Meet Bearsun, the real-life teddy bear on an epic trek from Los Angeles to San Francisco

This is Bearsun, a man in a bear suit walking over 400 miles from LA to San Francisco. While this might not be his first adventure, it’s certainly shaping up to be one of his toughest.

The person inside the bear costume is Jesse Larios, a 33-year-old Californian working in the health insurance industry. Larios, who has already completed a marathon as Bearsun, is now tackling his first multi-hundred-mile journey from one city to the next.

“I’m like a puppy,” Larios said, describing his impulsive nature. “I see something, and I just go after it.” This walk, he says, was simply a fun idea that turned into a spontaneous adventure.

Starting in Little Tokyo, Los Angeles, on April 12, Larios' journey to San Francisco has already encountered a series of unexpected hurdles.

Initially, Bearsun planned to walk 30 to 50 miles per day, but navigating mountainous trails has made that goal far more demanding than anticipated. Road closures and detours have only added to the challenge of finding his way to San Francisco.

Though Bearsun initially hoped to reach San Francisco by April 17, he now expects to arrive by April 21. But for Larios, the destination isn't as important as the journey itself, and he continues to update his followers on Instagram about his progress.

This journey isn’t easy. Bearsun isn’t staying in hotels; instead, he camps wherever the day ends, without any equipment. He relies on gas stations for meals and to freshen up along the way.

The creation of Bearsun

Bearsun was brought to life in 2016 when Larios teamed up with a friend to design him. His colors were inspired by Larios' Alaskan Malamute, Bear. Larios chose a 'bean' shape for his head, drawing inspiration from the unique, football-shaped head of the main character in his favorite cartoon, 'Hey Arnold!'.

The design reflects Bearsun’s personality, too. While Larios is the talkative one, Bearsun is the silent listener. This is why he was given a face without a mouth.

“Bearsun is very open-minded... he’s all about action, not words,” Larios shared.

Bearsun may not need to speak, Larios explained, because his very presence is enough to spark conversations and break the ice.

Larios’ adventure with Bearsun has been filled with the unexpected and countless challenges, but that hasn’t stopped him from forging ahead.

In 2019, Larios set his sights on running a marathon—and he decided to take it on while dressed as Bearsun.

“I had this wild idea to just put on the suit and try to finish the marathon without ever having run one before—another spontaneous decision I made,” he recalled.

The race didn’t go as planned.

By the 22nd mile, Bearsun had to stop, dropping out of the race. But Larios wasn’t discouraged. In 2020, he tried again, applying the lessons learned from his first attempt, and this time, Bearsun crossed the finish line.

The second chapter of Bearsun’s journey

The road has taken its toll on Bearsun’s bright and cheerful appearance, leaving behind dirt stains and tears—marks of adventure that Larios carefully stitches back together himself.

Larios plans to donate the remaining funds from his journey to charity, though he hasn’t yet chosen a specific organization. He’s particularly inspired to support those without caregivers, such as elderly individuals and children.

Bearsun isn’t on a mission to change the world. Larios simply had an idea he wanted to pursue, and impulsively set off to make it happen. Along the way, he’s received well wishes and messages of 'safe travels' on social media as people snap photos to share when they encounter him.

Bearsun even had a brief 'run-in with the law' when concerned locals called the sheriff’s office to check on him, making sure he was hydrated and not in any kind of distress.

“This is what I want to do—run marathons in my bear suit,” he shared. “It brings joy to others too, and I’m all about spreading laughter and smiles.”