National Geographic Explorer Paul Salopek's 'Out of Eden Walk' Around the Globe

The 'Out of Eden Walk' Expedition

• 🚶 Paul Salopek, a National Geographic Explorer, is on an unprecedented trek called the 'Out of Eden Walk', following ancient human migration routes on foot.
• 🌍 The journey began in Ethiopia's Great Rift Valley in 2013 and has since traversed the Middle East, Asia, and is now entering the Western Hemisphere.

Traversing China

• 🇨🇳 Salopek spent 2.5 years walking over 4000 miles through China, experiencing its vast geographical and cultural diversity.
• 🗣️ This extensive walk allowed him to connect with ordinary people, offering a perspective beyond the typical journalistic bubble.

Rural Depopulation in Asia

• 🇰🇷🇯🇵 In South Korea and Japan, Salopek observed astonishing depopulation in rural areas due to urbanization and globalization.
• 🚶 He described walking nearly 25 miles in rural Japan and encountering only three people, leading him to camp out due to a lack of lodging.

Pacific Crossing and Container Ships

• 🚢 Unable to cross the Russian border due to the invasion of Ukraine, Salopek took an 11-day journey on a container ship from Japan to British Columbia.
• 📦 This experience provided a behind-the-scenes look at globalization and the immense scale of international shipping.

Alaskan Wilderness and Climate Change

• 🐻 Salopek described the wild beaches of Alaska's lost coast, encountering grizzly bears and moose in unexpected places.
• ⚠️ He noted the dynamic nature of the landscape, with melting glaciers significantly impacting river courses and salmon ecology, serving as a preview of future global changes due to climate change.

Reflections on Returning to the U.S.

• 🇺🇸 Salopek's return to the U.S. after a decade felt both exhilarating and strange, like waking up in a world that had significantly changed.
• 🛶 For his next phase, he plans to sea kayak 1000 miles south of the U.S. border, following ancient watercraft pathways.