Cody Casey
The Pan-American Highway is a walk that usually takes about 530 days to complete. It is considered the world's longest walkable route and the longest motorable road by Guinness World Records. The walk spans 30,608 km from Argentina to Alaska and was first completed by British former sailor George Meegan in 1977, taking 2,425 days. The PanCAN PurpleStride is an annual walk to raise funds and awareness for pancreatic cancer research. The event is organised by the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, a registered nonprofit organisation.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | The Pan-American Highway |
| Record time | 530 days |
| Distance | 30,608km (George Meegan), 23,305 km (Holly Harrison) |
| Record holders | George Meegan, Holly Harrison |
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What You'll Learn
The Pan-American Highway is the world's longest walk
The Pan-American Highway is a 30,608km route that is considered the world's longest "motorable road" by the Guinness World Records. However, you cannot drive the entire route by car due to a 106km stretch of forest called the Darién Gap. Most people circumvent this gap by taking a ferry from Panama to Colombia or Ecuador. Only two people are known to have walked the entire route, including the Darién Gap, despite it being the world's longest walk.
The first person to complete the trek was British former sailor George Meegan, who began in 1977 and took 2,425 days to finish. The second person to complete the walk was former US Army Ranger Holly Harrison, who finished a slightly more direct route of 23,305km in 530 days, around 35 years after Meegan.
The Pan-American Highway is a multipart journey that stretches from Argentina to Alaska. Despite being a "motorable road", it is not possible to drive the entire route due to the Darién Gap, a stretch of unruly forest that is not traversable by car. This gap poses a significant challenge for those attempting to complete the entire route, whether by car or on foot.
The Darién Gap has prompted some to question the validity of the Pan-American Highway as the longest journey by foot. As a result, an alternative route between Cape Town, South Africa, and Magadan, Russia, has been suggested as a contender for the longest walk in the world.
The Pan-American Highway is a remarkable feat of engineering and a testament to human ambition. While completing the entire route on foot is an arduous and time-consuming task, it is possible, as demonstrated by Meegan and Harrison. Their journeys serve as a reminder that some achievements are truly extraordinary and that the limits of human endurance can be pushed further.
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It is a 30,608km journey from Argentina to Alaska
The Pan-American Highway is a 30,608km journey stretching from Argentina to Alaska, recognised by the Guinness World Records as the world's longest "motorable road". However, due to a 106km stretch of forest called the Darién Gap, the route cannot be completed by car or on foot. Most walkers get around this gap by taking a ferry from Panama to Colombia or Ecuador.
The first person to complete the Argentina-Alaska trek on foot was British former sailor George Meegan, who began in 1977 and took 2,425 days to finish the 30,608km journey. The Darién Gap adds a significant challenge to the Pan-American Highway journey, with only two people on record having completed the entire walk, including the gap.
Former US Army Ranger Holly Harrison completed the same voyage as Meegan, but took a slightly more direct route of 23,305 km in 530 days. This alternative route did not include the treacherous Darién Gap, which some do not consider traversable on foot.
The Pan-American Highway is a remarkable feat of engineering and a testament to human endurance, offering a unique and challenging experience for adventurers and walkers alike.
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The walk takes 2,425 days to complete
The Pan-American Highway is the longest walk in the world, according to the NZ Herald. The walk typically takes 530 days to complete, but former US Army Ranger Holly Harrison completed a slightly more direct route in just 530 days. However, British former sailor George Meegan took 2,425 days to complete the multipart journey.
The Pan-American Highway is the world's longest "motorable road", according to Guinness World Records. However, it is impossible to drive the entire route by car due to a 106km stretch of forest called the Darién Gap. Most walkers get around this obstacle by taking a ferry from Panama to Colombia or Ecuador.
George Meegan was the first adventurer to complete the Argentina-Alaska trek, beginning in 1977. His journey took 2,425 days to complete, covering 30,608km. Meegan's journey was not without its challenges, as he had to contend with the unruly forest of the Darién Gap.
The Pan-American Highway presents a unique opportunity for walkers to embark on an extended journey and experience the diverse landscapes and cultures of North and South America. The route offers a mix of urban and rural settings, with varying terrain and climates, providing a truly unique and challenging experience for those who attempt it.
Completing the Pan-American Highway on foot is a testament to human endurance and perseverance, and those who have accomplished it have earned a place in the history of exploration. The journey requires careful planning, resilience, and a deep understanding of the challenges that lie ahead. It is a once-in-a-lifetime experience that pushes the boundaries of physical and mental capabilities.
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Former US Army Ranger Holly Harrison completed the walk in 530 days
The Pan-American Highway is the longest walk in the world, according to the NZ Herald. It took former US Army Ranger Holly Harrison 530 days to complete the walk, which is an incredible feat of endurance and determination.
The Pan-American Highway is a remarkable and challenging journey that stretches across the Americas, from Argentina to Alaska. The length of the entire route is approximately 30,608 kilometres, and it is recognised as the world's longest "motorable road" by Guinness World Records. However, due to a 106-kilometre stretch of dense forest known as the Darién Gap, it is not possible to drive the entire route without interruption.
Despite the challenges posed by the Darién Gap, some intrepid adventurers have embarked on the ambitious endeavour of completing the entire trek on foot. Former US Army Ranger Holly Harrison is one of these remarkable individuals. She tackled the same route as British former sailor George Meegan, who first completed the journey in 1977, but she took a slightly more direct path.
Harrison's journey spanned a total of 23,305 kilometres, which she completed in an impressive 530 days. Her determination and resilience shine through in this remarkable accomplishment. While the exact dates of her journey are not mentioned in the source, it is known that she completed her voyage around 35 years after Meegan, who took 2,425 days for the longer route.
The Pan-American Highway presents a unique set of challenges and opportunities for adventurers like Harrison. It offers a chance to explore diverse landscapes, connect with local cultures, and test one's physical and mental limits. Harrison's achievement serves as an inspiration to anyone contemplating similar expeditions, demonstrating that with perseverance and a determined spirit, even the longest walks can be conquered.
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Most walkers circumvent the Darién Gap by boarding a ferry
The Pan-American Highway is a system of roads that runs north-south through the entirety of North, Central, and South America, with the sole exception of the Darién Gap. The Darién Gap is a 106km (66-mile) stretch of swampland and forest dividing the two continents of North and South America, and interrupting the Pan-American Highway, which breaks at Yaviza, Panama, and resumes at Turbo, Colombia.
The Darién Gap has long been a break in the highway due to logistical challenges, financial costs, environmental concerns, and, more recently, cattle. The gap has also been affected by the Colombian conflict, with armed groups occupying some Panamanian jungle villages and kidnapping or killing inhabitants and travelers. The only way to cross the gap is by hiking, which is strenuous and dangerous, or by small boats or traditional watercraft such as pirogues.
In the past, ferry services such as Crucero Express and Ferry Xpress operated to link the gap, but they closed down due to a lack of profitability. In 2015, a ferry service was reportedly up and running, allowing travelers to drive in and out with set pricing, although it was very limited in space for larger vehicles. As of 2023, there are no active plans to build a road through the Darién Gap, although there is discussion of re-establishing a ferry service and building a rail link.
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Frequently asked questions
The Pan-American Highway walk is approximately 30,608km long and takes 2,425 days to complete.
Yes, British former sailor George Meegan was the first adventurer to complete the walk, taking 2,425 days. Around 35 years later, former US Army Ranger Holly Harrison completed the walk in 530 days.
Yes, due to a 106km stretch of forest called Darién Gap, some walkers opt to board a ferry from Panama to Colombia or Ecuador instead.
