Chapter 01Oct 1, 2026 Mile 0
Los Angeles, CA
Official Start Line: walking out of my door in Hollywood, California.
TRUST THE THUMB2,000 Miles Across America • Restarting 2027
🟡 Journey Concluded • Phoenix, AZ (Restarting 2027)
Phoenix Stop • 2027 Restart
TRUST THE THUMB•LA ➔ OHIO • RETURNING 2027
2 BROTHERS. 2,000 MILES.RESTARTING IN 2027.
Testing American kindness from Los Angeles to Ohio. Our 2026 expedition concluded in Phoenix, AZ—now preparing to start over from scratch in 2027.
"The algorithm says be afraid. We're going to find the truth."
Official Expedition Update
October 2026 • Phoenix, ArizonaOur Journey Concluded in Phoenix, AZ — We Are Starting Over LA ➔ Ohio in 2027
Unfortunately, we had to end our 2026 journey in Phoenix, Arizona due to a lack of preparation and unforeseen, unexpected circumstances on the road.
Hitchhiking 2,000 miles across America with only thumbs and backpacks is an immense test of endurance and logistical planning. When unexpected challenges arose, safety and wisdom came first.
This is not the end of Trust The Thumb! We are taking every hard-earned lesson to heart, regrouping, and preparing to continue this journey and start completely over from Los Angeles to Ohio again in 2027. Thank you deeply to everyone who picked us up, supported us, and believed in this mission.
2026 Concluded Stop: Phoenix, AZ
Starting Over: LA âž” Ohio in 2027
Official 2027 Restart Countdown • LA ➔ Ohio
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Regrouping after concluding in Phoenix, AZ • Preparing to start over from scratch in 2027!
2026 Archive • LA ➔ Phoenix
THE 2026 ARCHIVE
Five stops, one long road. This is the full story of our 2026 hitchhike from Los Angeles to Phoenix, told chapter by chapter, with every photo we took along the way.
ENDED IN PHOENIX, AZBack in 2027
"Due to a lack of preparation and unforeseen circumstances, our 2026 journey came to an end in Phoenix, Arizona. We are regrouping and starting the entire journey over from LA to Ohio in 2027!"
580
Miles Hitched
5
Rides Caught
6
Days on the Road
3
States Travelled
The Road, In Order
Tap a stop to jump to its chapter
1,570 miles still to go to Ohio — the full route restarts in 2027.
Chapter 02Oct 2, 2026 Mile 115
Barstow, CA
Ride Hero
Jessica + Jackie
- Jessica: Jessica went out of her way to get us from Barstow to the truck station, a 5-mile hop that got us right back on the road.
- Jackie: Jackie carried us from the truck station all the way to Las Vegas with big energy and even bigger conversation. She got us there!
"First major highway stop! Crossed the High Desert and stopped in Barstow to regroup before heading north."
Chapter 03Oct 3, 2026 Mile 270
Las Vegas, NV
Ride Hero
Tracy
- Tracy: Tracy treated us to a tour of Boulder City and a look at the Hoover Dam. He was kind and welcoming, and he shared great stories about the towns of St. Thomas and Nelson, Nevada.
"Neon lights detour! Caught a ride up the I-15 corridor into Las Vegas."
Chapter 04Oct 4, 2026 Mile 380
Kingman, AZ
Ride Hero
Kalaheo + Kiya
- Kalaheo: Kal is a traveler who's out there enjoying life. He turned around and went backwards on his own trip just to take us, and he plays great music for the ride.
- Kiya: Kiya picked us up and drove us up the highway to the truck stop. She showed incredible trust by leaving her car running with us inside while she shopped at Walmart. It was a short chat, but a warm one, and we loved hearing her dreams of hitchhiking and train hopping.
"We woke up after sleeping in a tent a few hundred feet away from a gas station (the ONLY gas station within 60+ miles, anyways we wake up and walk towards the gas station to get to the street and begin hitch hiking when Kalaheo asked what we were doing and told us he thought it was cool but he is heading to california, then after 20 seconds he yelled over to us "Fck it ill take you guys to Kingman AZ (1+ hour drive in the OPPOSITE direction from where he is going) SHOUTOUT TO HIM HE IS AWESOME FOR THAT (oh yeah he bought us cold waters!)""
Final Stop • 2026Oct 6, 2026 Mile 580
Phoenix, AZ
The end of the line for 2026. Due to a lack of preparation and unforeseen circumstances, our journey ended here in Phoenix, Arizona. We're regrouping and starting over from Los Angeles in 2027.
Next Chapter • 2027
Round Two. LA âž” Ohio.
In 2027 we start over from the very first on-ramp in Los Angeles and go all 2,150 miles to Columbus, this time better prepared.
Los AngelesFlagstaffAlbuquerqueAmarilloOklahoma CitySt. LouisIndianapolisColumbus
See the 2027 countdown The Experiment & Core Thesis
THE MISSION
"THE ALGORITHM SAYS BE AFRAID.
WE'RE GOING TO FIND THE TRUTH."
Every social media feed paints a picture of an America fractured, hostile, and afraid of one another. We are constantly conditioned by outrage algorithms to believe that strangers at the next exit are enemies.
We refuse to accept that story.
In October 2026, two brothers—Lee (23) and Jake (20)—stepped into the unknown with only backpacks, thumbs out, and open minds to hitchhike 2,000 miles from Los Angeles, California to Columbus, Ohio with zero booked rides, zero hotel reservations, and zero safety net.
Unfortunately, due to a lack of preparation and unforeseen, unexpected circumstances on the highway, our 2026 journey came to an end in Phoenix, Arizona. The open road is unforgiving, and when unexpected challenges arose, stepping back was the only responsible decision.
The journey is not over. The warmth, rides, and generosity we experienced across the desert proved our thesis true: everyday Americans are extraordinary. We are taking every lesson learned to heart, regrouping, and will continue this journey by starting completely over from Los Angeles to Ohio again in 2027.
The Road to 2027 • What We Learned in Phoenix
Honesty Over Ego: Ending in Phoenix & Preparing for the 2027 Reboot
When unforeseen circumstances emerge on the highway, pushing ahead unprepared isn't courage—it's reckless. Choosing to conclude in Phoenix gave us invaluable knowledge about endurance, supply lines, and road safety. In 2027, we reset the counter to zero in Los Angeles and conquer all 2,000 miles to Ohio with the preparation the highway demands.
Real-World Truth
Bypassing digital outrage feeds
Human Kindness
Celebrating everyday heroes
100% Unfiltered
Documented daily on video
The Brotherhood
MEET LEE & JAKE
Documenting every mile on YouTube, TikTok & Instagram
Code of the Highway
OUR RULES OF THE ROAD
Six non-negotiable principles that guide Lee and Jake across every mile, highway ramp, and stranger encounter.
01
Say yes to the unknown
Step past hesitation. When an unexpected turn or ride opens up, embrace the adventure with an open heart.
Road Creed Standard
02
No plan is set in stone
Flexibility is our roadmap. Weather shifts, unforeseen circumstances arise, and knowing when to pause, regroup, and restart in 2027 is the highway's deepest lesson.
Road Creed Standard
03
Connection > comfort
Prioritize genuine human conversation over plush motel beds or convenient shortcuts.
Road Creed Standard
04
Leave the place better than when you found it
Pack out litter, offer help at rest stops, and leave every diner table and campsite cleaner than before.
Road Creed Standard
05
Go towards the story
When faced with two paths, choose the one that yields real human truth and unforgettable memories.
Road Creed Standard
06
Give back
Never just take. Share music, lend a helping hand, buy coffee when we can, and pay every kindness forward.
Road Creed Standard
Official Expedition Merch
WEAR THE MOVEMENT
Heavyweight, highway-tested street apparel engineered for the 2,000-mile journey from Los Angeles to Ohio.
All funds go towards us. 100% of proceeds directly fund Lee and Jake's living expenses, emergency provisions, and gear preparation as we get ready to restart from LA to Ohio in 2027.
Iconic Road Sign
$29.99
Off-White Cream
"Not Sure Where I'm Heading" Heavyweight Tee
Original Cardboard Road Sign Edition
$29.99
Features Jake's original handwritten cardboard hitchhiker sign: 'NOT SURE WHERE I'M HEADING BUT I'LL GET THERE'. Built with heavy vintage wash cotton and durable stitching for highway shifts.
- Heavyweight 240 GSM Combed Cotton
- Vintage garment-dyed wash
- Durable high-density screenprint
- Boxy drop-shoulder relaxed cut
Select Size:
Ships Nationwide•Direct Artist Support
Core Expedition
$29.99
Off-White Cream
"We Are All Going Somewhere" Expedition Tee
Universal Highway Statement Edition
$29.99
The core thesis behind our 2,000-mile experiment. Clean, striking typography reminding us that beneath all modern noise, every stranger on the road shares a common direction.
- Heavyweight 240 GSM Cotton
- Drop-shoulder streetwear silhouette
- Thick rib-knit collar that won't sag
- Custom Trust The Thumb hem label
Select Size:
Ships Nationwide•Direct Artist Support
Bestseller Hoodie
$49.99
Off-White Cream
"Not Sure Where I'm Heading" Fleece Hoodie
Heavyweight Road-Ready Pullover
$49.99
Built for chilly 5:00 AM desert sunrises and late-night highway ramps. Premium heavyweight brushed fleece adorned with our signature cardboard thumbing graphic.
- Ultra-Heavy 450 GSM Brushed Fleece
- Double-layered hood with metal-tipped drawstrings
- Spacious kangaroo pocket for essentials
- Heavyweight 2x2 ribbed cuffs & waistband
Select Size:
Ships Nationwide•Direct Artist Support
Brotherhood Essential
$49.99
Off-White Cream
"We Are All Going Somewhere" Fleece Hoodie
Premium Streetwear Statement Fleece
$49.99
Our signature heavyweight hoodie. Ultra-soft interior, clean block statement typography across the chest, and engineered to withstand 2,000 miles of highway testing.
- Ultra-Heavy 450 GSM Cotton/Poly Fleece
- High-contrast screen-printed typography
- Pre-shrunk for an enduring boxy fit
- Warm, wind-resistant double hood
Select Size:
Ships Nationwide•Direct Artist Support
100% of Merch Proceeds Support Our 2027 Restart
We are 100% community powered and independently funded. Every shirt and hoodie sold supports our equipment, preparation, and upcoming 2,000-mile fresh restart from Los Angeles to Ohio in 2027.