It's with sadness that we report a true North American adventure motorcycling legend, Sam Correro, has passed away. Correro wasn't just a legend for his adventurous spirit; he's a legend for what he built in the Trans-America Trail (TAT) and the vision he had when others didn't. And that's before you take into account the countless adventures, stories, and memories that would never have existed without him.
For those who don't know, Correro was the creator of the TAT, which is a route that lets riders cross the U.S., mostly using dirt roads. Imagine if you had the funding, a team behind you, and all the modern technology available today, how long it would take and how difficult it would be. Correro had none of that.
In 1984, while working as a pharmacist, Correro, who rode dual-sport bikes as a hobby, began scouting routes to ride off-road between states. As the project progressed, it went from crossing state lines to crossing the entire country, starting from his town in Tennessee and finishing in Oregon. The route was 4,000 to 5,000 miles, and he built it using paper maps and exploring on the weekends. Now, the route has expanded to the point that it truly covers the entire country, starting on the coast with the Atlantic Ocean and finishing on the coast of the Pacific.
Today, it's hard to fathom doing this, but for Correro, he didn't just do it; it was his passion. He drew maps of the routes he discovered and later created GPS files, which he then sold on his website—pretty forward-thinking considering when this was all happening. He later received funding and more support for the project, but it doesn't appear that was ever on his mind when he began. Famously, he rode every inch of the trail and updated it when he found new connections or that old roads/routes had closed or changed.
Correro only retired from the project at the age of 86, just months before passing away. Everyone at RideApart offers their deepest condolences to his family and friends. The Just How Much Does It Cost To Do A BDR Adventure Moto Trip, Anyway? is based on essentially the same philosophy as the TAT, but has arguably grown to be even more popular. Maybe, if you're thinking of going on an off-road adventure this year, take the TAT and celebrate the man who showed it was possible.
