Hiking the Glenn Highway through Alaska. Published in Asphalt Pilgrims.
Paul Salopek
Every hundred miles Salopek pauses to record the landscape and a person he meets, assembling a global snapshot of humankind. Milestones reflect straight-line distances, but his walked distances are generally much longer. More on these waypoints here.
Every hundred miles Salopek pauses to record the landscape and a person he meets, assembling a global snapshot of humankind. Milestones reflect straight-line distances, but his walked distances are generally much longer. More on these waypoints here.
It was a lonely farm road through Liaoning in the lonely northeast of China. The temperature cut the lungs like glass with every breath. Minus 20 degrees Celsius. Every living thing had taken shelter from the brittle cold: the farmers in their houses, the greenhouse strawberries where they were growing under plastic, the roosters crowing their muffled calls from inside weatherproofed coops. Only we were outside. But it was alright. We had each other.
With walking partners Wang Jiawei and Pan Jun.
A wraparound soundscape at this Milestone
This Milestone’s location on a map
Photos of the ground under Paul’s feet and the sky above at this Milestone
A brief question and answer with the first person Paul meets at this Milestone
Unnamed village woman.
She was out strolling in her village in subzero weather, clad only in a light sweatshirt.
Who are you?
I’m a farmer.
Where are you from?
I’m from this village.
Where are you going?
Home. I just went out to buy some herbal tea for my children.
A video showing the landscape around this Milestone
To comment, log in using one of the options below. If you don’t have an account, write your comment, enter your name and email address, and select “I’d rather post as a guest.” Paul may respond, so keep an eye out.