New York Man Walks 2,500 Miles to San Francisco Documenting Journey on TikTok
Chantz Rivera, who had rarely traveled outside the Tri-State area, began his cross-country trek on May 31.
Chantz Rivera, a 29-year-old New York native who had previously traveled minimally, has embarked on a 2,500-mile walk from New York to San Francisco. He is documenting his journey, which began on May 31, on TikTok. Rivera stated that prior to this trip, his most extensive travels had been a week-long trip to Florida at age 18 and a weekend in Washington, D.C., in his mid-twenties.
Rivera walks an average of 15 to 30 miles per day, a pace that brought him to the California border on October 15, his 137th day on the road. He described his motivation for the walk as a desire to be more free-willed, adventurous, and to experience the country more directly. "I chose to walk because I feel like you can see more like that, even though I know it’s pretty extreme," Rivera told KRON. "It helps mentally and spiritually, I guess."
His TikTok videos have garnered hundreds of thousands of views, and Rivera has received support from people along his route, including offers of housing, haircuts, and shoes. He has also raised over $10,000 through a GoFundMe campaign to support his journey.
Rivera has documented sights such as natural rainbows and mountains, which he had not seen before. As of his latest updates, he has reached Sacramento, California, approximately 87 miles from San Francisco. Upon arrival, Rivera plans to explore the city as a tourist, staying in a motel or hotel and visiting locations like the beach.