The mission? To drive from Maryland to Washington, visiting every contiguous state in a Great, American Zig-Zag, all in an electric vehicle.
Read through some of my favorite moments of the Great American Zig-Zag
While it's impossible to condense over 6,000 photos into 4 main highlights, please see these exeplary indications of the kinds of photos taken along the expedition.
Great in theory, underdeveloped in practice, I encountered several off-grid solar-powered EV chargers along the Zig-Zag. With a limited battery and out of repair motors for optimizing solar output, this concept didn't quite scratch the free-charging itch, yet I'm glad it exists.
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I didn't realize how large the range of the buffalo was until I began this journey. To see just how much of the States used to be plains and just how much the buffalo dominated was beautiful and somber. We have devastated their population almost to the point of collapse and are just now beginning to repopulate them. What powerful, impactful creatures and symbols of American expansionsim.
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The natural beauty of the United States of America is unrivaled, especially with our capacity to build supporting infrastructure to see these quiet places. I was lucky to visit Zion National Park, one of our national treasures, while it was practically empty. This allowed me to hike Angel's Landing, a jagged cliff-face which gives a perfect vantage out over the valley.
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The stories told today aren't mine to retell, but the experience of engaging with the culture of the First Nations and American Indians gave a depth of perspective beyond expectation. Take some time to explore the cutlure of the original landowners, there is history everywhere if you look for it.
Read the entry →To experience everything the United States has to offer. To learn the stories of as many people as possible, from rural communities to the biggest cities. To see the natural beauty the U.S. holds, from the mountains to the seas.
Use all of this knowledge to impact the conversation on comprehensive, nation-wide climate change resilience.
Herein catalogues the slice of life non-professional machinations of the mission. Witness the daily blog, the natural & built environment, and the off-the-cuff ramblings of our storyteller.
Follow the BlogHerein catalogues the ice cream adventures taken adjacent to the mission. Witness the thoughts of experienced ice-cream taster Benjamin Katz as he tries local ice cream from across the nation.
Watch the ReviewsHerein catalogues the experience of living with an electric vehicle. Witness a series of monthly articles which fluctuate from lived EV experience to experiential recommendations for community involvement.
Read the ArticlesBut everything has been made freely available for viewing. Feel free to read the 200,000+ words of the 380 daily journal entries or watch the 100+ ice cream reviews. New content to come as inspiration strikes.
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Benjamin Katz is a digital marketing generalist and strategic communicator with a love of the environment. He has always wanted to road trip across the nation and see what the North American continent has to offer. He plans on using this trip to learn more about how to communicate with people from all walks of life so that when the trip is over, he'll be able to accomplish his personal goal of improving sustainability-focused communications and empower more individuals to action.
The Great American Zig-Zag is concluded, but the mission of providing affordable consulting to environmental organizations is still present. If you have a good cause and need some input on your digital presence, please reach out.