The author, narrator, and protagonist of Walden on Wheels, Ken Ilgunas is an author and journalist as well as a park ranger in Alaska. Most of Ken’s writing, including Walden on Wheels, covers his extensive experiences hiking, hitchhiking, and roaming across North America. Additionally, Ken is a prominent speaker, having given almost 100 talks, lectures, and presentations. Although Ken grew up in upstate New York, he now lives in Scotland. His upbringing in the suburban area of Wheatfield, New York, figures into Walden on Wheels, as he discusses how his childhood and young adulthood contrast with his time after receiving his BA in English and history. The book covers the time between his receiving this degree and completing a master’s program at Duke University.

Ken fits into the book’s hero archetype, as he pursues a journey toward his goal of freedom and authentic living. He is a dynamic character, growing and developing as a character and a person during the events of the book. Ken notes how he was complacent in high school, and that complacency continued into his undergraduate program, though he began to have doubts about the value of his education and the debt he was accumulating.