April 17, 2008 Issue                                       

©2007 The Chestnut Hill Local

Mt. Airy ex-dancer will hike 2,633 miles to combat hunger
by JENNIFER KATZ

Six days ago Jason Henschen, 27, left his apartment in Mt. Airy, his job at the High Point Café, his stint as a substitute teacher at Plymouth Meeting Friends School, his friends and family (who live in Ohio) to embark on a five-month, 2,633 mile hike out west to raise money for the Coalition Against Hunger.

Sitting at the Chestnut Hill Coffee Company a week before his departure, Henschen was looking forward to his journey, the second of a three-part series he has set his sights on.

His mother, Sharon, was in town visiting helping him get ready. This isn’t the first time she has seen her son off on an adventure. In 2006, Henschen hiked the Appalachian Trail, a 2,175-mile trek, by himself.

Henschen moved to Philadelphia two years ago for “the girl,” Sarah Hollister, a GFS grad and fellow former ballet dancer. They met when Henschen was dancing with the Richmond Ballet in Virginia. Hollister guested with the company, and the two began dating.

In Philly, Henschen worked at the café and began volunteering with the Coalition Against Hunger, an education outreach and advocacy group that supports the 500 pantries and soup kitchens in Philadelphia.

Carey Morgan, director of the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger, called Henschen a “model volunteer” and praised his passion for the cause. “Jason has put a whole new twist on the fight against hunger,” Morgan said. “A lot of people don’t understand that there is hunger in Philadelphia or America. By Jason hiking on the west coast he is taking the fight nationwide. It’s a wonderful thing.”

Hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, which stretches from the Mexican border to the Canadian border, is something he was already going to do. The trail is part of the “Triple Crown” group of three big trails, which also includes the Continental Divide Trail. “It’s always been a goal of mine,” he said.

And after spending two years fighting hunger in the city, Henschen decided to join the two together. “I learned on the last trail that there is a lot of enthusiasm for what we are doing,” he said. “It’s a good opportunity to raise awareness.”

He will officially begin his trek on April 20 near the Mexican border. The trail begins with 700 miles of desert walking. Henschen estimated it will take him six weeks to complete. It is likely to be the hardest part of the journey. “In the desert you have to carry all your water,” he said. Along other parts of the trail, water sources will be easier to find.

Carrying his “house” on his back in the form of a backpack jammed with a sleeping bag, a tent Henschen sewed himself, a camera, head lamp, water purification system, dehydrated food he prepared himself and a stove, he will climb 9,000 feet between the lowest part of the trail and the highest before reaching the end sometime in September. He will hike about 8-10 hours per day, covering roughly 20 miles.

For the disciplined former ballet dancer, the journey is as much about challenging himself physically as it is about relieving himself psychologically. “The idea is to leave the real world behind,” he said, “to break away from the regimented job and be left to yourself, your thoughts.”

On the trail hikers often adopt an alternative name. Henschen will go by “Stretch,” the name he acquired in 2006 on the first trail. “You are living in an alternative environment, so you use an alternative name,” he explained.

And although he is heading off on his own, Henschen said it is unlikely he will spend his time alone. “I already know one person who will be on the trail,” he said. “I won’t necessarily be hiking by myself.”

And his family and friends are planning on joining him at various points on the trail, including his 60-something mother, who hiked 112 miles with her son on the Appalachian Trail just a couple of years ago. Hollister is likely to spend his July 11 birthday with him as well.

“It’s tough leaving friends and family for sure,” he said, “especially a significant other.”

He has set a goal of $10,000, which he admitted is ambitious; however he has already raised almost $4,000. To help collect contributions, Henschen set up a web site, www.active.com/donate/hikeforhunger. He also set up a trail blog, where visitors can follow him, read journal entries about his trip and see photos, www.trailjournals.com (search:Henschen). His students at Plymouth Meeting Friends have insisted they will follow his journey through the web site.

Also, his former employer, the High Point Café, is participating by turning its frequent- buyer cards over to fundraising for the hike. The café is donating $1 for each customer who fills up his/her card with the purchase of 10 cups of coffee. The customer gets his/her 11th cup of coffee at the café free, and Henschen’s hike receives $1.