Elkhorn man hitchhiking to Alaska
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ELKHORN — Is there a positive relationship between hitchhiking and humanity? Ryan Kedzie is convinced there is.
On the surface, Ryan's plan to travel to Alaska sounds appropriate for a young man who just graduated from the University of Minnesota-Duluth with a degree in graphic arts.
Before settling down to a career, Ryan wants to see what life is like on the open seas as a commercial fisherman. His goal is to work on a fishing boat taking sockeye salmon in Bristol Bay in southwest Alaska.
His mode of travel from his hometown of Elkhorn to Alaska? An outstretched thumb.
"It's all part of the plan," Ryan said sitting at his parents' dining room table making final preparations for the trip. "I'll be filming the trip for a documentary. A fishing job will help me financially while doing something I've always thought about."
Clearly, this is not your average trip to Alaska. Some might classify it as a parent's nightmare. That's not the case for Neal and Kerrie Kedzie.
"My first thought was, 'He can't do that,'" Kerrie said. "Naturally, I had concerns about his safety."
After Kerrie heard more about Ryan's plans, she began to get more comfortable with the idea.
"I knew there would be concerns when I first told them on Christmas break about my plans," Ryan said. "I knew I'd have to slowly convince them that I had it all planned out."
Ryan has meticulous plans regarding his route, food drops, communications and other travel plans, including checks with government officials on crossing the border by foot or vehicle.
"You have to know Ryan to understand how we have confidence in him," Neal said. "He's been an adventurous person all his life. He's the one of our three children who had the broken bones and stitches. But he's always found a way to get things done"
Asked to provide examples of Ryan's "adventures," Neal recalled Ryan riding his bicycle off the end of a pier "right into the lake" and always needing to climb the highest tree, not always successfully.
Ryan has convinced his parents he can safely hitchhike to Alaska.
"He's a mature 25-year-old who has demonstrated that he's taken precautions and planned for a safe trip," Neal said. "There's a time when your boy becomes a man, and that's the case with Ryan."
"Hitchhiking has so many negative connotations associated with it, but I plan to break those stereotypes and prove a person can still rely on the kindness of the common man or woman to help out when needed," he said. "I'm convinced of that, and I'll be documenting my interactions with people all along the way."
Hitchhiking has legal implications. In most states, including Wisconsin, it is illegal to be "on a roadway for the purpose of soliciting a ride."
"I have researched the laws and concluded that I'm OK if I'm off the roadway, not on the roadway," Ryan said. "I'll be well off the road in places where there is plenty of space for motorists to pull off."
Ryan will begin his trip June 1. He has raised about $1,400 through pledges and contributions for equipment such as a smartphone and camera. He is accepting additional contributions to buy an international data plan so he can file reports from the road.
May 28, 2012 at 6:37 p.m.
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Well I wouldn't be too harsh on Ryan. As I said, "the specific details have to be considered in light of the era in which we are living". For a 25-year-old man to consider taking up an Alaska adventure of this magnitude is quite a story, no matter how you slice it. It is not an everyday thing. To ask for donations is not unheard of either. Give or don't, it's up to you. The story is newsworthy, however, and I don't fault the Gazette for reporting it.
May 26, 2012 at 10:35 p.m.
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My question is why is the gazette letting this 'man' panhandle for money on their website. If this guy would have done all of this on his own I would totally be all for it and wish him the best of luck and would probably follow his journey. Since he is asking for money from people he has never even met, it seems strangely odd to me. How about instead of people donating to this vacation, how about donating money to a local food pantry or a homeless shelter instead, those people would more than likely stretch that dollar a little bit further. This whole story just bugs me to no end.
May 26, 2012 at 7:45 a.m.
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Well said and ditto on your 6:59, SuperDave! That's still my philosophy. Just ask my kids. :-) As a frame of reference, my first adventure was a 1,000 mile road trip with a buddy, in my car with the money we'd each earned. We were 16 years old. (Can you hear all the mommies gasping? LOL)
May 26, 2012 at 7 a.m.
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Btw, does anyone know how to update your email address on this forum? I changed mine years ago so if anyone tried to contact me I don't get those messages. Thanks.
May 26, 2012 at 6:59 a.m.
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Wow turkic - what a written blast to Ryan! I had kind of overlooked the fact that he is 25. Today's twenty-somethings are treated by their parents like yesterday's teens, and I am slowly getting used to that fact. For those of you under the age of ??, let me explain. Back in the day, once you hit 18, you were pretty much on your own. In my case, when I turned 25 I was in college and had already served six years in the military. I was married and living independently of my parents, or my wife's parents. It never would have occurred to me to depend on parents for a roof over my head or food in my stomach. Sadly, that is not usually the case today. Many parents are failing in their mission to create strong, independent offspring who are capable of making a go of it on their own. This is not the fault of the "kids" btw! I give Ryan kudos for wanting to experience true independence and embark on this adventure. The specific details have to be considered in light of the era in which we are living. Nuff said. Good luck Ryan!
May 25, 2012 at 12:34 p.m.
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I guess Ryan didn't like my comment and sent me a personal message. Wow. My opinion... I think this story is silly and even sillier that he would contact the newspaper in an attempt to gain followers (or seeking fame) and seek out more donations. Real youngsters (not college grads in their mid 20s) go on these adventures all the time, yet they go without donations and little resources. For Ryan, this type of adventure is a big deal. His friends and family support him (as they should), however for the rest of the world....boring story. Almost a couple grand in donations for a trip that is only going to take a few days...that's the real story. Sounds like a fun vacation, but not news worthy. Thanks for the email Ryan and in response google hitchhiking documentary. You are not reinventing the wheel. The experience is new for you, and I wish you the best, but for the rest of us (non-family/friends), not a big deal.
May 24, 2012 at 12:51 p.m.
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Great idea. Good luck. Fishing boat work is pretty hard and dangerous, but an experience, that's for sure.
May 24, 2012 at 12:39 p.m.
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Youngsters hitchhike across the country all the time, even throughout Europe, usually fresh out of high school. I think it's a bit humorous that this guy is in his mid-twenties still living with his parents. What adventure is there? "Got donations, bringing video cameras, cell phone, planned routes, communicating with government officials"-- yawn
May 23, 2012 at 10:18 a.m.
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I grew up listening to my grandpa sharing his adventures some of which included him, as a youth, hitchhiking to areas near to where he lived. Naturally my parents discouraged those tales and weren’t too pleased when I informed them of my intent to hitchhike out West. All in all, I spent the better part of 2 years hitching rides mostly around the Midwest and Northwest to the coast. I discovered this country is full of many kind and generous individuals with some very amazing stories. The experience was absolutely incredible. Although its been 35+ years, its something I will never forget and even now, especially this time of year, I get that urge to grab my backpack and hit the road. I have no doubt, given Ryan’s motivation for choosing this method of travel, that he too, years from now, will fondly remember that exhilarating feeling of standing by the road with your worldly possessions on your back holding your thumb out as you await your next adventure. Godspeed Ryan and enjoy the ride – it’s the best part the trip.
May 22, 2012 at 5:46 p.m.
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my "ryan's dream" is to follow a band for like a month. Many of my favorite artists are on the road constantly. 4-5-6 shows a night. I've always wanted to follow them for a few weeks. Maybe next year. (yes, I'm a Cubs fan.)
May 22, 2012 at 5 p.m.
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Go for it Ryan! There are plenty of times when I wished I would have done something like that! In fact, I had planned to buy a van and tour the country with my best friend, but as it turned out, his girlfriend became pregnant and he joined the Air Force!
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