I am super excited to announce that I will be co-hosting season three of the Occupation Wild Podcast with Courtney Condy. The season has already kicked off with a question and answer session around photography, van life, how to make money while living on the road, and so much more! Below is the link to the first episode.
Read MoreKristin and Abi testing out their sock-hop skills after arriving early to their campsite. Photograph by Dalton Johnson
How To Pack For Backpacking
The time has come to pack your backpack, hit the trail, and sleep in the dirt. Backpacking is an adventure combining hiking with backcountry camping, so be ready for a deep thigh burn and dirt under your fingernails. Living out of a backpack combined with the lack of conveniences makes backpacking an enjoyable type two activity. In the moment, as you labor up a steep grade, you might question your decision to go on this trip, but as you roast a marshmallow for s’mores and stare out at the Milky Way you’ll cherish those steep grades like a badge of honor. If this is your first backpacking trip, or your 10,000th trip, I promise there will be a nugget of goodness in this article.
Read MoreHow to Have the Most Fun Living in a Van
Having fun while living in a van can be simple, but the distractions of life are ever-present. Keep that in mind and prioritize the fun things. Make a list, check it twice, and fill your bucket with the experiences that help you grow.
Read MoreIt's a Van Tour
I’ve lived on the road for seven years now, five of which have been in a van. While my first vanlife set up was not ideal— I couldn’t stand, it broke down a few times, and it was often referred to as a “creeper van”—my set up for the last two years has been great!… I missed out on showing you all several things, as this was an impromptu to van tour along the California coast. To address and answer other vanlife questions, check out the blog below:
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Bill Bradley on a six hour training session up Mount Whitney, CA. Photo by Dalton Johnson
Training with Epic Bill Bradley
“Heyy Dalton, this is EPIC BILL BRADLEY here, um, give me a call. I am looking for a camera guy who is a bad ass. Can you climb mountains with camera gear?” Bill teases me with this voicemail back in February. Now, it is May and we have three more weeks until gear check in Talkeetna, Alaska. Bill and I had not met until this point, but I was intrigued to shake is hand, see if his height matched his energy, and get on a mountain with him.
Read MoreOnly a few days into the trip, I was already blown away by the beauty of New Zealand.
Did I Pull an April Fools Joke on Myself?
Two days later, I pedaled away from the hostel the man at the airport had suggested. Winding through the city streets of Christchurch, I was eager to make it to the main road that circles New Zealand’s South Island. Upon arriving at the T, I asked myself, “clockwise or counterclockwise?” For the first time, I had a hunch that I knew what I was doing. Feeling confident, I recall thinking, it’s the second half of summer, I should go south now, so I am in the north for the fall. So, I went right and pedaled along the coast, embracing a freedom that I had never known before.
Read MoreIt’s a Micro-Adventure Kind of Season
A micro-adventure is a mindset and physical outing directed to exploring. Since these are small, most micro-adventures will happen in your backyard, wherever that be. Now, some people will be luckier than others because of where they live, but even a city-dweller can have micro-adventures. The goal is to change your perspective on your current life situation and push yourself to go. Most of the time a micro-adventure will leave you asking yourself, “why would I ever do that?” The answer is “because it sounds like fun… kind of.”
Read MoreHow to Stay Fit While Living on the Road
While six pack abs and bikini season are always around the corner, van life might prevent you from getting to those goals. Yes, you are closer to access the outdoors if you plan your van trips correctly, however you aren’t going to have much space for working out, especially if the weather does not agree with your routine. If you plan on being a weekend warrior in a van, fitness won’t be a point of topic you’ll stress much about. However, if you decide to commit full time and have aspirations of maintaining your gym-centric body, guess again! With that said, below are five tips to maintain your fitness level while crammed in your tiny home on wheels.
Read MoreBest Van Life Destinations
Coinciding with surge of U.S. based road trips and growing popularity among travelers to experience van life, especially in the Western United States, finding the correct places can be overwhelming, especially if this is your first van trip. Understanding rules for where you can park to sleep, which adventures you want be close to, and making the most of the time you have is why this article was written. Below are ten destination areas that are van life friendly, provide access to adventures, and are wonderful for a seasoned van lifer, or a newbie.
Read MoreTips to Make a Van Feel Like a Home
There is no doubt that living on the road can look like a dream, but vanlife can be hard. Especially if you are not in the correct setting, so, having a few "normal" conveniences can go a long way. In an ideal world, you would be watching the sunrise, sipping your coffee, and journaling. However, there are those times you are in a city while it's pouring rain and you are hunkered down, waiting. In those moments, having a couple of those home-like conveniences has been my key to success.
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