W hile reading a post entitled DayOne in Las Vegas from Mike at Travel Earth. I came to a photo at the end of his post of three males that looked a bit rugged. Reading the picture’s caption I learned they were “freight hopping” travelers, or “Catching Out” or “Hopping Out” travelers. That’s exactly what it sounds like. They hop trains illegally to get somewhere new. A bit reminiscent of the Great Depression Hobo’s but in modern days more young people (18-20′s) are Hopping Out and leaving conformity behind to see their nation the best and most resourceful way they know how.
But I’m not sure if this traveling/way of life is done for necessity or for kicks. It seems from these images here that they’re just fun, laid-back, mobile people. Though I recall watching a great documentary, Which Way Home, about young kids (8-14 yrs old) hopping trains from all over South America to reach the US & Mexican border to cross over to the US; this though was definitely not for kicks, it was about reaching the US to get a job to support their families at home. Little eight year old’s with Big Balls!
Hopping out is a romantic idea of free travel and exploring your world when you’re young without any ties, but from the images you can see that maybe, just maybe, a hostel with a shower is key to good traveling. If you’re eager to start hopping trains, learn how here
Or maybe you would like to learn how to get free food
[tweet]
That photo was the result of one of the few times I’ve actually asked to take a stranger’s photo. I just love the double stacked backpack. It stuck out so far, looked so awkward, and yet it seemed to work fine for him.
Talking with them was really cool too.