An experienced trekker walking across the US
CAPE HENLOPEN, DELAWARE

February 25, 2020
Dave Whitson pauses at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean. The rain poncho that covers his backpack is dripping from the light rain that began minutes ago. This beach on Cape Henlopen is the beginning of his coast-to-coast hike. Whitson’s first long-distance hike ended on the opposite side of the Atlantic in Spain. That was in 2002. Since then, he has navigated international trails and guided his high school students on pilgrimage hikes in France and Spain.
As a trial walk for this cross-country journey, he hiked a southern portion of the American Discovery Trail (ADT) from Cincinnati to Denver.
For this trip, too, Whitson’s on-the-road home is the ADT. The cross-country system of trails will be his guiding route as he walks from state to state. Local trails and highways will provide access to food and shelter as needed.





After reflecting on his walk, Whitson photographs himself with a signpost for the American Discovery Trail (ADT). Later, An abandoned rail line leads to a dead end as the turret bridge is open, making the crossing impossible, resulting in Whitson taking the main road into Lewes, Delaware.






Whitson, a high school teacher from Portland, Oregon, is working remotely part-time during his walk. He checks email on a laptop computer before beginning the day’s hike. Along the way, he meets employees of Old World Breads and has the first of many conversations that begins, “I’m walking across the US…”



After early miles on a paved hiking trail, Whitson’s route joins state highways where he walks on the shoulder, if there is one.










Whitson reviews his progress with a GPS app on his phone during a mid-day break. There are no more food sources, gas stations, or convenience stores until he stops for the day.
Whitson continued to walk through Maryland, the District of Columbia, and part of West Virginia. He suspended his walk on March 22, 2020, due to COVID-19 concerns and restrictions.
WEST VIRGINIA

MAY 2020
The March COVID-19 rules and closures were adjusting. Ohio was having some success in reducing case counts, and his path beyond, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, and Nebraska avoided many crowded urban areas. Whitson took an all-day flight to resume the hike at his March stopping point in Pennsboro, West Virginia.
Saturday morning’s path continues on a former rail line converted to the North Bend Rail Trail. The trail leads to Parkersburg West Virginia through old tunnels, and across bridges.


Above, Whitson stands atop Tunnel #13 on West Virginia’s North Bend Rail Trail during a lunch break. The tunnel is 353 feet long.

“I’M WALKING ACROSS THE US…”







Whitson talks with an ADT pioneer who helped found the trail’s route as he signs the guest book. A man who introduced himself as his county’s “Covid patient number 15” and his friend talk with Whitson at a social distance. A resident of a nearby farm stops to talk with Whitson about the ADT and the pandemic.


Left, Whitson poses on the Parkersburg–Belpre Bridge, marking the completion of hiking across West Virginia, an uncertain milestone when he suspended his walk in March 2020. Right, Whitson shops for groceries in towns large enough to have more than convenience stores or gas station food. Whitson eats a vegetarian diet and his fast food choices are often limited.






Whitson described the restart of his trek as a “gamble” and after 5 days, he suspended the hike in Logan, Ohio. Campgrounds and state parks were closed. Covid case counts were trending up.
LOGAN, OHIO

MARCH 2021
Whitson walked from Cincinnati to Denver as a trial run in 2019. He needs to walk from Logan to Cincinnati to fill in the missing segment of his now 4 part walk from the Atlantic Ocean to Denver. To do that, now, he needs to cover 181 miles in 7 days. While training for his return to the trail he suffered a foot injury. He says he is healed enough to walk but his pace is slow in the mornings.



The first day back is a mix of trails and highways, Whitson adjusts his route after Hocking Hills State Park to stay mainly on highways.




Upper left, Whitson eats a fast-food milkshake, purchased by a customer who jumped ahead of him in line, insisting to the clerk that she pay for his dinner. Bottom, Whitson uses a washer and dryer in an AirBnB rental.
Dave Whitson walks along a highway between Elm Grove and Locust Grove, Ohio, about halfway through the week. While training for his return to the trail he suffered a foot injury. He says, he is healed enough to walk but that his pace is slow in the mornings.





The highway routes offer more small businesses, both for breaks and food sources. Bottom, Whitson looks at his GPS to review the afternoon route as the forecast predicts thunderstorms.




CINCINNATI, OHIO
CINCINATTI, OHIO
Dave Whitson looks west while standing at the John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge, where he first connected with the ADT in 2019. He has now walked from the Atlantic ocean to Denver. The Denver to the Oregon coast journey is on his horizon.
Footnotes
All photos Copyright 2020, 2021 Fritz Nordengren, all rights managed by Zuma Press. Editors, contact licensing@zumapress.com