2500 Miles, 7 Continents, 1 Year

We have worked seasonally but steadily since finishing the Continental Divide Trail in 2021. We work as caretakers at Blackburn Trail Center on the Appalachian Trail. In Glacier National Park we manage the Granite Park Chalet in rural areas along the CDT. We worked several seasons in Alaska for an ice climbing company that offers luxury glamping with helicopter access on a very active glacier. In Antarctica we were employed by the most experienced deep field operator on the continent in a recurring role that has accompanied us for four Antarctic summers.

But while much of this work is very exciting, it is also very demanding and stressful, with long hours, no days off, and a 3-person tent to call home for 9 months of the year. And in the end, we are not getting any younger.

So, to celebrate our 40th year, to celebrate a job well done, to celebrate our aging but capable bodies and newfound financial freedom, we’ve given ourselves the gift of travel, adventure, and of course, walking long distances.

Our best ideas come to us when we are hiking. When our bodies move and our endorphins pump. Our bodies go into autopilot, navigating long stretches of rocks and roots, while our minds are free to explore crazy ideas and far-flung fantasies. And it was during a walk, along a familiar neighborhood trail, with our bodies on autopilot, that we allowed ourselves to come up with our plan, to visit all 7 continents in our 40th year and take long-distance hikes along the way.

If we can stay healthy, we will walk about 2,500 miles during the season. We will walk the trails from one end to the other and one after the other, focusing on continuous paths rather than following strictly defined routes. In between hikes, we’ll buy one-way flights as we go and travel generally eastward around the world, setting aside plenty of zero days to enjoy the culture and sights of the 12 countries we’ll visit along the way.

While nothing is absolutely certain, here’s how we’ve mapped it out:

Antarctica – South Pole – 15 feet – A literal walk around the world, across all 24 time zones and 360 lines of longitude. Each summer we operate a remote base camp at the South Pole that houses scientists and is the target of polar expeditioners skiing from the coast.

South America – To be decided. We spend two weeks each year in Punta Arenas, Chile for the in-and-out process for our work in Antarctica, and we have the option to hike after our season.

North America – Hayduke Trail – 850 miles – A meandering route through southern Utah and northern Arizona, this backcountry trail visits 6 national parks and is entirely on public lands. Lihat juga fgh6. This is a trail we have been dreaming about for years and feel like we are up for the challenge.

Africa – Naukluft Hiking Trail – 75 miles – A circuit through the Naukluft Mountain zebra park. Our visit to Namibia will include the shortest walk of our summer and the longest amount of time as tourists. We will tour deserts, national parks and large animal reserves in a rented motorhome.

Europe – High Route of the Pyrenees – 525 miles – An alpine crossing of the Pyrenees mountain range from the Atlantic Ocean to the Mediterranean Sea. This route will take us in and out of Spain, France and Andorra. I haven’t done much research on this route but I have a feeling it’s going to blow me away.

Asia – Crossing of the Japanese Alps – 423 miles – a crossing of Honshu, the main island of Japan, from the Sea of ​​Japan in the northwest to Mount Fuji and the Pacific Ocean in the southeast. This route is completely inspired by Mac, of Halfway Anywhere fame. When considering the Asian continent, we were drawn to Japan, but struggled to find a mountainous route that covered decent mileage. We will freely follow the route he completed and generously published on his website.

Oceania – Bibbulmun Track – 623 miles – A wooded walk in far south-west Australia from the Perth Hills to the southern coastal cliff. Of all the trails we’re walking this year, the Bibbulmun Track will be most like a traditional walk. It is a defined, built, designed, maintained and loved trail with a trail association and route to purchase in the FarOut app.

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