Very Long Hike by Elderly/Likely Insane (not Demented) Man

A couple of suggestions:
1) Seriously consider upgrading your gear to UL. That would really make a difference.
2) Throw all ideas of a schedule out the window. Take it easy, and stop and rest whenever you want.
3) Try hard, or very hard, to get OFF the roads! They can be killing.

Cheers

You should look into the American Discovery Trail; more of a route than trail for part of it’s length. It goes from the Atlantic to the Pacific. Part of its route may work for you for the eastern states. It is unfortunately south of your desired western states, so not much help. I’ve only hiked North South through ID and WY on the Continental Divide Trail. WY is a pretty sparsely populated state so resupplying will be far apart. But I would be more worried about water. For the CDT, we sometimes had to rely on Cattle ponds or troughs on ranch private property, which we had permission since the trail had a right away there.

You might look into the Backcountry Discovery Routes (dirt road travel for off road vehicles). While they are in ID and WY, they are more of a north south, but there is some west east travel, so maybe your route will overlap so you could use their planning resources.

But I agree, look into getting some lightweight gear. It makes the walking much easier on the body; you’ll hurt less and can hike longer. Paved road walks are tough on the body and dangerous, so try to get on dirt as often as possible.

Very likely you can find some online forums for long distance walking that would have a ton of info. I once talked to a gentleman who was prepping for such a walk. He said that some would tow a cart behind them, rather than wearing a backpack. And yes, the ADT would be a good place to start your research.

It may be worth looking into Rails to Trails (railstotrails.org), a conservancy that has converted unused railroad lines into bike/hiking paths. According to their website, one of their routes goes from Washington DC to the State of Washington. It looks like the trail goes through Illinois. Good luck!

Everything Roger said.

And the others are showing alternatives.

Road walks are a total beat-down.  NOT FUN and will kill your feet and ankles.  The Lone Star trail here in TX has a few miles of road walking.  They are universally despised.  And dangerous.

If you are set on road walking, you could get something to pull behind you with all your belongings.

Gear weight is the other beat down on hiking.

There are a few people I know on Instagram out doing bike treks.  Mischief_Onthetrail is one.  He had a bad fall on the Appalachian trail.  Knocked unconscious in freezing temps.  His FEET were in the water source.  He lost half of each foot.  He is disabled and a young man.  He was hiking the AT and other trails, but even modern carbon fiber braces would break under the strain.  He took to Bike-Packing.  Some great photos.  he’s out there right now.

I agree with Miner. Check out Matt’s videos. He is extremely accomplished thru hiker and made it very far on the ADT. It will give you a taste of what hiking across the country is like. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FuPO6YIYetw&list=PLgw5mInRAREYcdWnhWuxTsiksf4Jipjqa

A guy was walking from SF to NYC circa 1984 and realized the harness for his cart (enclosed, aluminum, small shopping-cart-size, on two bicycle wheels, with two rickshaw-type poles projecting in front of the cart) was not working for him before he got to Castro Valley (the first 20 miles) and the backpacking store I worked in.  I set him up with CampTrails’ most padded hip belt, a Fastex quick-release buckle, and off he went.  He was old (i.e. our age now), wasn’t planning on many miles each day (15?) and his doctor had told him if his pulse was up by 10 beats any morning, to make it a zero day.

We got a postcard from him months later from Pennsylvania thanking us for the harness that had worked well for him the entire trip.

If much of it is on roads, I’d highly recommend reflective vest, hat, tape, and the kind of blaze-orange flags on a fiberglass pole that they put on kids’ bicycles and bicycle trailers.

I like a silver “sunbrella” to create a spot of solid shade for my head and upper body.  It feels 15F cooler that way and for the middle of your trip, you’re at some moderate elevations (= more UV).  I have a few 100% nylon fishing shirts with buttoned epaulets that let me position the umbrella handle in a chest cargo pocket and the shaft through the epaulet for hands-free use.

Unlike on most backpacking trails, constantly heading east would make a solar panel more viable to keep a battery pack topped off.

Also, if much at all is on roads, I’d want the capacity to make a honking big sign (FedEx Tyvek envelopes turned inside out and a big sharpie marker).  Like “Got Water?” could avoid you diverting to skanky cow ponds if a motorist was happy to help you out from their own water bottle or cooler.  Heck, you’re as likely to get a beer as water.   Or they’ll circle around in 20 minutes with a burger, fries and a shake for you.  When I see touring bicyclists here in Alaska, and stop to ask if they want anything, the most frequent request is water.  Even through there are streams all over the place, most of them entail bashing down a long steep slope through alders to get to where it passes under the highway.  So I’ve taken to traveling with a few gallon jugs (rinsed out milk cartons) of tap water in my trunk when I’m driving around the state in summer.  I either pour water into their containers, or just leave the whole jug with them (like if they’ve made a dry camp for the night).

Wow–what great advice here.   I agree with all of it…and now I am thinking about where I could do a hike like this…grin.

Just want to thank you all for the advice and commentary.  Your weights on the scale have made and will continue to affect its balance.  Reminded me of a time–many, many years ago–when a co-worker was talking about his coming first foray into overnite camping and I told him to be sure to go the outdoor store and see if they had some of that new dehydrated water so he’d not have to carry so much.  Took him a while to figure out the joke.  I think he finally got elected to the Legislature.

I did a few hundred miles of the Camino Primitivo two years ago with my daughter, when I was 71.  It was an experience both she and I will treasure. And yeah–less weight is good!

If it was me I’d look around your local area for close by backpacking trails and do some short trips to flesh out your gear and your body.  Pull a couple weeks sleeping in a tent in your backyard to get used to using a sleeping pad and see if your bag keeps you warm etc.  Do some training hikes with whatever weight you anticipate using—30 or 40 lbs sounds right.
I just got back from a 15 day winter trip in March and my pack was too heavy at 75 lbs but it matched my age—75—see pic. Oh and avoid road walking as much as possible as it kills the lower legs and feet—unless you walk on the shoulder in grass.  (Btw, Vietnam-Era Vet too—’69-’73).

Dear TW:  Thanks for the reply and advice.  Am about to leave but have been preparing in just the way you suggest and plan to walk as little roadside as possible.  My research has shown me that a High Plains and Great Plains crossing is Definitely not feasible, so short haul buses are now more firmly in the plans.  Everyone has been muy helpful in the prep for tbis.  We’ll see what happens.  I’m also hoping to heck that the term of service you mentioned wasn’t in-country in Nam.  If so, my salute, man.  You got the balls of a brass goose.  I’m a graduate of the Clash of ’70, didn’t pull a full tour and was medevaced, ending up three hospitals later at Walter Reed.  But no matter what…glad you made it back to the World.  Safe travels, to you and all who read this.

Thanks Tim C for the reply.  I spent two years at Langley AFB and two years in Panama with USAF—saw no combat.  In ’73 just before getting out I made a short list while sitting at a desk in the barracks—required things I’d need as a civilian:  Kelty Pack $27, Boots and Bag.  My Dream Sheet and ticket home.  My current backpacking advice?  Go slow, do low mile days, eat well, do off-pack reststops, keep a journal, and focus on your feet to prevent falling.  Oh and do zero days in a tent or tarp or hammock and enjoy great campsites esp next to creeks.