On May 2, Hillcrest High alumnus Kent Griffiths turned 65. 

The Sandy resident celebrated by starting an epic cross country journey — not as a motorist nor cyclist and not even on foot. He is riding from California to Virginia on an electric unicycle, one of the first people to do so.  

It wasn’t surprising to his former childhood neighbor, Craig Conder, who remembered watching him make 60 jumps skydiving for his 60th birthday. Both adventures help raise funds for Hillcrest High Alumni Association’s scholarship fund.

“I was someone who squeaked by with bad grades, but I had my breaks,” said the 1979 graduate, who added those came from the U.S. Army and later, his employer. 

Griffiths’ daughter, he said, thrived at Hillcrest and now is studying medicine, but that raised the concern about those who need a hand-up, so he devoted both epic adventures to raising funds for scholarships.

“I get to have this experience of a lifetime, but I also get to make it about somebody else. That's the motivator for me,” he said. “It doesn’t matter where help comes from as long as it comes at the right time.”

Less than one week after starting his trip, Griffiths reached the Utah border. While he carefully planned and tested his equipment, he misjudged one thing.

“I severely underestimated the importance of lotion on my hands,” he said. “Even with leather gloves on, several of my fingertips are painfully split from the cold dry air. I’m buying some hand lotion tonight for sure.”

Griffiths reported all his “electronic gadgetry has pretty well worked as expected” although the rain hurt the range on his electric unicycle. 

He already had met engaging people — a man walking cross country as well as another who rides his unicycle while announcing acrobatic airshows — however, Griffiths learned crossing vast, empty miles can become monotonous.

“I also learned that you can mess with the heads of passing motorists on an electric unicycle when you pretend you are holding an invisible steering wheel and you swerve at them; anything to relieve the boredom,” he said.

Griffiths said the journey itself is part athletic feat, part social experiment and part, a rolling adventure documentary. He plans to ride about 125 to 150 miles per day through 11 states. He expects to be on the road by 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., 30 to 45 days, deciding his route as he rolls along.

Unlike traditional cyclists, Griffiths rides standing or seated atop a single oversized electric wheel, which weighs about 135 pounds with gear attached. The unicycle can travel more than 100 miles on a charge under ideal conditions.

Preparing for the ride has become a preoccupation the past year. Griffiths trained on rides throughout Utah, including a 75-mile dress rehearsal around Kamas while carrying his full backpack. He researched charging stations, weather patterns, repair tools and route routes. 

Sandy resident Kent Griffiths, in the helmet, and his crew before he took off on the electric scooter from Stinson Beach, California on his 65th birthday. (Photo courtesy of Kent Griffiths)

 He even consulted with Steve Maupin, who was the first to electric cycle across the states. Maupin’s stories and advice shaped much of Griffiths’ preparation, including his equipment list.

“He taught me both what to do and what not to do,” he said.

Griffiths trimmed unnecessary weight from his gear, right down to choosing a manual toothbrush over an electric one. He debated every item that made the final cut.

“I’ve put about every thought I can into minimizing weight,” Griffiths said, saying he chose electrical tape over duct tape for repairs for that reason.

His packing list includes items from tools (Allen wrenches, screwdrivers, pliers, tire sealant) to a two-pound drone to document the trip to a couple changes of clothing. He’s also carrying stickers with a QR code directing curious strangers to his fundraising website.

The website, “One Wheel, One Mission” (www.1wheel1mission.com), allows followers to track his GPS location and daily blog posts. He plans to upload videos and reflections from the road each night as long as he has internet access. 

He wants to meet people across the country, not just “complete the mission.”

“I hope to be reinforced that people do inherently want to help when they see a stranger,” he said.

Griffiths expects plenty of opportunities for conversation while riding through small towns. On his agenda in Utah are scenic stops in Capitol Reef and Arches national parks. 

He is riding in honor of family members. His unicycle is named Rex, after his late cousin who died a few months ago, as well as a derivative from the cycle’s model name Oryx. In honor of his mother, who was a lifelong fan of the television western, “Gunsmoke” Griffiths intends to scatter her ashes in Dodge City as “a sort of homage” to her.

He wants to experience America at a slower pace, connecting with people face-to-face instead of through social media and political arguments.

“If we can get off the internet and talk to people face to face in coffee shops and restaurants, we can accomplish a lot more than arguing with strangers on the internet,” Griffiths said.

Sandy resident and Hillcrest High alumnus Kent Griffiths is unicycling across the country to raise funds for Hillcrest High Alumni Association student scholarship fund. (Photo courtesy of Kent Griffiths)

 Along the route, friends and family will be supporting him from afar. His girlfriend, Susan, helped design and organize the website and drove him to California for the start of his trip. Friends volunteered to mow his lawn, take care of his cats and ship unicycle parts if something breaks. Others across the country have offered him hospitality.

Griffiths said his biggest challenge won’t be physical endurance.

“Barring sickness or injury, I don’t have any doubts I can do this,” he said before he left. “What I want to discover about myself is that I can enjoy every day for what it is. I want to be present for the experience, to take in the scenery and see the splendor of the places I've never been. I’ll get to see them in a way that maybe three people have, which is just me and nothing in front of me except perhaps my 360 camera. Can I do that and enjoy it? That’s going to be what I find out about myself.”

As a skydiver, an Army veteran and former marathoner, Griffiths likely will continue to roll along eastward on America’s back roads — perhaps pretending to steer a nonexistent steering wheel to confuse drivers — while raising money so future Hillcrest Huskies can chase dreams of their own.