>>588412My dad bummed around the country for a couple years in the 70's and I mainly stuck to a couple weeks of hitching around when I was a kid following his advice.
Most people can only carry 40 or so pounds before it starts increasing risk of injury your best bet would be to pack as light as possible regarding supplies. Have updated maps but also use common sense, a backpacking trip across wherever can turn really bad really quick is you just decide to start walking down random roads, under the assumption someone must live somewhere along it that will help you.
Believe in the kindness of strangers but don't entrust your life to it.
Try to stay clean as possible not just for sanitation's sake but people will trust and give rides/ part time jobs to someone who is a bit beat up but doesn't smell like death three times over. Hobo showers in a bathroom or a stream (check with the local water department if you can for streams, they can look clean but have a million things that will fuck you up even just by bathing in it) whatever you can as often as you can. Baking soda on the pits is a good way to stop stink for a while but not too much, shit will chafe.
You will need cash but only keep some in a dummy wallet and stash the rest elsewhere, a lot of people don't mess with drifters but if they do, they usually aren't fooling around. Just give them the wallet and go on your way.
Cash is also helpful for bathroom privileges, the modern bathroom is a miracle of sanitation and technology, for a $.75 bagel you can have all the water you want from the taps and a chance to freshen up.
Drink a lot of water, your body should tell you this but it bears repeating. A pinch of normal salt, sugar and no sodium salt in a canteen can do wonders.
The rest is just normal camping stuff, first aid kits, sleeping bag ect., ect.
Do research and have at least a semblance of a route so you now what to pack.
If you actually go through with it good luck and godspeed.
