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is 40 days closer to establishing a new record for unassisted ultra-light long-distance backpacking — and fulfilling his dream of becoming a professional adventurer. Gardner's 12,500-mile “” involves solo hiking the four longest walking trails in the United States: the , the , the and the .
Gardner began hiking on January 1 and hopes to average 34 miles a day to complete the journey in one year. But first he has to survive the frigid snowshoe trek from New York to North Dakota on the North Country Trail — which has only been accomplished once previously during winter months.
The 25-year-old is from Houghton, Michigan and is currently just south of Ithaca, New York. Read his here.
–Whitney Dreier