Notable Peripatetics

The New Yorker covers the story of William Helmreich and Matt Green as they walk every block in all five boroughs of New York City. New York City contains approximately 8,000 miles of city streets. It's probably going to take a while. But hey, as the comedian Steven Wright once said, "everywhere is within walking distance if you have the time."

Grandma Gatewood is not only the first woman to thruhike the Appalachian Trail, she also became the first person to hike the entire trail a total of three times. Also, I should also point out, her first trip on the AT came at the ripe old age of 67. She walked in Ked tennis shoes, without a sleeping bag, carrying all of her belongings in a homemade denim bag that she made herself. Despite these tremendous hiking feats, perhaps her greatest challenges came as she parented 11 children, while suffering from continuous physical abuse from her husband, that several times put her within reach of death. After completing the Appalachian Trail three times she went on to hike 2,000 miles of the Oregon Trail from Independence, Missouri to Portland Oregon. She passed away at the age of 85, leaving behind her 11 children, 24 grandchildren, 30 great-grandchildren, and one great-great-grandchild.

Nimblewill Nomad, is a man synonymous with long distance hiking. After retiring he spent the next 15 years of his life committing his life to long distance hiking, walking an astounding 34,000 miles (and counting). He has hiked the three major American hiking trails, known as the Triple Crown (Appalachian Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and the Pacific Crest Trail). He has also walked the entirety of Route 66, across America, The Pony Express National Historic Trail, The Mormon Pioneer National Historic Trail, The California National Historic Trail, The Great American Loop Trail, among many others. He is also a writer and a poet and a deeply contemplative man. More information can be found on his website here: Nimblewill Nomad

Nate Damm, left Delaware and walked clear across America, arriving in San Francisco 7.5 months later. Here in this TED Talk, he shares how the trip shaped him and helped him view America in a different light.

Disillusioned with the way society was developing around him, a young Peter Jenkins set out from Alfred, New York in October of 1973 with his dog Cooper. Reaching New Orleans, he met his wife and together they continued the trek to Florence, Oregon, finishing in January 1979. His book A Walk Across America recounts his adventure as he traverses the United States on foot.

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