I thought I would write up a series of posts about transitioning into a nomadic life for all of you readers thinking about hitting the road for a climbing trip. I figure this will be the first of the following five posts.
Just leave.
The Best Car for the Road.
What to Pack.
Where to Visit.
Tips and Tidbits.
My little home in Boone, NC.
Just Leave
I think the hardest part of road tripping (or at least for me) was simply leaving; basically driving away from the life you know in hopes of something better. At the time of hitting the road:
I was living in a city I really loved and that perfectly matched my outdoor enthusiasm
I was working a job that I enjoyed (albeit the usual work frustrations )
I had just been offered a promotion, in fact the promotion that I had been “working towards” as an analyst
My work hours truly consisted of 9 – 5, allowing me to climb everyday after work if I wanted
I was dating a great guy
I had numerous friends and felt part of a community
I was comfortable
Life was great… but if I didn’t leave I would always wonder what I had missed out on. So I cut the ties and left, using the following steps to transform into a nomad.
Make things happen NOW. There is never going to be an ideal time of life to do a big trip or any other life change. When people ask how I was able to hit the road I catch myself often saying “I was in between careers”, but really I was in between careers because I MADE it be that way. I could have easily transitioned into the new role at my work, but why not travel for many months rather than sit in a cubicle? =) If I am a good worker, I should always be able to find work (or so I hope).
Set the day on which you will turn in your notice. I was offered the promotion weeks before I was planning on submitting my notice. I temporarily faltered, but decided to continue on with my plan, turn down the promotion and quit my job (though I have been very fortunate that my work requested that I continue to work from the road on my rest days. Best of all worlds.)
Figure out the details for your belongings. If you can’t or you don’t want to leave your stuff at your apartment / house, simply pack it up. Get boxes, some tape, a big black marker and start packing. And if you don’t need the belongings, rid yourself of their hassle by selling or throwing them away. =) I was planning on putting my belongings in storage, but first asked around to my house-owning friends as I would rather pay a friend to store my stuff than a business owner I don’t know. Sure enough I found a friend with a crawl space that wasn’t being used, and I have been paying a fee to her. Easy as that. =)
Set a day of when you want to drive away. I noticed it was real hard for me to leave SLC, and I actually purposefully stayed around the first 6 weeks of my time off. I think it was hard for me to leave for a two reasons. 1) It was August, my birthday month and my good friends birthday month. As many of you readers now, my birthday is a BIG DEAL to me and I wanted to celebrate it with friends. 2) I knew that part of this trip was to find a new home as I would really like to NOT return to SLC, except to visit. I felt like I still had a lot of climbing to do in the area, so spent 6 weeks exhausting the climbing in Utah and Wyoming while also wrapping up a bunch of personal items. But as soon as my date came up, September 15, I left to Rifle.
Adjust to your new life. Sometimes change is hard, but soon you will surprise yourself how comfortable you become in your new way of life. Find simple things that make you happy… coffee at the same place everyday? Listening to a certain song each morning? Etc.
Next thing you know.. you will never want to go home. And if that is the case, drop me an email and let’s catch up. =)
If you have been on the road before, please feel free to post up your thoughts.
After two wonderful weeks in Rumbling Bald, I packed up the little Honda Civic and headed four hours to Rock Town, GA. Good bye granite, hello sand stone!
I have been on vacation for six weeks, or perhaps I should say pseudo vacation considering I do work 2 days per week. To be honest, working my job AROUND my climbing schedule is quite heavenly. =)
For the past six weeks I decided to stay in Utah, mostly in SLC, as there were still routes and crags I wanted to explore, I had a wide network of climbing partners, but mostly because I don’t know where my next job will take me.
Yet by the time Sept 1 rolled around, I started to question my Utah decision, fretting that I should have used this time to go somewhere far away. However, if the goals of this pseudo vacation are relaxation, having fun and climbing, perhaps I should stop worrying about my decision as these past weeks allowed me to do the following:
I climbed in the local canyons of Big Cottonwood, Little Cottonwood, American Fork and Ferguson. (Pictured is me at a dawn bouldering session with Severhead, Jun and Trent.)
I made a couple weekend trips to Maple Canyon. (Pictured is a SLC climber getting ready to attempt Ammo Dump.)
I visited Wild Iris, this being only my second trip. (Pictured is a SLC climber.)
I bouldered some excellent problems in Joes and Triassic. (Pictured is Shaft.)
I was able to climb 31 out of 46 days. (Pictured is me on a very cool, thin problem, with the classic sandy top-out in Triassic.)
I enjoyed the sunrise in Little Cottonwood. (On this day I was climbing Pentapitch with new friend, Tyler.)
I sent another 12a route and my first v7. Yippee!! (Me looking super serious at Joes Valley.)
I spent my birthday weekend with my great friend, while we both completed our birthday challenges. (Pictured are Shaft and I after completion of his 41 boulder problem birthday challenge.)
I checked out the Outdoor Recreation Show and watched the Mammut Bouldering competition. Fun, fun, fun!
I enjoyed many great nights out on the town. (Pictured are Shaft and I at Brian and Elise’s wedding. Whew… I was in dire need of a haircut!)
I partied it up at my old house where I watched Shaft get his a$$ kicked by the JamesMonster in guitar hero.
And I saw The Route Slayer extremely happy after climbing. (Check out the pink car in the background!) =)
Yep, I need to stop fretting. These past six weeks have been great!
Lately I have been thinking a lot about travel (considering it is my current full time focus). It is extremely helpful to receive beta from fellow travelers or locals prior to a trip. In hopes of returning the beta karma, I thought I would start posting up trip beta from places I have visited or lived.
Three guides are currently available for the Squamish area, all with their own distinct purposes. If looking to do a mix of classic routes (sport and trad) plus wanting integrate some bouldering, definitely get the Squamish Select by Marc Bourdon. If wanting to stay right in Squamish itself and climb mostly around The Chief, buy The Climber’s Guide to Squamish by Kevin McClane. If strictly bouldering, buy Squamish Bouldering by Marc Bourdon and Scott Tasaka. I happened to have both The Squamish Select and The Climber’s Guide to Squamish. Shaft and I were doing a mix of climbs, and though it was helpful to have both, I really only needed the Squamish Select for the routes we wanted to do and the length of our stay (2 weeks). Yet, I must mention that The Climber’s Guide to Squamish included a great history of the area and the Chief.
Camping
Chief Campground – most popular campground for climbers. Cost is $10 a site for drive in sites, which can be shared with up to 4 people, and I believe free for the walk-in sites. It is good to note that the campground gate is shut from 11pm to 7am. Also, it was really helpful to have a tarp and some cord to shelter items from the rain.
The Sound – there is free camping if you want to camp out of bounds. However, run-ins with giant sea creatures can become a reality.
Food / Drink
Howe Sound Brew Pub – great food, especially pizza. They have great daily specials that the server never seems to mention, so remember to ask.
Eagle’s Nest – this restaurant is a little out of the way, but is a great place for a nicer dinner if getting tired of bar food or camp pasta.
Sunflower Bakery – the usual bakery. Nice change from the usual oatmeal for breakfast.
Alcoholic Beverages – Note that it is VERY expensive to buy alcoholic beverages, especially beer, in Squamish. Customs allows one case of beer and 1500ml of wine to cross the border. It is very wise to bring this in with you.
Personal Hygiene
Showers – The Recreation Centre is the best place for showers. Cheap, fairly clean, plus includes a hot tub, pool and steam room if wanted.
Laundromat – The laundromat is a little tricky to find as it is nestled in a shopping center.
Other
Gasoline – Fuel is also very pricey in Canada, so once again fill up prior to crossing the border.
Internet – The adventure center offers free wifi if you have a laptop. If not, there is an Internet Cafe on the main street.
Currency – We had zero problems with currency and/or the dollar being accepted. However, few places take the American Express card.
Theft – Theft was surprisingly a problem in Squamish, even at the Howe Sound. When climbing at the Smoke Bluffs, park a little south at the Adventure Center rather than the designated parking spot as your vehicle will be safer.
If you readers have any beta of your own, please feel free to comment.
I daily read economic and industry reports for my job and must admit it is a little worrisome to continually read about the suffering American economy due to the credit crunch, the current financial sector being comparable to the Great Depression, IndyMac having a run on the bank (never expected to see that in my lifetime), Freddie and Fannie having to be supported by government infused funds, etc. Seems like an interesting time for me to take 5 months off to travel, and I must admit I sometimes worry about the job market when I decide to return to a full time position.
The above aforementioned factors plus the continually rising price of gasoline and inflated price of consumer goods have obviously resulted in many Americans decreasing their annual travel. According to the KenRadio site I watch, “The average number of trips the typical American has taken in the past 12 months has fallen 7.3% to 5.1%.”
Source: KenRadio at www.kenradio.com
Yet…. I feel like the main question is, how often do I have the time and financial resources to take off 5 months to travel? And how often can I find a job I love that will allow me to work in a virtual environment, being flexible around my climbing schedule?
I figure the combinations of these variables is rare and so I should capitalize on this opportunity to travel. It is perhaps a little nerve racking to make a move at this time, but here is hoping for the best. I figure, if anything, hopefully the market will have started to trend back up by the time I return. =)
This past week I gave my 2 weeks notice to my employing firm. I have been extremely fortunate to work for my employer and will actually continue to work with them for the next couple months, but on a part time rather than full time basis. Why? Because as of August 1st my main focus will be on climbing and traveling for the next 4 -5 months. And yes, I am super psyched. =)
The game plan (which is completely open to changing) is to stay in Utah for the month of August to hopefully work through many of the details of these books.
In September, I am thinking about heading to Kentucky to work on this book.
Then in October and November these books.
And then, depending on how I feel, in December to work on this book.
Yep. I am pretty psyched. =) If any of you readers are also going to be on the road or just want to meet up, let me know.
Last year I received the best postal package from my friend H.I.P #1 that included his own personal boomerang that had accompanied him in his travels. The Boom then accompanied me through my climbing adventures (for instance in Joes Valley ) and was of course included in my recent trip to Squamish. Here she is smiling across the Canadian border. This pic is for you H.I.P. #1.
Shaft, the Cb-gbers and I took a two and half week climbing vacation in Squamish, Canada. British Columbia receives a fair bit of rain during the month of June, but we luckily encountered cooperative weather allowing us to climb everyday.
Driving through beautiful Oregon. At this rest stop we happened to meet a trucker who also owned a chihuahua.
The coastal views on the way to Squamish. In this area, scuba divers congregate to explore two sunken ships.
View of The Chief. While taking this picture a car stopped and the driver warned us of an approaching bear.
The Pemberton landscape.
Squamish and the outlying areas house thousands of routes and boulder problems. Shaft and I alternated between bouldering, trad and sport lines, taking one rest day to hike to the top of the Chief.
Me working ‘In Your Face’ in Pemberton. This extremely fun v3 was on the Yosemite boulder that sits adjacent the railroad tracks. The guidebook states to hide if a train is coming due to access concerns.
Shaft warming up at the SuperFly boulder in Squamish.
Shaft sending ‘Sloppy Poppy’, known to be one of the most popular v4′s in Squamish.
Me warming up on the Warm Up Traverse.
Me working ‘Bo Jo Jones’. This problem consisted of numerous heel hooks. =)
Shaft roping up for routes at the Smoke Bluffs.
Me on Ancient Heart. This climb alone was worth the 15 hour drive to Canada. The 9 bolt 11c showcased numerous heel hooks, a boulder-y slopey crux and a crimpy top out. Pure magic!
Shaft on the third pitch of Deidre, our final climb in Squamish. We had wanted to run it the day prior but were rained out, ending up bouldering instead. We thankfully waited one more day, finishing up our trip beautifully with this classic line on The Chief.
Besides numerous days of setting up ropes and throwing out bouldering pads ….
Shaft continually munched on wild raspberries.
I made a new best friend.
We happen-stanced many bear sitings, two of which included dog-bear chases. For the record, the bear surprisingly ran away on both occasions.
We spotted logger truck collision signs.
And saw the biggest, ugliest slugs!
By the time we arrived home, the sweater-clad Cb-gbers was tuckered out, a sure sign of a successful trip.
Sorry for the lack of posts lately. I am on vacation with my friend Shaft and the CB-gbers in Squamish, British Columbia. It is so beautiful here, the climbing is superb, the temps have been good, and the surroundings remind me of Valdez, Alaska. Plus, we have seen MANY bears. I might post a couple posts while here, but perhaps not. It just isn’t a priority right now as I am focusing on relaxing in the sun and enjoying the view of The Chief.
In response to my previous post, thank you all for your support on the loss of my car. This past Wednesday it was found half a mile from my house with only the stereo gone and the glove box shuffled through. Can you believe that?! My good friend Mark went and identified it for me and lined up the towing (it is in drive-able condition but I took the key with me to Canada…doh! … and though I had mailed it to Mark, the car was found before the key arrived). It is now just waiting for me at his parent’s house. Thank you all for your support and for offering up your vehicles. And thank you Mark for taking car of all the details while I am away. I am truly lucky to have so many great people in my life.
For the past six years, I have taken either a foreign vacation or temporarily moved to a new U.S. destination. I have always gone solo, except for the 2007 trip where I met up with one of my dear Irish friends. The line up has included:
2002 – Denali Park, Alaska – I moved to Denali for a four month stint in order to earn money for school by waiting tables. However, unlike most folks, I worked only 5 days per week (equaling at least a 50 hour work week) and spent the weekends backpacking through the beautiful park. I saw tons of wildlife (bears, caribou, wolves, moose, mosquitoes of unbelievable size), fished in Valdez (caught my first and only salmon) but most surprisingly somehow caught a glimpse of Denali every weekend. I absolutely love Alaska. Seriously a breathtaking, wonderful place that has a very special place in my heart.
2003 – Europe – I backpacked around for six weeks hitting up parts of England, Scottland, Belgium, France, Spain, Italy, Germany and Switzerland. It was the typical whirlwind American trip, but real fun and the fist time out of the country on my own. I met a good handful of dear friends, such as this rockstar and a couple of these rockstars.
2004 – Chicago – I took a semester off school to go intern on the Chicago Board of Options Exchange. What an eye-opening, learning experience! At first I was unsure if I would like the city as I am an avid outdoorsy girl. Yet, it was quickly evident, upon moving there, that Chicago is a fantastic city with a superb arts scene, restaurants and of course sports. Go cubs!
2005 – China – I spent a month backpacking through China. Yes, I did this trip alone as well. It was a hard “vacation” due to major cultural differences and being continually sick … but fun none-the-less. I met a couple of very dear friends who I ended up traveling with for about 2.5 of the 4 weeks, plus had the chance to do a little climbing in Yangshuo.
2006 – Ireland – The China trip was quite exhausting, so I decided to go to a place in 2006 where I could at least speak the language. I was in the country for 2.5 weeks and had such a superb visit. Ireland is one of the friendliest countries as people continually offered to help me out, chat over a pint, etc. I also met a superb group of climbers, two of which I have become good friends with and who I often reference on this blog as HIP #1 and HIP #2. One of the main highlights was my birthday. As many of you know, my birthday is a BIG DEAL to me. This year I was hanging out with the fantastic crew of climbers, climbing in the Burren over my birthday weekend. I felt so lucky.
2007 – Thailand – This trip was the first trip where I met up with and traveled with a friend, HIP #1. We met in Bangkok and immediately traveled to Tonsai, where we spent the majority of our 2.5 week vacation. Tonsai might have been the best vacation yet because I was in a climber’s paradise surrounded by handfuls of beautiful beaches, enjoying all of it with one of my best friends.
This year I am traveling with my friend and current room mate Shaft. We are heading up to Squamish next Friday and will be gone until the 22nd. We are actually driving (gulp) as it is quite a bit cheaper and it will allow us to stop along the way (perhaps to visit some friends of mine in Seattle, stop to check out Rainier or possibly even stop in Oregon to climb…all still up in the air though). I am real excited as I feel in dire need of a vacation.
If you have traveled to Squamish, I would be real interested in chatting with you about your beta on climbs, places to camp, activities for rest days, etc. Feel free to post up in the comments or send an email to wasatchgirl at gmail.com.
