An article from The News Register in McMinnville Oregon

Walker will have many tales to tell

Published: April 21, 2010

Walker will have many tales to tell

By STARLA POINTER

Of the News-Register

Christopher Lyon, who set out from Alaska on a cross-country trip March 23, walked into Yamhill County over the weekend.

Lyon began his trip as a memorial to friend Ty Chevevier, who died of sarcoma at age 35. In addition to raising cancer awareness and research money, he said the trip also has become a way of reminding people there are good folks everywhere. "I've met such great people," said Lyon, who started the actual walking part of the trek April 2 in Bellingham, Wash.

He's also gathered quite a following via electronic media. He has a blog at alaska2ct.blogspot.com that is linked to Facebook and Twitter.

His Facebook site features videos he's made along the way, including one he shot at Antonio's in Lafayette.

"I think of the videos as sort of 'Diners, Drive-ins and Dives' meets 'Survivorman,'" he said, naming two popular television shows.

Lyon is a trained chef who loves to cook fusion cuisine. He has cooked for some of the people who put him up for the night and shared recipes with others.

He offers to help with chores everywhere he goes.

He'd been working as a chef in Kodiak, Alaska, when he decided to make the trip. His journey will take him down the West Coast, then across the country via the Discovery Trail, a series of non-motorized routes.

In Pennsylvania, he plans to veer off and head for his home state of Connecticut, where he has two daughters. He hopes to be there by Thanksgiving.

His trip is being facilitated, in part, by his mother, who has been calling ahead to help him find lodging. "She says, 'Please take care of my little boy,'" joked Lyon, who's 37.

At her request, the Baker Street Inn, Kelty House and Wildwood Inn all provided accommodations during Lyon's stay in Yamhill County. But he expects to do a lot of primitive camping as well.

His Internet, Facebook and Twitter followers also are a huge help, he said. They frequently send him messages of encouragement.

"Their comments keep my legs young," said Lyon, who has never done long-distance walking before this trip.

Some Internet followers have donated to cancer research in his name through the Jimmy Fund, associated with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in Boston. They also offer assistance, as do people he meets casually along the way.

In Washington, he stayed overnight with an experienced hiker who fretted about Lyon's backpack, then bought him a better one. Another night, he was invited to camp in an older couple's yard, and they sent him off the next morning with a tackle box full of fishing gear.

"I have so many great stories already," he said.

Lyon hopes to write a book about his experiences at the end of the trip. He also wants to speak to children and groups about the generosity he's found along the way.

"This is a call to humanity," he said. "This is about human caring, about caring for people you don't know ... it's incredible how much of that is out there."





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