List of People Who Have Walked Across The United States - Al Slusser

Al Slusser

"Ironman Grandpa" Al Slusser may be the oldest and only documented person to walk the width and length of America as well as the width and length of Arizona. At age 70, he stepped out of the Pacific Ocean at San Diego,California to begin "The Coast 2 Coast Walk" dedicated to Senior Citizens and Americans with Disabilities. Without an entourage or escort vehicle, Al walked by himself and pulled a 100 pound cart containing food, clothes, and camping equipment. He completed the journey at age 71after 223 days and 2,646 miles, when he stepped into the coastal water of the Atlantic Ocean. During that walk, he also crossed the width of Arizona from the California border to the New Mexico border. At age 72, Al completed the "East Coast Walk" dedicated to U.S. Troops and Veterans. Beginning at the southernmost Point of the United States in Key West, FL., he walked for 120 days and 1,782 miles until he reached the U.S./Canada border in northern Vermont. Finally, at age 73, Al walked south from the Utah/Arizona border to the Arizona/Mexico border in Nogales, AZ. to complete "The Arizona Walk." Covering 466 miles in 43 days, this walk was dedicated to heiughten awareness of poverty in Arizona and encourage support of Arizona food banks. The three walks combined took 386 days and covered 4,894 miles with an average of 13 miles per day. The book "Shoe Leather Faith" chronicles Al's walks. The album's filled with signatures of city Mayors or other officials during each of the walks validate his visits to cities on the routes.