Insta backpacker walking perimeter of U.S. passes through South Florida
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Jack Kadis with his hiking backpack. Photo: Martin Vassolo/Axios
A 22-year-old social media personality is attempting to walk an outline of the contiguous U.S. — and he's passing through South Florida this week.
The big picture: Jack Kadis, who has racked up over 100,000 followers on Instagram, has been walking about 11 miles a day for 69 consecutive days — beginning Jan. 14 in Virginia and following the coastline south.
- He posts videos of each day's walk, including interactions with fans, and sets up camp at nearby parks or on private property with the permission of supporters he meets along his route.
What they're saying: Axios Miami caught up with Kadis as he walked along State Road A1A in Boca Raton and asked him what his motivation was for the cross-country trek.
- He said entertaining his audience is a major reason, but also representing his hometown of Charlotte, North Carolina.
- "That's pretty cool to have friends and family reach out because they get to sort of be a part of it, too. Just because I'm the one walking doesn't mean that everyone isn't sort of walking, in a sense."
During our interview, supporter James Laferrara, of Boca Raton, stopped to meet Kadis, tracking his location from the daily routes Kadis posts on his page.
- Laferrara told Axios one of Kadis' videos popped up on his Instagram feed and he thought, "Wow, this is actually kind of sick."
- "I'm like, he's traveled more than I ever have in my life so far. I've never even left Florida and this man just came back from North Carolina."
Kadis says he's grateful to have met so many kind strangers along his route, but being by himself and so far from home has started to take its toll.
- "You meet these great people and you become such good friends with all these strangers, but every day I go 11 miles south, so that's been starting to sort of eat away at me."
- For context, it took a Virginia Beach man 29 months to walk the 11,500-mile circumference of the continental U.S. in 2016.
The intrigue: When we spoke around noon on Tuesday, Kadis knew where he was going to sleep that night — but that's rare, he says.
- He says he's still living day-to-day in that respect, but supporters will often direct message him on social media, offering him a place to stay or supplies for his journey.
- If not, he pitches his tent wherever he can.
- "People will help you. You should help people. People are good," Kadis says.
What's next: Kadis should be crossing through Miami soon.