Seth Powell walks along Southern California’s coast bearing only his backpack. His goal is to traverse on foot the roughly 1,000 miles from San Diego to Humboldt State University in time for the first day of his classes — Aug. 25.

Each day, Powell, 20, walks about 20 miles carrying his pack in the summer heat. So far, Powell has used public transportation and accepted rides only a handful of times. He accepts rides as long as the car was already heading north, he says, but the bulk of his journey is done on foot.

On Monday, July 7, friends, family, and supporters plan to join Powell when he crosses the Golden Gate Bridge at 7 p.m. People will begin gathering for the bridge crossing at 4 p.m. Powell is scheduled to speak, before the bridge crossing, at the amphitheater between the Fort Point Mine Depot and the West Bluff Picnic Area in Golden Gate Park.

“Walking up the California Coast provides the perfect opportunity to slowly shift my life from San Diego to the forests of Humboldt. One step, one breath at a time,” Powell said.

“This is my service,” he said. “This pilgrimage affirms my dedication to help heal the wounds of humanity and mend our relationship to the earth.”

Powell draws the inspiration for his journey from John Francis’ book “Planetwalker: How to Change your World One Step at a Time,” a gift Powell received for his high school graduation.

After reading about Francis’ 22-year walk around the Americas, Powell realized he had talked enough and now “needed to walk the walk.”

After a few conversations with Francis, he felt he was ready to hoof it to HSU. Francis and Powell have plans to meet in Point Reyes and spend a few days walking up the coast together.

Powell embarked on May 23 and spent his first day walking with his father, Allen Ray Powell.

“Seth is inspiring me,” says the elder Powell.

Once at HSU, the transfer student plans to create his own major that combines environmental science with deep ecology — a branch of philosophy that looks at humankind’s relationship with the natural environment.

Along the way, Powell has found support.

“My big pack and I seem to attract some attention, so I have been meeting some friendly folks,” he said.

A man in a grocery store recognized Powell as “the guy walking up the coast.” A family from Idaho invited him into its campsite for dinner.

So far, Powell said he’s found that “people see something in me that sparks a seed in them.”

Change starts with individuals and it grows to groups and communities, he said.

Staying in homes, campsites and hotels along the way, Powell said he is trying not to ask for things like food, shelter, or rides but instead stay open to the possibilities.

“This is my own pilgrimage and I’ve got to do what feels right for me. So I’m going to attempt to travel leaving as light an imprint as I can — without killing myself.”

For more information about Powell’s walk, visit www.mindfulroots.com or www.mindfulroots.blogspot.com. For more information about the July 7 Golden Gate Bridge Crossing, contact Allen Ray Powell at 925-977-1865 or arpowell@holy-flame.net.