A Journey Through Friendship and Travel: The Unforgettable Bond with Dr. Alan Hogenauer
Throughout my life, one friendship stands out as the most unique and memorable: that with Dr. Alan Hogenauer. This journey of friendship and shared passion for travel brought together two boys with the same goal and eventually led to an extraordinary decade of travel and competition.
The Unlikely Friendship Begins
My dream of becoming the most traveled person within the United States started with a young boy's aspirations and culminated in crossings the 100 longest bridges, stepping into the 100 tallest buildings, and visiting every river in the country. My obsession was fueled by an unquenchable thirst for exploration and a thirst for competition.
It was around 2002 that I first heard about Dr. Alan Hogenauer, a professor in Los Angeles who embodied the epitome of travel. His achievements surpassed mine, and I knew I had to take my travels to the next level. Visiting him in person seemed like the next logical step.
Dr. Hogenauer's Accomplishments
Legendary Travels and Adventures: Dr. Hogenauer's accomplishments were nothing short of legendary. He had landed at every airport in the United States, a feat that involved visiting almost 20,000 airports. His road trips were unparalleled; one trip alone covered four states! He reached the United States National Park Service headquarters as the youngest to visit all parks, and he even drove a car around the world, transporting the vehicle by boat when necessary.
Travel to 311 different nations, driven the entire perimeter of Africa and South America, and becoming an inspiration to many—that was just the beginning of his incredible journey. Dr. Hogenauer's drive and passion for travel were unmatched, and his accomplishments left me in awe.
Meeting the Legend
A year after my initial interest in him, Jack and I made our way to Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles. Our intentions were clear; we wanted to meet this legend in person. After a brief meeting attempt, a dinner date, and some contemplation, we left a mysterious message on his office door, hoping to spark some interest in our shared love for travel.
To our surprise, Dr. Hogenauer found the message and tracked down my home number within an hour. It was a moment that would change the course of our friendship. He invited us to Thanksgiving dinner, and although timing was off for us, the offer was too tempting to ignore.
A Decade of Friendship and Competition
The friendship that followed was a decade-long period of endless discussions over travel, road trips, and friendly competition to become the most traveled person in the United States. We shared a common motto: “Reach the destination at all costs.”
Our shared obsession with geography and research only strengthened the bond between us. We tackled challenges like crossing every bridge, stepping into every tallest building, and visiting every county. But with great travel also came risks, such as being nearly robbed on a drive around Africa and almost being attacked by a mountain lion in Washington and a bear in California.
Sad Farewell
Tragically, our journey came to an end on June 29, 2013, when Dr. Hogenauer, 71, went hiking in California in 120°F heat. Overcome by the extreme conditions, he passed out in the desert. Despite extensive search efforts, his body was not found until 20 hours later, too late to save him.
In 2015, I visited the spot in the desert where he passed away and paid my respects, placing a small memorial there. This journey with Dr. Hogenauer remains one of the most peculiar and unforgettable friendships I have ever had.
Rest in peace, Dr. Hogenauer.