Teen spending a year of nights outside

Published 3:44 pm Saturday, June 7, 2014

MINNEAPOLIS — Seventeen-year-old Rudy Hummel hasn’t let bitter cold, rain or mosquitoes prevent him from sleeping outside every night for a full year.

The Minnesota youth is preparing to spend one last night in his treehouse in Hermantown, making it 365 straight nights outside. He endured 76 subzero nights in a snow cave. He’d pitch a tent while traveling. By his count, he slept outdoors in 30 different places.

Hummel said winter nights weren’t so bad, even at 27 below. He says hot, humid summer nights were the worst.

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He’s invited friends over to sleep in his yard Friday night, and urges others to join them by sleeping out wherever they are.