Olly Cohen
hi! i am a
software engineer
adventurer
dancer
writer
in seattle, wa
from new jersey
hi! i am a
software engineer
adventurer
dancer
writer
in seattle, wa
from new jersey
From January 1 to May 1, 2024, I set out on a human-powered journey from my front door in Seattle. I ran with a baby jogger holding my camping gear, food, and skis. This adventure was inspired in large part by my friend Matt Montavon who ran 1,100 miles across Alaska with a stroller. The run raised money for GiveDirectly.
| Numbers | |
|---|---|
| Miles Traveled on Foot | 1503 |
| Days Living out of Baby Stroller | 121 |
| Ski Days | 28 |
| Elevation (not including skiing) | 74895 ft |
| Average Run Length | 23.85 miles |
| Mountain Passes Crossed | 12 |
| Press | |
|---|---|
| CBC Edmonton | Ski Run for Snow |
| Clearwater Times | A human-powered adventure into the Rockies with Olly |
| Rocky Mountain Goat | Seattle to Mount Robson on foot |
| Valley Voice | Human-powered adventurer comes through Kootenays |
| Ferry County View | A lovely, delightful traipse |
To everyone who connected with me, shared their friendship, an adventure, or inspiration. I'm grateful for each and every interaction that gave me a boost and reminded me I wasn't alone.
Mike Cassidy and Dan Royal were there to check in with me every single day of the adventure, even in the backcountry with via inReach. Having the consistency of being in contact with them through the most remote parts of the journey kept me sane. Cassidy has been a mentor ever since he took me for my first outdoor rock climb at summer camp when I was 12 years old. Dan has been a ski partner and mountaineering mentor since I moved to Seattle last year.
My mom, Kathy Karp Cohen and my dad Andy Cohen are my biggest fans. My bffs Daniel and Lukas who love and accept me with my quirks. My grandparents Geega and Pop Pop from whom I get my cautious and thoughtful approach to adventure. My Uncle Jonny who has been a role model to me my whole life. My aunt Ronna for inspiring me to work hard and be rugged. My aunt Marci for inspiring me to keep my heart open and wander. My cousin Erica for her extreme unconditional love, cheering me on throughout the adventure. My cousin Dara for her extreme honesty and coining the phrase “Big Dumb Adventure”. Michael Kanner for showing me how to design my life as a work of art.
Tiara, Tally, Anna, Erik, Julie — the world's greatest housemates who sent me off inflated with love. Isabella whose friendship I treasure. My friends in the Cowgill Trail Collective for motivating me to test my limits. Kayla and Michael who made me feel so welcome in my move to Seattle and sent me off on a high.
Zach Anderson, the most unselfish mountain guide I've ever met, who joined me on the Mount Baker adventure leg. Antoine who showed me how to be fearless in the backcountry. Amanda and Matt Montovan for enabling backcountry adventures in Alaska over the last two summers that have been invaluable outdoor education. Garr who told me if there's something in my heart I feel compelled to do, do it and do it fearlessly. Jess Shade who brought me on my first ever snow camping trip and taught me to do the hard thing.
JD and Glen Moore who sold me much of the gear that came on this adventure. Pam and Eric Dolven who hosted me on both ends of my journey. Devin Groody who housed me through the cold snap and did not one but two photo shoots with me. Bob and Brenda from Upriver for inviting me to go skiing when they saw me hanging out at a gas station. Tom Clement and Meesh Alwine who hosted me at both ends of the adventure and made it clear I will always have a home in Marblemount. Conor Roland who became an instant friend on the Easton Glacier and understood the vision for the adventure before even I did. Calvin Lautsch who gave me a roof to sleep under, not knowing who I was, at a time when I truly needed it being cold, wet, and physically destroyed. Anthony Marra for hosting me in Bellingham and being one of the people who inspired this adventure after bikepacking with skis across the Pacific Northwest, Pakistan, and New Zealand. He enthusiastically shared his learnings from his multiple multi-monthlong, multi-sport human-powered adventures. Katie and Mark Hicks for hosting me in the delightful community of Birch Bay, in the northwestern of the lower 48. Cormac Toler-Scott for welcoming me to Canada and being a damn good friend. Caitlyn Schneider and Julian for making me know I always have a home in Vancouver and sharing with me their wealth of knowledge about adventuring in the south coast mountains for Canada. Larissa and Jon Wescott for hosting me in Lions Bay, enabling alternate sport adventures (hiking, whitewater rafting, bouldering), and staying invested in the adventure after I left. Lisa from Whistler Community Services who gave me two complimentary lift tickets to the ski resort. Sara Jennings who agreed to host me at the last minute in Whistler, enabling to use the free lift tickets. Vivian Yu Zhou and Bill Bateman for hosting me for two relaxing nights in Pemberton. Collin and Rob for chatting with me on Pavllion Lake and giving me Kokanee salmon they caught ice fishing. Jen and Ivan for hosting me for two nights in Kamloops and cooking the finest meals of my entire adventure. Liam Waller for befriending me on the side of the highway in McLure and letting me camp on his land. Jean Sigrid Nelson for hosting me in Clearwater and becoming one of the biggest cheerleaders of my trip, her encouragement continues to lift me. The Onslow family— Grayson, Richard, Lee, Tom, Scout and, Snickers— for hosting me for a full week in Blue River as I recovered from fatigue and joint wear and tear. This extended time to recover became the turning point of the adventure, as it was the last time I took consecutive rest days for the remaining two months of the trip. Peggy and Tom who hosted me for two nights in Valemount in the house they built themselves and shared stories from their fascinating lives. Brittany Andrews who hosted me in Jasper for three nights as I prepped for the Icefields Parkway and got me onto a free icewalk through Maligne Canyon. Dave MacDowell who set me up with a pair of Norda's, the shoe that unlocked pain-free big days for me, and became one of my biggest cheerleaders as he followed along with the adventure. Family Terra Tributa— Leo, Luca, Bertrand, and Vanessa— who hosted me for three nights in Kimberley all of which involved Settlers of Catan. Dom, Brodi, Max, and Serafina McRae for tracking me down deep into the snow-covered road to Gray Creek Pass and then steering me to Kaslo and New Denver. AJ for letting me leave my things at his home in Retallak and giving me directions to all the skiing. Helen Davis and Daniel Hellyer who hosted me for a lovely night in New Denver and have continued to stay in touch as they follow along. Hannah and Michael Cloutier and who let me camp on their land after knocking on their door and turning out to be Warmshowers hosts. Heather in Rossland who helped scavenge materials for a makeshift magic carpet sled before I set off on the old highway. Glen who gave me a cup of coffee with Bailey's my last morning in Canada. Shauna Someday for letting me camp on her land late at night after getting kicked off a man's property and sending me off with a cornucopia of snacks. Patty and Rob Slagle who hosted me at their private, underground B&B in Republic and taught me about the town's history. JT and Lisa for hosting me in Winthrop, Washington. Their friendship and hospitality went above and beyond, including canoeing on the Chewuch, wood-fired hot tub, and a full physical therapy session.
Help build a Women's Hostel for the first public children's hopsital in East Africa.
In 2011, Toby Tanser completed his “Sea to the Stars” run from the Indian Ocean to the top of Kilimanjaro. His run raised over $100,000 for the construction of the first public children’s hospital in East Africa. At the time, Tanser lived in New York City where he served on the board of directors for the NYC Marathon.
Toby's charity, Shoe 4 Africa, aims to begin construction of a Women’s Hostel for the mothers of patients in early 2025. In June 2024, I will attempt retrace Toby's footsteps from the coast to Kilimanjaro. Then I will continue another 600km on foot to the Shoe 4 Africa hospital in Eldoret, Kenya.
I hope to inspire people to support The Women’s Hostel construction by doing this run. It will cost a projected $600,000 to build. My goal to raise $100,000, and I am seeking donations of up to $1000. "No one has ever become poor by giving" - Anne Frank
You can see daily updates on my blog
Why build a women’s hostel?
As I’m learning, the Shoe 4 Africa Hospital is much more than a hospital. It is a health Mecca that attracts patients from Uganda, Rwanda, Burundi, Ethiopia, Southern Sudan, Tanzania, and even one child from the DRC (catchment area pop. 30 million). Since opening in 2015, the hospital has treated over 1,000,000 patients.
The region that the Shoe 4 Africa hospital serves has high levels of poverty (36 percent in Kenya and 47 percent in Tanzania). One problem at the hospital caused by poverty is treatment abandonment (TA) with some childhood cancer studies reporting TA rates of 50-54 percent in Kenya. Treatment abandonments help explain why the 5-year survival rate of childhood cancer can be as low as 10 percent in some East African countries while it’s higher than 80 percent in high income countries.
Shoe 4 Africa completed a case study in its cancer ward in 2022, which found that 18 of 30 parents had to loan the bus fare to bring the child for initial diagnosis, and 27 of 30 parents could not afford a week’s hostel costs (approx $20/night). 30 of 30 of the mothers stated they would use the Women’s Hostel if offered. The Women’s Hostel will copy the model of Ronald MacDonald houses with a bed capacity to support over one hundred mothers within walking distance of the hospital. Shoe 4 Africa expects the Women's Hostel to reduce TA and ultimately improve treatment outcomes.
NOTE: This is an experiment. Do not rely on regular updates here.