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[SalmonGod]

For your sleeping bag, think about down versus synthetic. Synthetic is cheaper, heavier and bulkier, and will keep you warm even when it gets wet. Down is lighter, smaller, warmer per amount of weight, pretty expensive, and useless when wet. If you're smart about it, you can go with down and just make sure it always stays dry, and be fine. But be careful with it. And make sure you have a warm enough bag for whatever temperatures you might possibly encounter.

Mummy bags are pretty nice.  I've slept outside with one in freezing temperatures and kept very warm.

[Africa]

Mummy refers to the shape of the bag, not temperature or material. Also, remember that the bag's temperature rating assumes you have a sleeping pad (which is an absolute must, and insulates you from the cold ground) and a tent to block wind. And some people sleep warmer than others so you may want to get a lower temperature than you think you'll need. But of course the most important thing is to know your gear before the trip and make sure it works.

[Leonon]

The key is finding places to sleep. Unfortunately, I've done most of my walking in places more amenable to hikers than the US, so I don't know how hard it is to fine nice places to spend the night outside along your trip.

For finding shelter there's 4 things people tend to look for in different amounts in addition to keeping them out of the weather.

Security (how easy it is to lock down and prevent access to the shelter)
Seclusion (how hard it is to spot the shelter or you in the shelter)
Solitude (how many other people share the shelter)
Silence (how loud the shelter is)

Different people have different amounts of each they require to be comfortable. I personally prefer large amounts of seclusion and a moderate amount silence. I knew one guy who claimed he could crawl up into the sheltered part of overpasses and sleep fine. What seems important is to find shelter you're comfortable sleeping in.

If you have no qualms with trespassing many abandoned buildings are in good shape and can be used as temporary shelter, though they may be already inhabited or carefully watched for trespassers. If you do go into any abandoned structures be wary of rotting or molding things.

In any shelter if at all possible raise yourself off the floor/ground some. The ground sucks away heat rather well so being raised off it keeps you warmer and also makes it less likely that crawly things will find you when you're sleeping.

Basically, the most important thing is have experience. You have years before you're planning to do this, so use that time doing shorter hikes, getting used to walking and learning the ins and outs. Go on the internet to learn things, meet other backpackers, become an expert backpacker. This is a quite doable trip, but only if you know exactly what you're getting into.

^This

Start small so you can learn first hand.

[SalmonGod]

Mummy refers to the shape of the bag, not temperature or material. Also, remember that the bag's temperature rating assumes you have a sleeping pad (which is an absolute must, and insulates you from the cold ground) and a tent to block wind. And some people sleep warmer than others so you may want to get a lower temperature than you think you'll need. But of course the most important thing is to know your gear before the trip and make sure it works.

Ah I thought it was a brand or something... shows how much I know   I wish I could find the same ones my parents have.  Makes sense that I can't considering they got them when I was 11.  Really small and light.  I've never done any major hiking/backpacking, but my dad, uncle, and I took a few long camping trips through the Rockies via motorcycle.  I remember hanging food in case of bears, sleeping in freezing temperatures, etc.  No experience with preparation, though, since those were all in my teens and they took care of everything.

[Africa]

Nice. I'm planning on (once I have the money) doing a motorcycle trip around the US and taking a few days to backpack around whenever I hit a cool place to hike, especially in national parks. Walking definitely takes more planning though because you're always farther from civilization in case things go the wrong way, and you have to think more about supplies and such.

[abculatter_2]

I definitely agree with starting small, though I have a few problems. For one, my mom (who is the only parent I live with) hates when I walk from our house to the park no more then 2 miles away from the house. She actually burst into tears at the very suggestion of a 2-day walking trip. On top of that, we're piss-poor. My dad is able to afford the stuff I'll need, but he's a cheapskate and would probably end up buying useless plastic knifes for 2-year-olds or something. Maybe I'm just being pessimistic.

The couchsurfers website does seem interesting, though.

[GamerKnight]

If abulcullater_2 is serious about this then he should research this guy who walked roughly the same distance from Adelaide to Melbourne down here in Australia where it can get a lot hotter. Check out how he did it and think about how you will. Judging from where you're going you may want to allocate a LOT more money for water.

[Africa]

I can't see water being that much of an expense. I feel like just about any outpost of civilization you get to is going to have running water and almost any person there would be willing to give it to you for free.

As for other expenses, well, save up.

Also, on sleeping in abandoned buildings, I find that to be crossing into extremely sketchy territory. The woods are one thing; abandoned buildings have lots of hazards that come along with them - other vagrants (doing a hike like this probably qualifies you as a vagrant, no matter how big your bank account is), danger of collapse or electrocution or stabbing yourself on rusty nails, drug deals and shit going on inside, people getting pissed at you trespassing, etc. It'd be better to either beg someone for help, shell out for a motel, or head out of town and find a grove of trees or something.

[Leonon]

The woods are one thing; abandoned buildings have lots of hazards that come along with them - other vagrants (doing a hike like this probably qualifies you as a vagrant, no matter how big your bank account is), danger of collapse or electrocution or stabbing yourself on rusty nails, drug deals and shit going on inside, people getting pissed at you trespassing, etc.

Indeed, those are all possible dangers and should be watched out for. If you're not comfortable being somewhere then there's plenty of other places to be.

It'd be better to either beg someone for help, shell out for a motel, or head out of town and find a grove of trees or something.

^Such as these^
Abandoned structures are just one option out of many.

[Africa]

In regards to self-defense, a solid wooden walking stick is nice to have, although it's really more useful if you're on steep or rugged terrain when you can jam it into the ground to keep yourself from falling - I've saved myself from a lot of wipeouts that way. However it's also good for fending off, say, loose dogs and such things. At least I'd think it would be, but I've never actually had one try to attack me. I do think your odds of getting attacked by somebody's unchained dogs are higher than the odds of getting attacked by a person.

But you are a vulnerable target on the off chance that someone decided to jack your stuff. Looking scruffy might make you seem less so, but also damages your chances to get rides hitchhiking, invited into people's houses, helped out by locals, etc.

Think about maybe pepper spray or some such thing I guess. But definitely not a gun.

[nbonaparte]

the southern route is hot and not very populated and likely to get you killed. I'd suggest a more northern route, and starting in florida won't help that. Arizona, New Mexico, Texas, and Nevada are states to avoid like the plague.

[GTM]

Here's a link to a German guy who walked 2800 miles across deserts in China:

Http://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=5ky6vgQfU24

He didn't shave either - and he took pictures every day - so you can see the development of a somewhat dwarfy beard.

His blog may have some good tips if you can find it - just keep in mind that food and lodging in China is WAY cheaper there, so his budget will be significantly different.

If you're willing to make a web site out of it and do a cool pic thing like that, you should totally solicit mini-donations. 

EDIT: if my link doesn't work, search for "the longest way" on YouTube and watch the one with like 900,000 hits

[ChairmanPoo]

your url-fu is weak.


Try http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5ky6vgQfU24  instead

[GamerKnight]

Url-fu? Do I need to go to an monastery in the Himalayas to learn that?

Heh. Just imagined monks watching Youtube.