# How do people who walk across country do it? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 8, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767 "2011-06-08T19:09:19Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/1 "2011-06-08T19:09:19Z")
Walking along back roads would be just as, if not more dangerous than walking alongside freeways. Often there is no shoulder on a back road. So how do they do it? What do they do when it is night and they are nowhere near a campsite or motel? What do they do when it is pouring down? ---
**Author:** ![Sparky812](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/eb9ed0/32.png) [@Sparky812](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sparky812)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 7:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/2 "2011-06-08T19:15:49Z")
Usually with good planning, an entourage, and a motorhome. ---
**Author:** ![Rusalka](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ecd19e/32.png) [@Rusalka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rusalka)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 7:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/3 "2011-06-08T19:20:52Z")
Could you please clarify what people you’re talking about? Are you talking about backpackers who hike a trail like the Appalachian trail? Can you provide some examples of people who hike cross country? This would help people answer your question. Public roads are required to have shoulders. Most cross country hikers choose trails or side roads with very little traffic. I can only speak for myself. I have a little experience with cross country hiking and biking trips. You usually plan your stops for the night ahead of time. I suppose in a pinch you could get permission to pitch a tent in a field somewhere, but you always need water. In general, long distance hikers plan ahead. When it’s pouring rain? You keep going of course, with your raingear. ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 7:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/4 "2011-06-08T19:56:56Z")
> [@](#): > > How do people who walk across country do it? In the road. ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/5 "2011-06-08T20:10:44Z")
_sings_ Put one foot in front of the other Seriously though they… walk. On the shoulder, on the road, on sidewalks, walking paths whatever is available. My son is currently enroute from Toronto to Victoria BC with a couple friends and they are walking/ hitchhiking. I personally plan to not sleep between text messages but he’s having the time of his life. They are carrying backpacks with sleeping pads and rain gear and they’ve spent one night already under a highway overpass due the deluge of rain that was coming down. I suspect that people who do this have a higher tolerance level for discomfort than I do 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/6 "2011-06-08T20:10:53Z")
[_Meditations from the Breakdown Lane:Running across America_.](http://www.amazon.com/Meditations-Breakdown-Lane-Running-America/dp/0395331056/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307563577&sr=8-1) James E. Shapiro Even if you’re not a runner, it makes for a very interesting read. ---
**Author:** ![cjepson](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a9adbd/32.png) [@cjepson](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cjepson)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 8:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/7 "2011-06-08T20:11:26Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > In the road. But only if no one will be watching them. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2011, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/8 "2011-06-08T20:15:14Z")
> [@](#): > > Are you talking about backpackers who hike a trail like the Appalachian trail? Well, the way you do that is by taking a plane down to your mistress’s house in Argentina. ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 1:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/9 "2011-06-09T01:56:50Z")
> [@Moonlitherial](#): > > _sings_ Put one foot in front of the other Hijack : this song exists in English too? Out of curiosity, what’s the context of the rest of the song? (FTR, I’d answered the same thing had this board been a French one. That’s what crossed my mind when reading the OP, and actually probably a proper answer). ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 3:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/10 "2011-06-09T03:34:34Z")
I think the OP just watched _Forrest Gump_. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/11 "2011-06-09T04:07:13Z")
The secret is to stop walking before the water gets past your nostrils. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 4:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/12 "2011-06-09T04:27:15Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > The secret is to stop walking before the water gets past your nostrils. And/or jump out before it boils. ---
**Author:** ![Tangent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tangent/32/3098_2.png) [@Tangent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tangent)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 6:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/13 "2011-06-09T06:17:37Z")
> [@Ludovic](#): > > In the road. 😛 People who walk across country do it with a slow, steady pace. They do it with their shoes on. ---
**Author:** ![by-tor](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/by-tor/32/266_2.png) [@by-tor](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/by-tor)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 9:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/14 "2011-06-09T09:07:10Z")
Rusalka, I don’t know, I just occasionally hear about people who walk across the US. I didn’t realize that there is a trail that goes all the way across more or less. [http://www.discoverytrail.org/](http://www.discoverytrail.org/) Walking along back-roads, as some do, sounds incredibly dangerous to me. ---
**Author:** ![Meurglys](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/258eb7/32.png) [@Meurglys](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Meurglys)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 11:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/15 "2011-06-09T11:17:17Z")
In the UK people aren’t allowed to walk on or beside the motorways (freeways) but there is a huge network of paths etc. and most other roads have a pavement or grass verge on one side at least. If a minor road doesn’t have a verge to walk on, the official advice is to walk at the side, towards any oncoming traffic (so you can see the danger, instead of being hit from behind). ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 1:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/16 "2011-06-09T13:10:55Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Hijack : this song exists in English too? Out of curiosity, what’s the context of the rest of the song? > > (FTR, I’d answered the same thing had this board been a French one. That’s what crossed my mind when reading the OP, and actually probably a proper answer). There was a Rankin-Bass Christmas special called [_Santa Claus Is Coming To Town_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus_Is_Comin'_to_Town_(TV_special)) that has a song called “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other”, and that’s the first thing that popped into my head when I read the post. ---
**Author:** ![Rachellelogram](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rachellelogram/32/8689_2.png) [@Rachellelogram](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rachellelogram)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 2:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/17 "2011-06-09T14:41:55Z")
> [@jayjay](#): > > There was a Rankin-Bass Christmas special called [_Santa Claus Is Coming To Town_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus_Is_Comin'_to_Town_(TV_special)) that has a song called [“Put One Foot In Front Of The Other”](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IWIJy3AJ84k), and that’s the first thing that popped into my head when I read the post. Same. Now it’s stuck in my head! ---
**Author:** ![Susanann](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/7ab992/32.png) [@Susanann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Susanann)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 3:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/18 "2011-06-09T15:09:36Z")
> [@Rusalka](#): > > Public roads are required to have shoulders. . Pedestrians are not allowed on interstate highways, and pedestrians are also prohibited on all other freeways/expressways/major highways. A walker might have to detour quite a ways in order to find a back road with a shoulder that parallels an interstate highway. I think the hard part is crossing big rivers like the Mississippi river/Straits of Mackinaw/Chesapeake Bay/Tampa Bay/etc amd finding a bridge that will allow pedistrians to cross it. Another hard part is making a wide detour around high crime areas like St Louis, Detroit, Cleveland, Memphis, etc. cause sleeping at night on the side of a road in Detroit might not be not too healthy. ---
**Author:** ![phreesh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/9fc29f/32.png) [@phreesh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/phreesh)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 3:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/19 "2011-06-09T15:49:25Z")
This guy did it: [http://www.thefatmanwalking.com/page/85415/index.v3page;jsessionid=3gptbmgd7o9ke](http://www.thefatmanwalking.com/page/85415/index.v3page;jsessionid=3gptbmgd7o9ke) ---
**Author:** ![Moonlitherial](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4bbf92/32.png) [@Moonlitherial](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moonlitherial)\ **Post date:** [June 9, 2011, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767/20 "2011-06-09T15:54:10Z")
> [@clairobscur](#): > > Hijack : this song exists in English too? Out of curiosity, what’s the context of the rest of the song? > > (FTR, I’d answered the same thing had this board been a French one. That’s what crossed my mind when reading the OP, and actually probably a proper answer). > [@jayjay](#): > > There was a Rankin-Bass Christmas special called [_Santa Claus Is Coming To Town_](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Claus_Is_Comin'_to_Town_(TV_special)) that has a song called “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other”, and that’s the first thing that popped into my head when I read the post. That’s the song - I could only remember a couple of lines and for the life of me I couldn’t remember where it came from. > [@rachelellogram](#): > > Same. Now it’s stuck in my head! Sorry about that - mine too ☹ [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-people-who-walk-across-country-do-it/584767.md?page=2)