Before the van, the photos, the maps, the memories, there was first an idea. I don't know when the idea first came to me perhaps, after I watched Into the Wild and sat in silence after. The scenery in the movie was beautiful, and the need for adventure was deeply hidden in my soul and I just kept burying it. It could be after I lost my dad to cancer and felt that living twice as hard was the only way to heal. It could be that I was getting into my late 20's, owned a house, loved my job, and still felt unsettled. But really I think it was the stories.
I wanted the stories.
Growing up my dad would tell my siblings and I these amazing stories. We never knew when they were made up or real and I loved that. My dad somehow made places we had been to became these fantastical worlds with creatures we never knew existed, it was amazing and I wanted that skill and so I got an idea.
I don't adventure alone. I travel with my partner Evan and our dog Carter (aka June Carter). We somehow pulled off renting our house for a year, put jobs on hold, found a van, converted said van, and then just left. Our original goal was to the Yukon, to Tofino and everything in between, but we got so caught up in van life we made it down to San Diego, across to Nashville and then home.
and I got my stories.
We want to acknowledge and thank the past, present, and future generations of all Native Nations and Indigenous Peoples whose ancestral lands we travel, explore, and play on. Always practice Leave No Trace ethics on your adventures and follow local regulations. Please explore responsibly!
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