Schuyler Man Takes on 1,200-Mile Hike to Highlight Struggles of Amputees
Reading Time: 4 minutes
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Summary:
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Double amputee Tom Jalinski hikes 1,200 miles across Wisconsin
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Aims to spotlight emotional and mental challenges amputees face
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Hopes to inspire others with disabilities to pursue their passions
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Uses Ice Age Trail trek to push physical limits and foster understanding
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Tom Jalinski, a double amputee who lost his left leg below the knee and part of his right foot, has embarked on a 1,200-mile, six-month hike across Wisconsin. He hopes this journey will raise awareness about the challenges amputees face.
In April 2025, Jalinski started his trek along Wisconsin’s Ice Age National Scenic Trail, which spans 30 out of the state’s 72 counties. The trail begins near Sturgeon Bay in the east and extends to St. Croix Falls in the west, traversing the entire state. To manage the challenge, Jalinski planned to complete the trail in segments, dedicating one to three days to each portion. He aims to finish the entire trail by October, accounting for weekly trips back to central Illinois.
Why He Hikes
In an interview with The Journal-Courier, Jalinski said that the emotional and mental struggles amputees face are often misunderstood by people. Through this challenge, Jalinski aims to shed light on the emotional, mental, and physical struggles that come with amputations. Although his amputations saved his life, he wants to demonstrate that they are not a cure-all.
For people without disabilities who follow his journey, Jalinski aims to help them understand what people in his situation go through and the challenges they face. He wants to close the understanding gap between able-bodied people and those with disabilities like himself.
For fellow amputees, Jalinski hopes his hike will inspire them—not to go hiking, but to pursue their passions. After his amputations, he had to rethink his hobbies and career, which, combined with the possibility of relying on social welfare programs and Social Security, could be disheartening over time.
“I’m trying to encourage fellow amputees to live each day, be grateful for what they have, and keep searching for what they want to do,” he said.
Another reason is that he wants to challenge himself physically. Before his amputations, he could hike 40 miles a week in just a few days, thanks to his experience in mountain and rock climbing. Now, his amputations make everything 40% to 60% more difficult, restricting him to covering only 12 miles a day.
The Preparation
Before embarking on the journey, Jalinski trained by walking around 2.5 miles a day, five days a week, and hiking 7 miles twice a week on trails similar to the one he'd be taking.
He said that when he first started the preparations, he didn't realize how tough they'd be. He expected to have an easier time making progress when he first started training for the hike, but it was a real struggle just to cover a mile a day.
Updates
Jalinski posts updates on his Free Funder page. In his latest post from July 19, he shared his thoughts while at The Kirstie Ennis Foundation (TKEF) camp, which offers outdoor recreation and therapy for individuals with life-limiting challenges such as amputees, cancer survivors, and veterans. At that time, he was recovering from shoulder replacement surgery and was excited to get back to hiking.
In the post, Jalinski said that the TKEF camp lifted the heavy cloud that once darkened his spirit, replacing it with joy for life's challenges. The camp helped him discover strength in his vulnerabilities and showed that survival is just the beginning of a much bigger story of triumph.
He added that for amputees or anyone facing a physical challenge who, like him, is thinking about pushing their limits, he highly recommends trying adaptive sports. According to Jalinski, these experiences do more than build muscle—they also boost confidence, foster community, and instill a strong sense of self-worth.
Related Reading:
Despite Double Leg Loss, Teen Stays Focused on Her Dreams
Crafting His Own Legs, UVA Student Inspires Others to Lead and Overcome
Building Resilience: How to Cope, Adapt, and Thrive Amid Life’s Challenges
