Peter Jenkins

Who is Peter Jenkins?

Peter Jenkins is an American travel author. He is known for walking from New York to Oregon while writing two books that describe his experiences over the nearly six years that he spent walking. He is a graduate of Alfred University, with a BFA in Sculpture/Ceramics, as well as an honorary doctorate.

Jenkins began his walk across America in Alfred, New York, in October 1973. He was accompanied by his dog, Cooper, a half Alaskan malamute that died in a car accident at The Farm. He finished the journey in Florence, Oregon, in January 1979. His bestselling book of the 1970s describing the experience, A Walk Across America, was one of the first books to popularize adventure travel or travel as a way of life, although Richard Halliburton had greater success in the 1920s and 1930s. Jenkins inspired many others to put on their packs and see where the days take them.

National Geographic magazine became interested in his walk after Jenkins and Cooper stopped in at the magazine's offices while walking through Washington, D.C. Jenkins' walk experience was featured twice in the magazine: "Walk Across America" in April 1977, and "Walk Across America: Part II" in August 1979. Jenkins currently resides in Spring Hill, Tennessee. Jenkins' Facebook page in mid-2011 indicated that he was working on a new, as yet untitled book about his travels across America in an antique station wagon.