Dave X USA

An experienced trekker walking across the US

By Fritz Nordengren

January 13^th, 2024

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.

Whitson photographs himself (left)with a signpost for the American Discovery Trail (ADT).

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, Delawa

With the former rail line blocked, Whitson taking the main road into Lewes, Delaware.

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 Virgina

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.

"I'm walking aross the US..."

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.

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.

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.