CURRENT MISSION

I'm currently going to UC Davis and am hitching through the northern part of the US to get to Angle Inlet, Minnesota to reach the northernmost point in the continental US.

ABOUT ME

I am a student at UC Davis that is currently trying to hitch across the north border. About two years ago I went to the southern most point and the eastern most point in the continental US via hitching. Last summer I was able to hitch to the western most point at Cape Alava. I'm going to school to study in Environmental Science and Management. I also am an Eagle Scout so you can be sure that I clean up after myself wherever I stay.

PHILOSOPHY

Do what you say you will and try to keep in mind that we're all human and will eventually fail at every task we set our minds to. Contradictory, I know, but isn't that makes us human? The ability to still function and keep going even though we contradict ourselves is why I like being human.

We're all going to die in the end. The issue is when you're on your death bed what are you going to regret and what are you going to do to prevent that regret.

There is never a time to kill any human. No matter what they have done to you or others, you are not one to place judgement on who lives and who dies. That's how I'd want to be treated and thus, how I treat others now.

Why I’m on Couchsurfing

HOW I PARTICIPATE IN COUCHSURFING

I've surfed on a handful of couches. These were all while I was hitching across the US (2013). Once I get settled in UC Davis I plan on opening up my room for a surfer every so often to give back the kindness that I received while I was traveling. Unfortunately, my housemates aren't so open to the idea so I have to wait till I either a new place or new housemates.

COUCHSURFING EXPERIENCE

I've now surfed a few times and each time was better than the last. I surfed up the entire East Coast from Key West to Lubec, Maine. Each couch was different but fun and interesting. I have enjoyed making new friends through that trip and want to meet new people on my next one: Going to the Northernmost point in the continental US.

Interests

I enjoy spending my time learning what I can about just about anything. That's why I chose Geography for my career. I figured it'd give me the most access to the most amount of information I could ever want.

I'm very active and I do enjoy sitting around and wasting my day in front of the TV. There's a time for both life styles and I'd rather be comfortable than be stressed cause I'm in a room and not out there or out there when I'd rather be in a room.

• dining
• tv
• traveling
• cars
• hiking
• geography
• science

Music, Movies, and Books

I'm read mostly comic books. Used to read novels but comic books were always much more appealing. There is currently a series of graphic novels that I'm almost done reading: Fables by Vertigo, and every time I get the chance I try to pick back up on it. They're found in most Barnes and Nobles (I'd like to pay for them but carrying 30 lbs of gear is enough plus the very likely event of loosing/damaging them on this trip doesn't sit well with me).

It's tough to name exactly what genre of music I enjoy. The best way I could put it is I prefer heavy altenative rock. My favorite band: Breaking Benjamin. Other artists include: Linkin Park (Old albums only), Avenged Sevenfold, Red, Seether, Evanescence, Three Days Grace, Shinedown, Theory of a Deadman, Flyleaf, Paramore, Rise Against, Offspring, Stained, Skillet. So in short I like music that turns sorrow to rage. Why? Well it improves my driving being on edge like that and it also helps me move forward. You see, that rage turns into determination to change. I guess this kind of music is what drove me to hitch-hike across the country in the first place.

One Amazing Thing I’ve Done

I hitch-hiked in the dead of winter across the US. To add to that I only got one ride from a trucker. So in other words I was picked up by pretty much only private vehicles. I made it across in just over a month. Along the way I've seen many things and have met many different people. I made it across with out begging for money or food once. I only asked for a ride or a place to stay.

Teach, Learn, Share

As I have mentioned, I have travel quite a bit. In my opinion the best way to travel via hitching is to become mentally prepared for worst case scenarios. That means, thinking about how much you are going to starve, freeze, bleed, sweat, suffer from loneliness and other things. I'm not saying each of the examples I said will happen but if they do happen you will have already thought of them and won't be thrown into a panic and thus end up making a poor decision. I traveled alone for 129 days. I met up with friends, family, couchsurfing hosts occasionally but most of the time I was on my own. But because I prepared for that emotional challenge I was able to over come a lot of the obstacles in my way.

So the best advise I can give you should you choose to hitch-hike is to be mentally prepared for the challenges that may come your way.

Countries I’ve Visited

Austria, Germany, Mexico, Switzerland, United States

Countries I’ve Lived In

United States