Buzz
Dave Kunst accomplished an incredible feat, setting a Guinness World Record as the first man to walk around the globe.
Inspired by humanity's moon landing, an American man was determined to achieve the extraordinary feat of circumnavigating the Earth... on foot. It was a journey filled with hardships and even loss of loved ones, yet the brave young man overcame every obstacle and emerged victorious.
An Arduous Journey
Dave Kunst chronicled his fascinating adventure in the book 'The Man Who Walked Around the World,' published in 1979. Additionally, his journey was documented in the Guinness Book of Records 1991, Guinness Sports Record Book 1989 - 90, and Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Born on July 16, 1939, Dave Kunst led what he considered a dull life in Waseca, Minnesota, USA. He was married with three children, earning a living as a county surveyor and filmmaker.
Escaping the Monotony
After witnessing astronauts landing on the Moon in 1969, Dave Kunst longed for adventure, and his employer's suggestion further fueled his desire. On June 20, 1970, less than a year after the Apollo mission, he embarked on his plan with his younger brother John.
Kunst told the Star Tribune: “John and I had never traveled far and had no experience with this. We spread out a world map on the living room floor and tried to circle as many places as possible.”
The Los Angeles Times reported that thousands of curious onlookers gathered in Waseca to witness the Kunst brothers' departure, and the high school band played “King of the Road” as they took their first steps on their journey.
From Minnesota, they walked alongside a luggage cart pulled by a donkey heading eastward, reaching New York City before journeying through Europe and Asia.
Although Dave experienced joyful moments, marveling at landscapes and people like never before, he also had to confront numerous dangers during his four-year-long expedition.
Setting Foot Across Continents
They first walked to New York City, then crossed the Atlantic Ocean to Lisbon, Portugal. Along the way, they collected signatures, stamps from mayors and city officials in the towns where they stayed overnight. In Monaco, they had an audience with Princess Grace.
In Italy, they coincidentally met the Norwegian explorer, Thor Heyerdahl, and his future wife. In Venice, the two brothers caused a commotion walking through the town, as dogs and horses were prohibited from crossing the city's narrow bridges and streets. After traversing the temperate climates of Europe, they had to endure temperatures exceeding 50°C in the Afghan Desert of Death.
Until October 21, 1972, tragedy struck. A journalist falsely reported that the Kunst brothers were traveling with a lot of money because along the way, they were raising funds for the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). This information reached a group of robbers who decided to strike.
As reported by the Orange County Register, six robbers attacked Dave and John at a location about 145 km south of Kabul, Afghanistan's capital. They shot and killed John, leaving Dave incapacitated with a gunshot wound to the chest. After an 8-hour struggle for survival in the desert, Dave was rescued by a passing driver.
Miraculously surviving, Dave returned to Minnesota for treatment and recovery. After fully healing, he resumed his journey, determined to fulfill the unfinished trip. He believed that if he didn't complete this journey, John's death would be in vain.
Dave Kunst's Return to Afghanistan
On March 1, 1973, Dave Kunst returned to Afghanistan, right to the spot where John was killed. But he wasn't alone; he was accompanied by another brother named Pete, a former infantry marine.
The brothers traversed the Khyber Pass in Pakistan and crossed into India. Despite plans to include China and the Soviet Union in their journey, both countries denied them entry, so they set their sights on Australia.
But halfway through, things seemed to unravel. After Pete had to return to the US for work, Dave's donkey died of a heart attack. The journey hung in the balance until an Australian woman named Jenni Samuel volunteered to drive 1,600km alongside Dave, pulling the luggage cart as he walked.
From Australia, Dave crossed the Pacific Ocean back to the US. Then, from Newport Beach, California, he walked back to Waseca, Minnesota. In this four-year, three-month, and 16-day journey, Dave traversed four continents, 13 countries, walked 23,255km, approximately 20 million steps, and went through 21 pairs of shoes. He completed his epic adventure, setting a Guinness World Record as the first man to walk around the world.
Shortly after returning home, Dave Kunst divorced his wife and flew to Australia to be with Jenni Samuel. They returned to the US a year later, married, and moved to California, where they lived a peaceful life.
