Klaus Lüttgen is passionate about drinking water — and about preserving its purity and supply as the climate warms.
So, the German cyclist launched a campaign in Newfoundland, Canada, in April on a trip to the Arctic Circle that brought him through the Methow Valley last week. All along the way, he’s talked to people — and made a particular commitment to meeting with indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States.
Lüttgen’s awareness of threats to drinking water grew when he worked tending to green spaces and gardens in the small German city of Grevenbroich, about 20 miles from Cologne. He grew increasingly discouraged by piles of plastic trash and a diminishing respect for the earth’s limited supply of fresh water, what he calls “the pollution of our Mother Earth.” So, he created his “People Get Ready” tour.
Lüttgen plans to wrap up his water-awareness trip on the Arctic Ocean and then present information back home in Germany — and ultimately bring the message to Pope Leo XIV in Rome.
Towing extra gear in an oversized bird’s egg, Lüttgen invites people who’ve taken a special interest in his project to adorn the egg. His heavy load makes it a challenging trip, but Lüttgen said he draws inspiration from the people he meets and, in particular, from sharing information with the next generation.
Lüttgen has embarked on epic trips before — including cycling through Alaska to distribute the collection of carnival medals he inherited from his father and walking along the Russian border to visit his mother’s childhood home.
Lüttgen nursed the idea for the water trip for almost five years as he bore witness to climate change and saw plastic garbage pile up, with people using it once and tossing it unthinkingly on the ground.
Lüttgen expects to wrap up his journey, after 5,900 miles, in October at Tuktoyaktuk, at the tip of the Northwest Territories. To follow his expedition, visit https://rocktheroads.com.
