Norwich
Bearded and burly, the 29-year-old Norwich resident has racked up an estimated 4,500 miles on foot and another 3,700 or so via bicycle since 2015. He recently trekked 50 miles across Rhode Island, the 30th state in which he has logged significant mileage — many of them from state line to state line.
“I just love the challenge, love being out in the elements and being out with wildlife,” said Miles, a Eugene, Ore., native who is residing in the Upper Valley temporarily. “There is something very independent about it.”
Miles began by spanning parts of four western states three years ago — Colorado, Wyoming, South Dakota and Montana — then came east to hike the Appalachian Trail in 2016, which alone added 14 states to the docket.
Including a 4½-month, cycling-plus-hiking journey last year, he’s ventured through much of the Pacific Norwest, Midwest and South, parking the bike to hike sections of various long-distance trails along the way. He finished the adventure in South Carolina, one of only a few eastern seaboard states bypassed by the Appalachian Trail. He considered tackling another of the same ilk last month, Delaware, before settling on Rhode Island.
That covers all six New England states. Famously small in area, Miles says it only took him about 10 hours to walk clear across the Ocean State.
“I’d never been there before,” Miles said. “It was nice. I just couldn’t believe how quick it was.”
Miles prefers wooded areas, both for the shade and the opportunity to spot wildlife (he spied about 32 bears and close to 1,000 deer during his AT journey, he said.). He also has the quirky preference of hiking at night, albeit for practical reasons.
“There’s less people, so it’s quieter and more peaceful,” said Miles, who dons headlamp, tail light and reflective vest when hiking after dark. “It’s really peaceful, and you come across more animals. I also sunburn really easily and get blisters, so it’s great to cover as many miles as possible when the sun’s not out.”
Especially during his cycling adventures, not all of Miles’ travel comes at night or in the woods. Of Christian faith, he regularly visits churches situated along or near his path to share his stories with clergy.
A regular at the First Baptist Church of Lebanon, he was devastated when it burned in late December 2016 in an alleged act of arson.
“I loved that church so much and had just been there for Christmas and told my dad (also Jonathan) about how great of a service it was.” Miles said. “It’s really said, what happened.””
During last year’s journey, Miles told many he encountered about the church and offered mission cards for them to learn more about an ongoing mission to rebuild it.
“I’m committed to helping them rebuild it,” Miles said. “That’s really important to me.”
Miles’ most precarious hiking experience came in Montana’s Glacier National Park, encountering a large grizzly bear on an auto road.
“It was the size of a Honda Civic. I froze and nearly peed my pants,” Miles recalled. “Looking at that animal, I felt like I was going to die. Eventually I just embraced the idea and promised myself that if I was going to die, I was at least going to get one good punch in. Then it very slowly (retreated) and I ran for eight miles.”
Some of Miles’ favorite scenery includes the vistas along the Appalachian Trail and Lake of the Ozarks, a large manmade reservoir in Missouri. “It’s really beautiful there,” he said. “I want to go back.”
Miles fully intends to hike all 50 U.S. states over his lifetime, though he’s still contemplating where to travel next. He’s headed to Alaska at the end of this month to work in salmon fishing processing, he said, but isn’t yet prepared to voyage through The Last Frontier.
“Places like Alaska and Texas, you have to dedicate at least 2½ months, and be in a group,” he said. “There are a lot of logistics and a lot of things to carry. You need a lot of food and water because of how much wilderness there is.”
Then there’s California, home to much of the Pacific Crest Trail, which spans the west coast. Miles has already hiked much of the trail in Washington and Oregon.
“I want to do the PCT in California, but so much of it is desert,” Miles said. “I’m not sure if I’m up for hiking through Death Valley this year.”
Miles said he’s had hundreds of conversations about how fittingly his surname matches his lifestyle, and would like to eventually leverage it for sponsorships.
“It’s very surreal and ironic that my last name is Miles,” he said. “(Olympic champion sprinter) Usain Bolt’s name was very surreal and ironic, too, and I’m sure he got many sponsorships because of it.”
At the very least, Miles has the support of his family back in Eugene.
“They think it’s fantastic, especially my dad,” Miles said. “My mom is, too, except that she’s terrified of bears.”
Jared Pendak can be reached at jpendak@vnews.com or 603-727-3225.