Tamara and Jakob Walking Across USA An interview with Tamara and Jakob hiking across the USA from Deleware to San Francisco

Walk Across USA Jakob & Tamar Teitelbaum (née Amichai) are walking across the U.S. this year. They are taking the American Discovery Trail (ADT) from Delaware to California they started in late April 2006.

Video of the American River Taken while hiking along the American River, just west of Lake Natoma and the Natoma Dam.

The American River near Lake Natoma

The American River Near Gold River

What an interesting little hike I had this morning taking some pictures of the fall foliage. Not only did I almost quite literally bump into US Congressman Dan Lungren (who I must confess did not look at all stressed about the upcoming election on Tuesday, in fact I think if you looked up the word "relaxed" in Webster's Dictionary you'd see his pic, maybe it had something to do with his Fighting Irishmen doing so well this year, which is a far cry better than what my Orangemen are doing this year! and also, I am happy to report that the Congressman does have the importance of the IPv6 story down very well as I heard him explain it to his lovely wife Bobbie. Now once we get the election behind us on Tuesday it will be "all hands on deck" to move the MetroNet6 interoperability of emergency services for first responders using IPv6 project forward making the world a safer and more secure place) and his wife Bobbie, but the three of us were almost bumped into by an enthusiastic couple who were walking to San Francisco. Yes, that is about 90 miles from Sacramento...but get this, they weren't walking from Sacramento to San Francisco, oh no...they were walking across the USA from Deleware to San Francisco! Imagine that trip!

Here is their website: Click to Open Web Page

Meet Tamar and Jakob.

Tamar, originally from L.A., California, is a 21-year old graduate of McGill University in Montreal. Her background in Environmental Studies, along with her fascination with the cultural and ecological diversity of North America, make this a golden opportunity for her to experience her home country firsthand. She may be the first person ever to develop a recipe for Challah using only a Bunsen burner and four ingredients.

Jakob, who would have laughed had you told him about this trip five years ago, will complete his Software Engineering degree a few days before beginning the Walk. Although he enjoys playing the piano and guitar, he is unlikely to bring either one along. For Jakob, this adventure is an opportunity to accomplish several things: to walk more than some people do in their entire lifetimes; to spend over 9,000 consecutive hours with his wife; to write 24 preludes and fugues in his head; and to see a unique country from the inside out.

Here is the first page of their journal on:

Ah, our first post. It must be my Software Engineering background, but the simple act of writing these first sentences is akin to those first few steps we'll be taking, in a few months.

A quick introduction: I'm Jakob Teitelbaum. My wife, Tamar Teitelbaum (née Amichai) and I are walking across the U.S. this year. We're taking the American Discovery Trail (ADT) from Delaware to California, and we're hoping to do it in 8-9 months. We're starting in late April.

We've been planning the adventure for a few months now, although Tamar's done the lion's share of the work; I'm in my last semester at McGill University (in Montreal, Canada), whereas Tamar graduated last spring in Environmental Studies. One of us will probably post our gear (which is all chosen, and mostly purchased, with a few gaping holes yet to be filled) on this journal, which you're welcome to peruse and comment on.

I'm also in the process of setting up and maintaining a separate website for our trip, ,www.walkacrosstheus.com, which will also have details on, for example, our (rather extensive) menus, fitness conditioning, state of mind, etc. Check it out.

This is our first major hike (yep, we're going for the gusto), and so, predictably, we're very receptive to advice, support and good vibes from anyone in the trail-hiking community or elsewhere. Please say hi in our Guestbook, as it'll put smiles on two faces bathed in the glow of a Montreal computer.

Much, much, much more to come...

-Jakob and Tamar