Reader comments
Hike of a lifetime

Doesn't his horse back ride in cedar city break one of his rules?

I'm skeptical. It's possible to hike 33 miles a day, every day, for six months. However, it would take a huge amount of high calorie food. How is he documenting his hike?

Appalachian Trail thru hikers say the only difference between a homeless person and a thru hiker is a credit card.

Even with "yogiing" or the unsolicitied donation of food, most hikers average 15 miles a day and spend about a dollar a mile. The Appalachian Trail is 2,160 miles long and takes the few who complete it about 5 months.

If he cant use a phone, had did the DNews find this guy?

he had me till he used the wild animal line.... the cars i believe....... road walking sucks..... as any long distance hiker knows.....

He can stop now. He's made me more aware of the environment.
It's a mean, nasty thing that must be destroyed so we have more room for twinky, big screen TV and x-box factories.

This is Ray Goodman. I have in fact thru-hiked the Appalachian Trail back in 2007. I do in fact burn a lot of calories. We live in a land of over-abundance though, so if you are willing to adjust your normal eating standards, there are many ways to find calories. It is an interesting test. Road walking can be a real bummer too, but I get plenty of off road time too! I spend a great deal of my time in national forest or on BLM managed land, but like everything else about this, it is constantly evolving. I also slack pack, which enables me to do long miles without the wear and tear of the backpack or the extra calories that are burned lugging it. The real test is in the length of it, as you get more and more tired over time, can you continue to pour out miles. I am beginning to question it myself.

Very commendable, but as far as the record I'm pretty sure Lewis and Clark and a few others pre-modern times have it. They didn't have a choice to go to a hotel.

Ray, I wish you well. I admire your courage and convictions. Hang in there. Please announce a US Mail address through the Deseret News and let us know how long it is good for.

Stay focused, Ray. People will always try to bring you down rather than lifting you up. Nature of man. However, you have the best Man on your side! We love you and are praying for you!

I am really impressed and inspired! :D Go Ray! I always think about that scripture in Mark and contemplate if I can do that too. I will feel satisfied when I can get into a position where I will be able to help others with my money and time instead of using my time and money for me.

Lewis and Clark rode on mules, horses and boats. As for a mailing address (for tm): Ray Goodman 36 W. County Line Rd. Hatboro, Pa 19040. (good indefinitely) mail forwarded to me from there. Thank you Nicole and Angela. I never stay in hotels Batman, I suggest you read again, I stay outdoors in my tent every night!! My original contact with the paper was by email.

The horse ride doesn't break the rules. The rules say I have to walk my entire route, not every where I go.

Sometimes life changes like this one are good strategies for turning the tide in one's basic make-up. Instead of being life-threatening, they turn out to be life-saving. This may be due to strong beliefs, as well as lowered depression due to sunlight, and exercise. May you vision only good things happening to you. And stay continuously hydrated! Good luck be with you.

33 miles? When was the last time you wore 25+ pounds and walked in boots off cement without a constant food supply or gps for accurate water sources... I'd like to see you put in a 33 mile day for 6 months without collapsing.

To What??? I have already done what you would like to see. who needs GPS to find water? Water is simply 101 stuff. And people are wonderful everywhere. I wear running and walking shoes, not boots, although in the winter I may switch to a midweight hiker. I also am not only on cement. I am surprised but glad that some people think this is impossible. It means I am doing something pretty great. On the east coast, the highest elevation of any mountain is 6800 feet, and the walking all throughout the east was very easy. As I have gotten deeper into the west, I have slowed some due to the much higher elevations and more continuous ups and downs. E. Lowe, thank you, this trip has in fact been an invigorating and life changing experience. Thanks to everyone for the support all throughout Utah. One other thing. Long distance hikers of a good pedigree Do Not average 15 miles a day, they have that done by lunch! And the dollar a mile estimate are for people staying in hostels and hotels and eating at steakhouses every 4th day. That is just not correct!

They know about him because of his family. I'm his brother and what he's doing is all for a good reason.