, she could never keep me in the house. I was alway off exploring the woods on the family's 127 acres. After graduating high school, I joined the US Army and spent my enlistment at Ft. Drum, NY where I served as a Light Infantry soldier. I am currently 1 credit away from graduating at Texas State University with a B.S. degree in Geography with a minor in Sociology. I work as a seasonal worker for tourist spots all over the United States, such as National Parks, ski resorts and lodges, and tourist ranches. In essence, I get paid to travel to places on my bucket list and enjoy things that most people spend hundreds or thousands of dollars to experience.

In the Spotlight

How to Apply for a Seasonal Job Using CoolWorks

Seasonal work is an inexpensive way to travel and see some of the most beautiful locations in the United States.

In the Spotlight

A Great Vacation: A Photographic Exploration of New Mexico

There are many great places to visit in New Mexico, from the white, sparkling dunes of White Sands National Monument and the subterranean chambers of Carlsbad Caverns National Park to the forested mountains of Ruidoso and the desert waters of Bottomless Lakes State Park, there is so much to see.

In the Spotlight

A Photographic Exploration of Glacier National Park

In Montana, Glacier National Park is the place where the land strives to touch the sky. It is one of the last places in the United States where mountains are topped by glaciers.

In the Spotlight

A Great Vacation: Yellowstone National Park

Also called America's First National Park, Yellowstone embodies the wilderness beauty that has enraptured generations of outdoor enthusiasts, beckoning them to leave the modern world of skyscrapers, technology, and interstate freeways behind if only for a little while. Come join us!

In the Spotlight

3 of the Best Texas Beaches

Did you know Texas ranks fifth in beach mileage? Here are three of my favorites as a Texas native: Padre Island National Seashore, Jamaica Beach, and St. Joseph Island.

In the Spotlight

Top 5 San Marcos Hiking Trails

As a Texas resident and an avid hiker, these are my personal top five trails to hike in San Marcos. These are relatively short hikes ranging from about a mile to 8.4 miles.

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  2
  letterpile.com

  Finding Your Birth Family With DNA Testing

  4 years ago

  Even if you know nothing at all about your birth family, DNA testing will show you genetic matches that can lead you to birth parents, siblings, half-siblings, and more.

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  2
  Recruitment & Staffing

  How to Apply for a Seasonal Job Using CoolWorks

  2 years ago

  Seasonal work is an inexpensive way to travel and see some of the most beautiful locations in the United States.

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  1
  wanderwisdom.com

  3 of the Best Texas Beaches

  10 months ago

  Did you know Texas ranks fifth in beach mileage? Here are three of my favorites as a Texas native: Padre Island National Seashore, Jamaica Beach, and St. Joseph Island.

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  1
  United States

  A Great Vacation: A Photographic Exploration of New Mexico

  2 years ago

  There are many great places to visit in New Mexico, from the white, sparkling dunes of White Sands National Monument and the subterranean chambers of Carlsbad Caverns National Park to the forested mountains of Ruidoso and the desert waters of Bottomless Lakes State Park, there is so much to see.

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  1
  wanderwisdom.com

  A Photographic Exploration of Glacier National Park

  8 months ago

  In Montana, Glacier National Park is the place where the land strives to touch the sky. It is one of the last places in the United States where mountains are topped by glaciers.

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  2
  United States

  A Great Vacation: Yellowstone National Park

  5 years ago

  Also called America's First National Park, Yellowstone embodies the wilderness beauty that has enraptured generations of outdoor enthusiasts, beckoning them to leave the modern world of skyscrapers, technology, and interstate freeways behind if only for a little while. Come join us!

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  1
  Street Art & Graffiti

  San Marcos, Texas: City of Murals and Street Art

  5 years ago

  As a resident of San Marcos, Texas and a lover of the artistic genre of graffiti art it was inspiring to watch the City of San Marcos give it's permission to local artists to apply for the opportunity to paint murals on the buildings in the city proper.

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  Travel Tours

  San Marcos, Texas Mermaid Statue Tour

  4 years ago

  Just this past year, the City of San Marcos Commissioned the creation of 10 mermaid statues to be installed around the town in an effort to boost tourism. I decided to take the tour, video it, and take photographs to be used in this article on HubPages.com. Enjoy!

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  0
  wanderwisdom.com

  The Top 5 Live-Music Venues in San Marcos, Texas

  10 months ago

  Want to find live music in San Marcos? As a resident of San Marcos, Texas, and an avid live-music aficionado, here are my top five live-music venues in San Marcos.

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  Texas

  Top 5 Places to Visit in San Marcos, Texas

  4 years ago

  As a resident of San Marcos, Texas, in my opinion these are the Top 5 Places to visit. This historic town which is located approximately 26 miles south of Austin and 34 miles north of San Antonio is ideal for museum-going history enthusiasts, live music lovers, and river tubers.

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  Campsites & Hiking Trails

  Top 5 San Marcos Hiking Trails

  15 months ago

  As a Texas resident and an avid hiker, these are my personal top five trails to hike in San Marcos. These are relatively short hikes ranging from about a mile to 8.4 miles.