An AirBnB in Marshfield was a stopping point along a 3,500 mile route for Philip Deutschle, who’s in the midst of traveling cross-country by foot. Though he joked that the trip spurred from a momentarily lapse in sanity, the newly retired science teacher from Salinas, California is an author, world traveler and man on a mission.
He has a long track record of taking big trips. In his days, he has hiked most of the Pacific Crest Trail, footed across the Namib Desert in Africa, taught in Nepal with the Peace Corps and even climbed the Himalayas. However, his current journey across the country is motivated largely by his late brother, who died by suicide six decades ago.
Phil Deutschle was only nine years old at the time and his brother was in the eighth when he died. According to Deutschle, there’s a stigma that mental health tragedies such as suicide simply did not appear until recent years, but it’s a common misconception. When his brother passed, they were growing up in a small town of less than 3,000 residents in Woodcliff Lake, New Jersey – a town that didn’t even have a stoplight.
“He was a normal kid,” Deutschle recalled. “He was troubled and didn’t believe that his life was worth anything… but he was a great athlete and a straight-A student. So mental health issues are really important to me and I talk about it along the way.”
Deutschle prepared business card style information to share with those he encounters throughout his trip which urges folks to “Protect your mental health, and live your dreams.” It also lists the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline.
“Americans are in crisis. We’re a really stressed society, and a line like this can help. It’s proven to help,” he explained. “I talk with people along the way and interestingly enough, when I bring it up, almost everybody has a story about a time when either they personally, or someone that they know has struggled with their mental health. It doesn’t get talked about until somebody breeches the subject.. so that’s what I’m doing.”
Deutschle also logs his travels on Instagram (@philonfoot) and Facebook (Philip Deutschle), featuring interesting sights he’s seen along the route, unique mailboxes, and sketches of things he wants to remember from his journey.
“I think that one of the biggest things that has contributed to the mental health crisis in our society is the development of technology and the resulted lack of human contact, communication and conversation,” he added. “So many people are struggling and it’s important to check on people. Neighbors, our military members… they’re really struggling. We need to talk about it more.”
His travels began by flying from California to New York, where he started his route from the Statue of Liberty in June.
“I had to start in some iconic place… It couldn’t just be a random spot,” he smiled. “I plan to end up in California, where I was born.”
Deutschle said he knew Marshfield was going to be a stopping point along his route, and as a science teacher, felt inspired that it was Hubble’s hometown. While here, he visited the courthouse lawn replica and created a sketch of the telescope. He also visited the Webster County History Museum and was given a tour by Linda Rost Dickinson.
“It is so interesting to be in Hubble’s birthplace,” he said. “I retired from teaching high school in May but when I get back, I start teaching astronomy at a community college come January… so I loved exploring that history of Marshfield. I knew about the telescope replica but then I opened Google Maps, I saw the museum and I had to visit. The guided tour was wonderful. It’s so special that this much of the area’s history is preserved the way it is.”
According to Deutschle, he plans to finish his walk across America by November, and rest for the remaining weeks he’ll have before starting the spring semester at the community college.
“I feel lucky to be physically able to do this, and I hope that it’s making a difference in the lives of others as much as it is mine,” he added. “It’s just important to talk to one another. Care about each other. Speak face to face. That’s what I would want people to take away from this.”
Follow along with Phil’s journey by searching Philip Deutschle on Facebook or @philonfoot on Instagram.
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