Backpacking Across America?

By Alison Angel
angela@mytjnow.com

Hopefully you were as confused as I was by reading the above column title.  Otherwise I will simply feel like an American with no clue of what happens in the world beyond nor what they do for fun.

Let me explain:  backpacking across Europe has pretty much been spun as the basic right of young people the world over.  

Though I suspect it is much, much easier for Europeans to just country hop, I have never questioned the validity of this statement and instead accepted it as what you do when you’re young.  There is supposedly something to be gained from “roughing it,”as though you magically build character because you live out of a backpack with no shower.

Personally, I’m thinking it’s the fact that Europe is where the history comes from that really builds the character.  Just a thought, but its out there.

So although I have no real desire to backpack through Europe-- I’m more of a bed and breakfeast, croissants and cafes kind of gal-- I can at least see the validity in the experience.

When you try to transfer that to America though?  Not so much.

Don’t get me wrong, I think there is tons of worthwhile stuff to visit in this country.  I’ve traveled all across it with friends and family and seen some of the best places-- Yellowstone National Park, the Valley of Fire in Arizona, Las Vegas (no explanation needed).  Yet hopping a plane and schlepping from hotel to hotel is not quite the same as schlepping from state to state with only a backpack and a contacts list to your name.  I am nowhere near brave enough to do that.

But imagine my surprise when I found out that people actually do this.  About six months ago a friend of a friend, hailing from London, decided to visit America for two weeks.  Nothing unusual there, but when she described just how she was going about it, I paused: “I’m going to backpack across America,” she said.

At first I was intrigued.  Why would someone want to backpack across a country that boasts more Mcdonald’s than it does hospitals?  I wondered.  Once again, I repeat: I am not a hater.  I like my country very much, thank you.

But just considering the logistics of such a feat were enough to freak me out.  And I’ve rarely used a backpack outside of class and hiking.

Her plan was to fly over, put all possessions in a backpack, and from there proceed to cold-call random strangers until finding a place to crash.  Probably just like a hostel in the danger factor, but otherwise not quite.  After spending time in each state, she planned to move on to a new one by hopping a bus.

Understand that in Europe, the public transportation system is absolutely phenomenal.  They have buses that arrive on schedule and will take you quite literally anywhere.  

Up around New York, this method is bound to work.  But as you get further south?  You’re better off walking than waiting for a bus to come, if my hometown is any indication of what you’re relying on.  My poor friend nearly had  heart attack upon learning that she couldn’t just hop a bus to get to the airport in Charlotte from Rock Hill.  It was one of the most shocking things about our country for her, besides our lack of “spread” when it came to sandwich toppings (apparently the English enjoy this topping).

I think traveling cross-country is one of the coolest vacations you can take.  But without a car, money or contacts?  Let’s just say I was pretty worried about her.  

This backpacker finally arrived in America and managed to make it to Rock Hill, South Carolina unscathed.  But didn’t realize that upon arriving...there wasn’t much to visit in the way of history, if you know what I mean.

Why?  Because she left the place where the history comes from and came to a country that is only 300 years old.  Small towns like Rock Hill are a bit lacking in historical significance.

To this day I am still confused as to the concept of backpacking across America; it ‘s just not a country that traditionally takes well to hitchhikers.  It’s an entirely different world and I guess it really isn’t for everyone; but what’s cool is that our country is so appealing it attracts these determined visitors from as far away as England.  

That fact alone made me gain a huge respect for my new friend-- it takes a lot of guts to trek out to America on your own with only a backpack, a few bucks to your name and a list of Facebook friends who might offer couches to crash on.