Hakim Maloum’s very long walk

When he set out on foot from Union Square in New York City on March 12, 2008, planning to walk all the way to the West Coast, 31-year-old Hakim Maloum carried “a 65-pound backpack, $217, a very big smile and a lot of faith in people,” he said.

Five-and-a-half months later, with a physique at least 70 pounds lighter, New Jersey resident Maloum is still standing — in fact, he’s walking (albeit with a painful ingrown toenail), smiling and amiably chatting away with anyone who takes an interest in his endeavors.

Now in Venice, he’s made it to the endpoint of his journey, with tomorrow — Monday, Sept. 1, 2008 — representing the finale. At noon, he will greet well-wishers (the public is invited) at the foot of Venice Pier, at the west end of Washington Boulevard, for one last stroll before he accepts a car ride for the first time since his trip began.

Not accepting rides, you see, was rule No. 1 of a quest beset with self-made rules. He had decided that “I cannot take a ride even to save my life, and trust me, it has happened,” he said.

Rule No. 2: “I cannot solicit any money. I can’t ask for donations. I can’t ask for food or water,” he said. In fact, he couldn’t ask for any kind of help. And that aforementioned ill-faring toenail? This rule prevented him from seeking help for that too.

Now, why on earth would one take on a trip so arduous, or even, perhaps, death-defying? His stated motive is inspirational, and since this question naturally comes up a million times a day, he seems to have his statement down: “To inspire younger generations, and to show them that nothing is impossible if they want to get up and do something,” he said. Though the statement was automatic, his tone conveyed sincerity.

But it seems that what initially stirred Maloum to get up and get walking was a restlessness and a thirst for adventure. Maloum, who is originally from Algeria but moved to the U.S. over nine years ago, worked as a chef in New York City, and that “just didn’t feel right,” he said. So he started a contracting company. That didn’t do it either, he said, adding that he’s the sort who moves every three or four years.

So, he figured he might as well set off on a walk across the United States. He has covered at least 3,300 miles doing so.

During the course of his journey, which you can read a little about in the work-in-progress PaintAtlas.com, he has met with many challenges, to say the least. He has been shot at with a BB gun, and he was once punched and pummeled until he fell unconscious.

In California’s searing Mojave Desert, he walked 63 miles over two days and three nights, fueled only by five chicken wings, three granola bars, a Snickers bar and half a handful of peanuts, he said.

But, he said, the overwhelming majority of his experiences and encounters have been positive. “Since I’ve been in America, all everyone talks about is Southern hospitality,” he said. But while the Southerners he has met have surpassed that expectation, he’s been impressed by others too, countless people who have met him with curiosity, enthusiasm and generosity.

Once, he was so hungry he had to return leg bandages he had purchased in order to buy food. Two hours after getting his $10 refund, he met a man who gave him $50. From perfect strangers, he has been given places to camp, beds to sleep in, many hot meals and even ointment for his blisters.

“I met a family in Virginia, who invited me into their home, fed me, washed my clothes, gave me $200 and bought me a hat,” he said. “It is wonderful, truly amazing, how people have invited me into their homes.”

The question that begs to be asked: What’s he going to do next? He’s not sure, but he does like Venice, now that he’s made it here. “I hope to get a small job around here, and take a month or two to enjoy this town,” said Maloum.

- Susan Derby, Special to the Los Angeles Times

[Photos: Susan Derby]

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This entry was posted on Sunday, August 31, 2008 at 3:53 pm by Susan Derby and is filed under California, Los Angeles, News, Tips & Advice, Outdoors & Adventure. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment, or trackback from your own site.