Yearlong walk across U.S. follows path of gratitude, discovery

Holden Minor Ringer’s family was incredulous when he first pitched the idea of walking across the United States, the 26-year-old recalled. He was determined, but even he was starting to get skeptical of his own plan.

But in March 2023, he packed some belongings in a backpack and kicked off his hike from Second Beach near La Push, Wash. The trip was labeled “Walk2Washington,” with a goal of walking all the way to the U.S. capital — and then north along the East Coast.

After a year of walking, he finally stepped foot in D.C. on March 10.

“I had this dream,” Ringer said at the National Mall. “I had maybe some kind of expectation of what was going to happen, but I definitely couldn’t have imagined what has happened.”

The idea first popped into Ringer’s head in 2021 while he was studying for an international finance final at Emory University. He said he was daydreaming about taking a walk, and then wondered, “What would it be like to walk across the country?” He searched online stories of people who made the journey, and after reading about a few experiences he returned to his studies.

The story almost ended there. But then a few months later, he spontaneously went on a 20-mile walk while visiting family in Dallas and thought, “You know what, I could do this every day for a year,” he recalled.

Part of his motivation, he said March 10, is to raise funds for America Walks, an organization that supports walkable cities. He is passionate about creating more pedestrian-friendly communities, especially after seeing drivers on their phones while he’s walking along highways. Others have made similar journeys in recent years.

Ringer spent about a year getting ready: He sought advice and tips from people who had done it. He read books that recounted people’s experience walking across the country. At one point, he walked from Vancouver, British Columbia, to Seattle as “a dress rehearsal,” he said. The hike took nine days.

Then, he started planning his potential route. He knew he wanted to walk toward the East Coast. The quickest way to travel across the country is up north — through North Dakota and South Dakota. But Ringer wanted a path that included stops where he knew people, so he headed south. He traveled through 14 states.

He has faced a few obstacles along the way. Originally, he projected the journey would take six to nine months, according to his website. But somewhere in central Oregon, about 30 to 40 days into the trip, he got plantar fasciitis — a condition characterized by sharp heel pain. He hitched a ride to Bend and spent about two weeks recovering.

The walk has also let him see firsthand how generous several Americans are, he said. A lot of his trip has relied on the kindness of strangers. People have given him bear spray, let him pitch a tent in their yard and provided food. He said he has been grateful for every day of his trip — including the days where he’s walked in the rain or the day his wagon broke down.

Ringer plans to spend a few weeks resting in D.C. and exploring the city.

“There are absolutely no regrets in my mind about doing something like this,” he said.