Buzz
While many struggle to walk from the couch to the kitchen, there are remarkable individuals who have dedicated themselves to walking vast and awe-inspiring distances. Some walked for a cause, others for the thrill of adventure. Some were supported by large budgets and corporate sponsorships, while others had little to no financial resources or equipment. All of them demonstrated that humans are capable of extraordinary feats of endurance and determination.
10. John Francis
Known as “Planetwalker,” John Francis earned his nickname for good reason. In 1971, after witnessing an oil spill in San Francisco, he became so disillusioned with humanity that he made the radical decision to avoid motor vehicles for the next 22 years, opting instead to walk across the country. As if this commitment wasn’t extreme enough, Francis chose to remain silent from 1973 to 1990, communicating only through writing, gestures, and his faithful banjo. While many thought he was mentally unstable, Francis thrived, even earning a PhD while maintaining his extreme lifestyle.
Throughout the years, Francis walked across all 48 contiguous states and even journeyed all the way to South America. In 1990, after his 22-year vow of abstaining from motorized transport, he finally decided to begin using vehicles again. Francis now works in Washington politics and has recently published a memoir about his extraordinary life.
9. Sarah Marquis
A passionate adventurer, Sarah Marquis embarked on a journey across Turkey on horseback at the age of 17. Since then, she has made long-distance walking expeditions her life’s pursuit. In 2000, she walked from the U.S. border with Canada to its border with Mexico, covering a distance of 4,260 kilometers (2,647 mi) over four months and six days. After leading a more conventional life for a time, her adventurous spirit called her again. In 2006, she spent eight months walking across the Andes, from Chile to Peru.
In 2010, Sarah took on her boldest challenge yet. She ventured through the desolate wilderness of Siberia, across the Mongolian plains, through China, and into Laos and Thailand. Not stopping there, she then traveled by ship to Australia and trekked across the outback. This monumental journey was done solo, spanned three years, and covered over 16,000 kilometers (10,000 mi). Her incredible adventure earned her the prestigious National Geographic Adventurer of the Year award. A woman with an easy-going and dreamy nature, Marquis claims she enjoys solitude, making the months of isolation easy to bear.
8. Peace Pilgrim
Peace Pilgrim, born Mildred Norman, was a pioneer among famous walkers. Her walking journey began in 1952 when she became the first woman to complete the entire 3,500-kilometer (2,175 mi) Appalachian Trail in a single season. Then, in 1953, she committed herself to walking across the United States. For the next 28 years, she wore the same clothes daily and carried only a pen, a comb, a toothbrush, and a map. She fasted until someone offered her food and walked until she found a place to sleep.
Throughout her journey, Peace Pilgrim kept a relentlessly positive attitude and an unwavering passion for life. She crossed the country so many times that by 1964, she had walked approximately 40,000 kilometers (25,000 mi) and simply stopped counting. She firmly believed that, no matter what happened on the road, she would always remain safe and unharmed. For many years, her belief proved true.
Unfortunately, in 1981, Peace Pilgrim met an ironic fate. After years of walking everywhere on foot and avoiding cars, she accepted a ride to Knox, Indiana, where she was set to deliver a speech. Tragically, there was an accident, and she passed away before medical help could reach her. Her memory lives on through the Friends of Peace Pilgrim organization.
7. Polly Letofsky
In 1999, in an effort to raise funds for breast cancer, Polly Letofsky began walking west from her home in Colorado. Her journey would span 1,825 consecutive days. Over that time, Polly traveled more than 22,000 kilometers (14,000 mi), crossing 22 countries and four continents. Throughout the trek, she pushed a modified baby stroller, which carried all the essentials she needed and survived the entire journey, despite taking quite a beating, as Polly described it.
Polly’s route took her from California to New Zealand, then through Australia, Singapore, and Malaysia, eventually walking across Asia and into Europe. After reaching Ireland, she flew to New York and walked back to Colorado. The five-year trek raised over $200,000 for breast cancer prevention. During her journey, Polly received news of the September 11 attacks and the ensuing invasion of Afghanistan, forcing her to adjust her plans, as passage through Pakistan and Iran was no longer possible. Nevertheless, Polly pressed on and completed her mission.
One of the most unforgettable moments of Polly Letofsky’s journey occurred in a remote area of Northern Australia. An elderly woman approached her and asked, ‘Are you the woman walking around the world for breast cancer?’ When Polly confirmed, the woman lifted her shirt and proudly exclaimed, ‘I had breast cancer 40 years ago. Take a look at these!’ Polly later humorously remarked, ‘What do you say to that?’
6. Jean Beliveau
On his 45th birthday, Jean Beliveau walked away from his job as a neon sign salesman in Montreal and embarked on an extraordinary journey. For the next 11 years, he didn’t stop, covering exactly 75,554 kilometers (46,947 mi) across 64 countries. Frustrated with the monotony of his career and life, Beliveau thought walking around the world would offer greater fulfillment. Initially, many dismissed his plan as a midlife crisis, but the scale and achievement of his journey have proven otherwise.
Throughout his travels, Beliveau encountered remarkable individuals, including four Nobel Peace Prize winners. One of the most memorable moments was when Nelson Mandela told him, ‘the world needs people like you.’ His journey wasn’t without its difficulties, including attempted robberies, encounters with Chilean pumas, health issues, and culture shock, but he persevered. Perhaps the most challenging moment of the journey came before it even began, when he mustered the courage to share his plan with his wife, Luce. Although initially taken aback, Luce eventually became his greatest supporter, even financially backing him during the trip.
Beliveau has no regrets about his extraordinary adventure and encourages others to follow their dreams: ‘Just go, make your first steps. You will build your way on the road.’
5. Dave Kunst
Dave Kunst holds the distinction of being the first person officially recognized for walking around the globe. His extraordinary journey began in 1970 with his brother, walking over 23,300 kilometers (14,500 mi) before returning to his hometown of Waseca, Minnesota, in 1974. The brothers embarked on their trip with minimal funds, setting off with just $1,000 and a mule to carry their belongings.
During their adventure, the Kunst brothers had many remarkable experiences, such as visiting Princess Grace in Monaco, making headlines by bringing their mule into Venice, and becoming the first non-Asians to traverse the Khyber Pass since the time of Alexander the Great. However, their journey took a tragic turn in a remote part of Afghanistan when local bandits ambushed them. John was killed instantly, and Dave was severely wounded, only surviving by feigning death.
After months of recovery, Dave decided to complete the expedition. He trekked across India and Australia before flying to California and walking back to Minnesota. Throughout his journey, he went through 21 pairs of shoes and kept a scroll where he collected signatures from the mayors of every town he passed through. Today, Kunst enjoys a quieter life with his wife, whom he met while traveling through Australia.
4. Steven Newman
Growing up in a small town in Ohio, Steven Newman soon developed a fascination with the idea of walking across the world’s most exotic destinations. True to his nickname, 'the Worldwalker,' Newman realized his dream by undertaking a monumental four-year journey that spanned more than 24,000 kilometers (15,000 mi) and took an estimated 41 million steps. Throughout this incredible trek, he kept an audience engaged by documenting his adventures in the Columbus Dispatch, making his walk the first thoroughly documented global journey of its kind.
Newman embarked on his journey with the aim of discovering whether the world was as dangerous as people often claim. While he encountered some terrifying and perilous moments, the majority of his experiences were positive. Among the challenges he faced were two armed bandit attacks, four arrests, a beating by a drunk man in Australia, and being pelted with stones by students in India. Additionally, he contracted pneumonia and developed a severe skin rash. Despite these hardships, Newman insists that the world isn’t as bad as most people believe.
3. Karl Bushby
Unlike others who have 'walked across the world,' former British paratrooper Karl Bushby is striving to become the first person to complete this feat in one continuous journey, from Chile to England. His plan includes walking across the Bering Strait, which, instead of using a boat, he crossed on foot by timing his journey to walk across the frozen stretch of water between Alaska and Siberia. This was no easy task, as the ice in the Bering Strait doesn't always freeze solid, forcing Karl to camp on drifting ice floes and swim between them.
In 2006, Karl successfully crossed the frozen Bering Strait into Siberia. His next goal was to walk through Russia and into Europe, eventually making his way to the British Channel, where he planned to walk through a maintenance tunnel under the English Channel. However, Karl soon encountered an even greater obstacle than the challenging terrain and shifting ice: the complexities of Russian bureaucracy.
In what seemed like a misunderstanding, the Russian government, possibly believing Karl to be a 'recon specialist' disguised as a walker, repeatedly denied him a visa, expelled him from the country, and blocked his further plans. After traveling 27,000 kilometers (16,777 mi), Karl found himself at an impasse. For six years, Russia only granted him temporary visas, limiting his progress. Since many parts of Siberia are passable only when frozen, he was essentially confined to brief periods of walking once a year.
In 2012, Karl made a bold move by walking all the way from Los Angeles to the Russian embassy in Washington, DC, a journey that took him a full year. The publicity from this dramatic protest finally compelled the Russian authorities to issue him a full visa, and he is now continuing his trek toward Europe.
2. Robert Garside
While some have circumnavigated the globe by air, others by sea, and many by foot, Robert 'the Runningman' Garside holds the distinction of being the first person to have run around the entire world.
When Garside began his run, he was an unknown clinical psychologist, with no athletic background to speak of. As Garside himself notes, he had always been a solitary individual, so the months spent running alone posed little mental difficulty. He quickly adapted to a routine of running around eight hours daily, covering up to 80 kilometers (50 mi) on good terrain. His journey would span five years, include five days in a Chinese jail, and three days without food, ultimately covering over 56,000 kilometers (35,000 mi).
Initially, many in the media questioned Garside's accomplishment, casting doubt on his story and suggesting it was exaggerated. However, the inconsistencies were later clarified, and many of Garside's original critics changed their stance. Journalist Dan Koeppel even expressed regret, admitting that 'my disbelief—publicly expressed—did great harm to what is, in my view, the greatest running achievement in history.' In 2007, Guinness World Records officially recognized Garside's achievement.
1. Arthur Blessitt
While many walk to experience new places, seek adventure, or raise money for charity, Arthur Blessitt walks to serve God. A devoted Christian preacher, Blessitt has been traveling across the globe carrying a large cross on his back since 1969. He continues his journey to this day.
Blessitt began his journey after hearing about the growing hippie movement in Southern California, which motivated him to relocate and begin his mission of saving souls. Shortly afterward, he claims that God directed him to carry a large cross across the world. Even after suffering an aneurysm and being deemed unfit for such strenuous activity, Blessitt believed that 'the circumstances don’t alter the call.' He has been walking ever since.
By 2008, Blessitt had successfully walked through every single nation and major island group on Earth. His journey has taken him through some of the most dangerous war zones, showcasing his courage and deep faith in God. Throughout his travels, Blessitt has also been arrested 24 times.
In 2009, a documentary was created to capture Blessitt's extraordinary life, and his remarkable achievements have since been officially acknowledged by Guinness World Records.
