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Rabit536
Jun 19, 2011, 10:27 PM
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Registered: May 26, 2011
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Money? Gas? Tent?
It can be done with none of the above. Not highly recommended, but completely possible. For example: On March 15th in 93 (right after a blizzard) I decided to hit the road. I threw as much as I could into a medium sized duffle bag and hit the road on two feet. 2 dollars in my pocket, a cup of coffee in my hand and a hat on my head. A lot more to see when your not going 65 mph. I covered 16 States and finally got back in September of 94.
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Maleficent
Jun 19, 2011, 10:29 PM
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Well i was hoping to camp in a free area. Gonna take my honda civic :D ehehe. a truck with a camper on it would be cool, but i got rid of my truck when gas went to 4$ a gallon.
There are free camp spots in nation forests right? i think a guy previously posted thats the way to go.
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retro67
Jun 19, 2011, 10:41 PM
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I did it for about 3 years. I agree it helps to have a van or something to get around. It also helps to know a trade that can be applied almost anywhere you go. Don't worry about finding "community" if you're out there climbing you will find it. Don't worry about gear, as long as you have shoes and a chalkbag you can keep getting better. Don't overthink it, just do it. You won't regret it.
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Maleficent
Jun 19, 2011, 11:11 PM
Post #29 of 37
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Rabit536 wrote: Money? Gas? Tent?
nice man, i wouldnt mind doing that as well. each way has their appeals. I may be a little too weak sauce to hoof it just quite yet, maybe for the second road trip after i feel a bit seasoned eh? :D
retro67 wrote: I did it for about 3 years. I agree it helps to have a van or something to get around. It also helps to know a trade that can be applied almost anywhere you go. Don't worry about finding "community" if you're out there climbing you will find it. Don't worry about gear, as long as you have shoes and a chalkbag you can keep getting better. Don't overthink it, just do it. You won't regret it.
Well i am a licensed electrician so i have that, however that would be a 40hr a week job most likely any where which would defeat the purpose.. maybe pick up work as a handyman? :P words of encouragement for sure, thanks man.
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redonkulus
Jun 20, 2011, 6:30 AM
Post #30 of 37
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Registered: May 2, 2010
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I'll be doing roughly the same thing as you, though I'm trying to tour a few more places along the West coast. I'll probably start in Hueco in January and work my way west and north as the season changes for about 4 months. If you wanna meet up and climb around for a bit, let me know. I was a little worried about finding partners too, but I'm pretty sure it won't be a problem.
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happiegrrrl
Jun 20, 2011, 12:54 PM
Post #31 of 37
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Maleficent wrote: There are free camp spots in nation forests right? i think a guy previously posted thats the way to go.
"Free," once you have the pass (link: http://www.fs.fed.us/...ermits/rec-fee.shtml).... Otherwise you will be going stealthfully and though it's pretty easy in most of them, it is probably not much fun to be woken up in the middle of the night by that one diligent ranger who doesn't care for interlopers....
I'm not NOT condoning "working the system," but if you are the sort who likes to play by the rules - those are the rules.
If you are young, sleeping in a Honda Civic on nights when you have no campsite will not bother you much. I've certainly seen plenty do it - just like I've seen plenty live on peanut butter or ramen noodles. Heck - a few days ago I met two Brits who had nothing but the packs on their back, and had walked/hitched from Canada. Someone who picked them up said "You gotta see this hippie town" and dropped them in New Paltz(NY).
They spent a day there and then hoofed it westward, guided by the memorial atop Skytop and finding themselves at Lake Mohonk. No clue as to where they were, others on the path told them about the "hot springs"(???) along the Coxing Kill, which is where I ran into them. They had a ziplock bag full of....blueberries, They figured that's what they were, but being unsure, had ripped out a small plant, with roots, just in case so they could ask...
They asked me to show them where they were on their map(a pocket-sized atlas of the US/CA/MX), and told me they were next headed to Niagara Falls.
No car, smallish loads in their packs, and not a worry in the world. Traveling lite!
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jolery
Jun 20, 2011, 5:12 PM
Post #32 of 37
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Registered: Dec 28, 2008
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Camping on undeveloped national forest land is FREE, as long as you respect the restrictions on distance from trails, roads, water sources, etc. (something like 150 feet from these things) You don't need a pass to do this - passes are only for day use fees, developed national forest campgrounds, and non-national forest places like national parks, etc.
Actually finding good campsites in national forests can be challenging to do, especially in the middle of the night - research is good to do, or ask locals, or be prepared to camp on some rocky, uneven ground that hasn't been cleared.
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kaizen
Jun 20, 2011, 8:03 PM
Post #33 of 37
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jolery wrote: Camping on undeveloped national forest land is FREE, as long as you respect the restrictions on distance from trails, roads, water sources, etc. (something like 150 feet from these things) You don't need a pass to do this - passes are only for day use fees, developed national forest campgrounds, and non-national forest places like national parks, etc. Actually finding good campsites in national forests can be challenging to do, especially in the middle of the night - research is good to do, or ask locals, or be prepared to camp on some rocky, uneven ground that hasn't been cleared.
This is correct.
Also, one of the best ways to find "free" camping sites is to drive to the nearest publicly-owned campground and ask the person behind the counter/campground entrance (if it's staffed). They will almost always know where there are some free local sites, albeit they'll be primitive. Same thing with Rangers. As long as they don't hate you, they are going to give you plenty of helpful info.
Lastly, I would recommend using the motivation you currently have for the trip and leaving as soon as possible. The more you think about it and try to plan everything, the less likely you are going to be on hitting the road. Seize the energy, and get on with your roadtrip. You'll thank yourself when you're old and crusty.
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sspssp
Jun 20, 2011, 9:44 PM
Post #34 of 37
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Registered: Jan 2, 2003
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I have also found that picking up a State "Atlas" map can be worth while. Instead of having each state on one or two pages, it has dozens of pages for a single state.
A little pricey if you are hitting a lot of states, but it can show you where national forest and, just as importantly sometimes, BLM land is and it will also show enough detail that you can find the back roads to actually get there.
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donald949
Jun 20, 2011, 11:40 PM
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Registered: May 24, 2007
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Maleficent wrote: Rabit536 wrote: Money? Gas? Tent? nice man, i wouldnt mind doing that as well. each way has their appeals. I may be a little too weak sauce to hoof it just quite yet, maybe for the second road trip after i feel a bit seasoned eh? :D retro67 wrote: I did it for about 3 years. I agree it helps to have a van or something to get around. It also helps to know a trade that can be applied almost anywhere you go. Don't worry about finding "community" if you're out there climbing you will find it. Don't worry about gear, as long as you have shoes and a chalkbag you can keep getting better. Don't overthink it, just do it. You won't regret it. Well i am a licensed electrician so i have that, however that would be a 40hr a week job most likely any where which would defeat the purpose.. maybe pick up work as a handyman? :P words of encouragement for sure, thanks man.
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Maleficent
Jun 21, 2011, 9:29 PM
Post #36 of 37
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Registered: May 13, 2011
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man, i've had that same thought! But i do still need money. maybe i'll see about getting enough to get to my first destination then finding a job and working to save the rest, but i'll already be out so atleast im there ya know.
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Maleficent
Jun 21, 2011, 9:30 PM
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Registered: May 13, 2011
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yea, send me a pm sometime, i'll give you my contact info and when you decide to make your way over we could climb a bit together for sure.
In reply to: Well, my wife's Uncle is retired electrician. I seem to recall that on occasion he would have need of apprentice from the hall for a day or a week. Now wether or not you could pop in one day and get a job the next, or if you had to be on the list for months I don't know. Given the current state of the construction field I'm guessing its more like the later. But its a skill I'm sure you'll be able to use, if you set your mind to it. Also, its a solid skill that should be make it easier to market yourself as a handyman. A web based email and pay as you go cell that is left off but checked nightly when needed might help.
Indeed, i am in the union here, local 20 so like you said i could always get up there and sign the books and wait for a job, another plus about being a union member is that you can be on unemployment and not have to actively search for a job each week. i hate "using" the system but i've been working and giving to the system since i was 15.. 13 years now, so i figure maybe i could dip in for a few hehehe
(This post was edited by Maleficent on Jun 21, 2011, 9:33 PM)
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