New Flash Fiction: Tips for Walking the Triple Five Route

Urban fantasy time featuring an intriguing mix of long distance walking trails and shopping. Forget Bill Bryson, this is a walking guide for the 21st century. Our author – Naomi Libicki – lives in Jerusalem, Israel, where she takes care of other people's children for a living.  She makes a mean apple strudel and has had stories published in Electric Spec and Apex Magazine.

Tips for Walking the Triple Five Route
by Naomi Libicki


So you're thinking of walking the Triple Five Route.  Maybe you've been walking locally for years, and are looking for the next big challenge.  Maybe you want to see North America up close, in all its variety.  There are as many reasons to walk the Route as there are people who walk it – and 1,500 people walk it end-to-end every year, from students in their gap year to retirees looking for adventure.

Walking the Route takes a lot of time, energy, and determination – but most of all it takes preparation.  Here are a few things that every first-time walker of the Triple Five Route should know:

Gear: The biggest mistake most novice walkers make is to take too much stuff.  You'll be carrying that pack from Montreal to Georgia, so pack light!  Remember, aside from your passport and IDs – which you'll need to cross the border, and which many jurisdictions require you have on your person at all times – there's nothing you can't buy on the Triple Five Route.  (Despite the plethora of shoe stores, though, we do advise against buying new shoes.  You don't want to be doing fifteen miles a day in un-broken-in boots!)

Climate and Season:  The climate control can vary greatly across the different environments of the Route.  Be prepared for temperatures anywhere from 68 to 73 degrees with comfortable, layered clothing.  Many people choose to start their walk in November, to make the most of the spectacle of the Christmas season.  There's nothing quite like having your picture taken with Santa in five different states and provinces – but don't be caught in a US shopping center on Black Friday.  Your safety comes first!

Food and Drink: Many cafes and food courts along the Route offer discounts and special TFR Walker meals, tailored to your energy and nutritional needs while walking.  But there are places where the route can go for up to ten miles between eateries, so make sure you have a full water-bottle and a couple of energy bars or other snacks on you at all times.

Where to Sleep: There are lots of hotels, hostels, and flophouses along the Route, and many malls have accommodations sponsored by the Friends of the Triple Five Route.   Make sure you have an app on your phone that lets you know where the nearest place to sleep is, and check it often!  If you end up crashing on a bench in a subway station, you could end up facing deportation, a hefty fine, or up to a year in prison, depending on jurisdiction.

Wildlife: Contrary to rumor, there have been no confirmed reports of alligators in the New York City subway system, and the rats will attack only if provoked.  They will steal your food if you leave it carelessly unwrapped, though, so be cautious!  The walker who takes sensible precautions – and uses their eyes and ears – will be rewarded:  The Triple Five Route is home to over 400 species of insects, small mammals, and birds, including the Atlantic Least Tern, whose last known nesting site is in the Ocean County Mall in New Jersey.

The Triple Five Route may seem intimidating, and for good reason:  Comprising more than 2,200 miles of shopping malls, transit tunnels, skyways and office parks from Montreal's Underground City to the Mall of Georgia in Buford, the Triple Five Route is the longest continuously-marked indoor footpath in the world.  (Although the Pearl River Delta Trail Association in China is working on breaking that record!)  But for those who walk it, it's a truly unforgettable experience.  See you on the Route!