Lessons Learned on the Road

You will definitely learn a few things while traveling. Life lessons and hardships are out there, but as are some of the most amazing moments of your life. From visiting with hippies and travelers alike in the woodsy mountains of northern Arizona, to traveling alone in the PNW, even hiking out on the east coast of the U.S., the world will teach you many things as you wander about.

I’ve written before about the start of my journey before in different posts, however I did not speak on all of the things I have learned along the way. Meeting other people such as fellow travelers, hikers, and vanlifers alike can give access to a great wealth of knowledge and experience for the new nomad.

The first place I encountered a large number of other wanderers was at a Rainbow Gathering in Arizona! Have you ever just wanted to visit some hippies in the woods? This would be the place to do so. Occurring around the world from New Zealand to the United States, Rainbow Gatherings are where free-loving people and travelers come together to celebrate life and peace. Beginning in 1972 in Colorado, the original Rainbow Gathering hosted up to 20,000 individuals. Slowly gaining traction in the 80’s and then declining in proceeding years they now host around 2,000 in a two week period. However the tradition remains, and some of the original people still attend!

From here an entire wealth of knowledge was waiting, I just had to find the right people. Those ranging from “Gearless and Fearless” to people who brought their own fully converted buses were attending during the time I was there. The prior not being something I would recommend as a safe traveling practice, and the latter being rather expensive for those unprepared, it was a very educational experience. In talking to some of the surrounding wanderers, I found it was rather common and indeed suggested to be able to carry most of what you would need for a night camping on your back. This encouraged me to find some lighter gear in case the worst came to happen for my vehicle. Stuff was often not needed, though I had a feeling about this, they all encouraged as close to minimal living as possible. Pictures make much better keepsakes than heavy rocks, sticks, or other knick knacks. Plus, in collecting items like rocks, fossils, and geodes from places, it leaves less for other people to enjoy! Among those lessons, I learned quite a bit about space management inside of a tiny home, along with what other travelers often needed and ran out of most, toilet paper, trash bags, and coats being the top three.

Many other lessons I have learned while traveling come mostly from experience. Be it hiking way out in the wilderness and getting caught in the rain, running out of water, or how to treat a bull moose when you come face to face with them. There are quite a few things to know while out in the mountains.

We’ll begin with a few of the most important ones.

First, rain gear. Have it always. Of course check the weather forecast ahead of time, but also understand that weather is not a perfect science. If it was raining yesterday, or there are plans to rain within the next 2-3 days most definitely bring your poncho. It is an extra few ounces that you won’t regret having when the rain shows. I once left my poncho in the car because it had rained earlier the day before and I thought I wouldn’t need it! HA! I was wrong. About 2 miles into the hike a downpour hit! Being stubborn and hardheaded, I kept hiking the other 12 miles there and back. I ended up hiking to an alpine lake in a thunderstorm and wound up soaked to the bone. Not a mistake I will make again.

Next, water. Bring more than you think you will need, or have a water filtration system and carry it with you. It is always good to have water left over, running out could mean your life. Whether you are going for a hike or a week long road trip, a case of water in the backseat or an extra water bottle in your backpack is a small price to pay for ensured hydration. This one felt a little more dangerous, finding myself 8 miles away and down a mountain from the nearest road with absolutely no water was not a situation I wanted to be in that day, however sometimes we are dealt hands and must endure. Rather than go full Bear Grylls, I decided to drink from a mountain stream in order to keep hiking efficiently. While not always a safe option, I was lucky in not receiving any parasites or sickness from the water. Keep in mind, it will not always happen that way; this was a mountain stream high up near the snow. Had I been lower down the mountain where more animals and people traverse it could have been polluted. This is where water filtration could have saved me quite a bit of worry. I now carry a sawyer squeeze water filter, which allows me to fill up a water bottle at almost any source and drink clean water. Such filters come relatively cheap and can absolutely save your life.

Lastly, wildlife. Give them space! The primary thing to remember when encountering a wild animal is that you are in their home! This is where they are comfortable and we are but humble visitors to their space. Observation without interaction should always be the goal, as getting too close can leave you with some serious injuries or worse. Bring a zoom lens and a quiet step if you are in the business of witnessing such beautiful animals as the elk, bison, fox, wolf, or moose! A wide berth of 50-100ft is always recommended, as any closer and the animal could feel intimidated or threatened. While hiking up in the mountains of the Unitas-Wasatch-Cache Range of northern Utah, I came face to face with three adult male moose! They had remained quiet and mostly unmoving as I walked up the path, presenting quite a shock when all three walked out of the forest at once! I quickly stopped and gauged the situation in order to not spook them with my own presence. Often times animals will leave or move along when we announce ourselves with some kind of noise. Be it using your walking sticks and banging some rocks or humming a tune out loud, they are quite shy and don’t always want to be observed so closely. Remembering this, I tapped my trekking poles on the ground a few times, getting their attention and waived as I walked around them, giving a wide berth through some trees. The moose did not stir at my presence other than to look at me like a neighbor who wanted a kid off their lawn, they then went back to munching leaves and enjoying their day as much as I did mine.

All of these lessons and more helped to mold me into the traveler I am today, I wouldn’t be where I am without them and count myself very lucky that many occurrences didn’t wind up differently. However they are all part of the experience. We wouldn’t know what the good times are like without having difficult ones. In truth, I have often thought to myself, wouldn’t life be better and easier without such challenges, however I always come to the conclusion that I would miss the challenges if they weren’t there. I would still want for difficulties and hardships to show myself that I am alive.