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It is difficult—actually, I’d say impossible—to understand modern-day South Africa without understanding apartheid. And so today I spent the day learning about it: I visited the Museum of Africa (disappointing), Apartheid Museum (excellent), and the Hector Pieterson Memorial (sadly unmaintained), and took a tour of Soweto, a Jo-burg township where violent uprisings against apartheid occurred…
“Can you please sign your passport?” the TSA official asked, handing it back to me with a pen. I chuckled, thinking that it was an appropriate start to this trip—I had not even left New York before I’d made it very clear that I was a newbie to international travel. Yes, I’ve been to all…
Last week my parents and I went down to Washington DC for an evening at the National Geographic Society headquarters, where I was named National Geographic Adventure magazine’s Adventurer of the Year. This is a HUGE honor, and I’m frankly humbled by the flattering 5-page article (in the Dec/Jan issue, now available at newstands) and…
The secret is not hiking at a faster speed, but hiking for more hours. This article is reprinted here with permission from Backpacking Light Magazine. Fall 2006 During the summer before my senior year of college, when I probably should have had an internship that could be leveraged into a “real” job after graduation, I…
Andy here. I finished up the hike on July 10 and have been back home in Seekonk for the last week and a half, after vacationing for a few days in Port Angeles, WA, and then catching up with some friends in NYC, where I also had a live interview on FOX News Channel. The…
JULY 2, 2005 — PORT TOWNSEND, WA Andrew has hiked 7,582 miles, 97.4% of his 7,778-mile hike across the continent Andrew arrived in Oroville, WA on Saturday, June 18th. Ellie Bramin, a member of the PNT association had arranged a nice dinner with local trail members. Andrew always enjoys the opportunity to meet with new…
SUNDAY, JUNE 19, 2005 — OROVILLE, WA Andrew has hiked 7,181 miles. He has completed 93% of his 7700 mile hike. The week of June 12th, Andrew continued to hike the Pacific Northwest Trail. He lost the trail while traveling XC. The weather and the daylight made finding points difficult, and Andrew chose the wrong…
SUNDAY, JUNE 12, 2005 — NORTHPORT, WA Andrew has hiked 6,994 miles, 90% of his 7,700-mile hike across the continent. Andrew had another good, interesting stretch of time on the trail. After leaving Eureka, on June 2nd, Andrew had two days of solid, heavy rain. Then, it rained or sprinkled every day for the week.…
SUNDAY, JUNE 5 — EUREKA, MT Andrew has hiked 6,785 miles, 88% of his 7,700-mile hike across the continent. Andrew left Augusta, MT on May 21st and passed by a ranch that was hosting a “branding party”. He was invited to join and had his first experience with this real Montana tradition. Everyone, including family,…
SATURDAY, MAY 21 — AUGUSTA, MT Andrew left Fort Peck on Sunday May 8th and began hiking through the Charles Russell National Wildlife Refuge. This was the week of heavy storms rolling through the Midwest.. On Tuesday, May 10th, it was raining as Andrew was setting up his shelter. Andrew woke up at 5:15am and…