Tyler Coulson worked for Sidley Austin LLP in Chicago. Once when he was younger he survived two hours stranded in the Pacific Ocean by himself. He distrusts white wine. He memorized the Rubaiyat when he was a kid, but now he only knows a few verses. He likes graffiti better than 1980s movies. Sometimes he thinks that if he lived on a beach somewhere he wouldn’t need much.
He walked across the United States with his dog, Mabel, between March and November of 2011.
According to Coulson, there is no “right way” to walk across America. Every long hike is different and every long distance hiker is different. “If you ask 2 long distance hikers the same question about routing or tents or footwear, then you are likely to get 4 or 5 different answers,” he says. “Accordingly, I can offer only advice and suggestions based on my experience. What worked for me might not work for you, but my advice might give you something to think about and might point you in the right direction as you plan your own long distance adventure.”
The two camped frequently and stayed with friends -- and stayed in hotels far more than originally planned. Coulson admits loving dogs since a young age, but he considers Mabel his friend and teammate and not a pet anymore.
Coulson has finished a book about the journey, By Men or By the Earth, with 10 percent of the book sales until December 31 going to no-kill animal shelters. The book recalls what led to the walk and how it affected Coulson. He calls it a “tremendously personal book: pretty raw and honest.” He wants to help dogs in need.
For more information about Coulson, visit http://www.tylercoulson.com.
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