Hello, I am only 16 years old, but I have a lifelong dream. It is one of being -esentially- a nomad, and living with myself and my dog. I want to one day start my journey, and through a combonation of hitchiking, backpacking and public transportation, I will make my way from Ohio, to southern california, and straight up the west coast and into canada, and into vancouver. this isnt saying I wont find a brilliant place before I reach canada, and settle down, however. The only thing is, I just dont know how. I go backpacking a lot, and somtimes over a month. but I just dont know how I will start once I get out of high school. should I buy a car? or a van or somthing? how much money should I start out with? What kind of equipment should I have? And would other people be willing to join me?- you know like a 'if youre going my way, I'll come with you' type of thing? I just dont know where to start. ANY feedback would be greatly respected. Am i just too young to get involved with this? thank you for your precious time! ~Grace
You are still very young, you might want to wait atleast for your 18. A car or a van isn't necesserry. (Not at all) All you need is your backpack and your feet. I know some guy that started backpacking for very long with only 5$. That's hardcore, but it is possible. All you need is knowledge. For the equipment thing, search for it, won't do a list again... There's plenty of information on the internet avaible, and even here on this forum. If you really feel like you need someone with you, I'm not sure this is for you. It is possible, but from my personal experience... you are better off on your own. Never depends on somebody. They might ruin your trip or your mind. 2 things got me wondering... How is it possible that you ask all of theses questions if you already can backpack over a month?!? You should already have your aswers... And than, I will never say this enought... Why do you go the easy way, look and search for your answers, don't expect people to do your job. If you can't search simple informations on the internet, there's no way you'll be doing great in the great outdoor. City or not, you'll be on your knees crying for your mother to come and get you. Really think about it, the outdoor life isn't just butterflies and cute birdie songs. It can be one hell of a hard time.
Thanks for your relpy. I know that I can handle bieng in the wilderness for a month, but i have always had someone else with me. And I do search a lot, and I find new info every day. I just thought someone from this forum could give me some first hand advice. Im glad to hear that people out there have already done this type of thing.
Most of your answers will come in time. You'll learn on the field if you are a wise one. There is so much to learn and to know about that is kinda impossible to give you all the info out there. Depending on where you'll be trekking, you'll might find some people along the way that are on the same trip as you. That's the coolest part I guess. You meet very nice people. Don't forget it's kinda part of the trip to not know-it-all. You need some challenge out there. Just get the basics of survivals and pack your stuff. May peace be on your path. If you have any other question you can PM me.
I am in the same boat as you Youth, i have a bit of anxiety about how im going to hit the road, especially with a girlfriend going to college, and me expected to go to college to, but thats a different story. Regarding money, i for example am saving up as much as a i possibly can, (i should have about 3000 by may), but you dont need that much unless you want to spend it on tourist luxuries. You have alot more experience than me when it comes to backpacking, perhaps you can share some of your knowledge with me, just pm me, that would be great. But for the hell of it i will share some of mine Dumpster diving, if you arent deterred by rescuing food from a dumpster, can be your ticket to free food, just know how to be safe about it Trust your instincts when hitchhiking, better than blindly accepting a ride from anyone learn to cook simple meals and know nutrition and pick some light weight food, nuts, peanut butter, dried fruits and veggies, etc digihitch.com and whiteblaze.net are two of the best sources i have learned from, hopefully it can help you good luck, perhaps we will cross on the road
What the hell for you would need THAT MUCH money?!? 3000 is WAY fucking too much... You call that a little bit of axiety... The point of hitchhiking isn't about a expensive lifestyle. There's no particular time your should trust your instincs, you always should, not only when hitchhiking.
Dude where do you live that $3000 is enough money for an "expensive" lifestyle. Granted $3K is a pretty big wad to have in pocket while hitchhiking, but it's really not much money. I could smoke $3000 worth of weed in a couple of months.
Yeah I'm in the same boat with the OP, as soon I as get out of high school this summer, I plan on backpacking around for a while until I find what I'm looking for. I don't know what it is yet, but I need a lot of alone time to find it. I think I might live in the Appalachians of West Virginia-ish region for a while. Society is too much on the mind, even if it is easier on the body. I can't be fully happy until I know what it is like out there, scraping along. Living in comfort leaves too much to be taken for granted
i plan on buying land and such, but one of the reasons i want to travel is to find a new home. The money i will aquire should be enough to get by, i think its just good to have a good reserve.
Well if you have a reserve, doesn't it defeat the purpose of living on your own? I wanna live on my own to be free of money and the terrible things it brings me, and if I have a reserve to lean on, it'll be too easy to jump back into society for me. That just my opinion though
Wasting all your money on weed is your choice, not mine. You can live VERY long with 3000$ but why would you wait to get that much money. I don't think it's part of the trip and the spirit behind it, well it's not mine. In the end it's your choice. To be honest, I've -NEVER- saw while hitchhiking and backpacking someone with that much money. Not even close to it. Anyways... I just don't understand why would you want that much money, hippie.
No, I never had that kind of cash while hitching or living in a van, not even close. Sure it's the spirit of things to be free of monetary trappings while on that road venture, but having a few cash resources isn't nesessarily a bad thing. I know of a number of times some cash would have been a great thing to have, but then the whole trip would have been a bit different wouldn't it. As you said don't wait for that kind of cash before you hit the road, but If you've got it good for you. As far as why anyone would want that much money was kinda the point of my post, it really isn't that much money, maybe a lot for hitch hiking pocket cash, but not much in reality. Suppose one is travelling and finds their mecca and decides to make a home, $3K won't last wrong renting and certainly won't buy land. Being on the road with nothing but the bag on your back is a certain freedom, being on the road with a bit of means is a different freedom.
Yeah man, I get your point. All I was saying to this dude is ya'shall not wait all that time to get that money to make your trip - You don't need it. If you are insecure about money issue, hitchhiking and backpaking might not be for you. Some money is good. But I think too much money wouldn't be a great thing, espacially for people into drugs and booze (some start to get wasted during their first trip, you are not untouchable). I got so wasted in BC I think I would be dead with 3k. Getting fucktop is part of the culture of many places I've been. Like in Okanagan, you smoke more than you eat - Way much more. Even if you aren't into that. Money is just the easy way. You are SUPOSED to miss atleast something. You are SUPOSED to face problems and deal with them. You will not with money. It's just to easy. Why would you want suffer?!? (Because you sure will sometimes, not always)... Simply because it's part the trip, and makes you stronger. The first trip is the hardest, than it's natural. If you had money and all you need in your actual lifestyle, why would you keep it in that new possibility of living. That much money isn't part of it. Just my 2 cents, in the end, you choose how to live your trip. I always choosed the hardest way but it's just me.
Oh and I forgot, you can actually work during your trips, there's plenty of jobs for people on the road, like on farms. You stay there one week or two, keep on your way, work sometimes somewhere else. Just don't try to solve everything before you even pack your shits. Plus it would be so fucking boring. Think about it twice - Misery is a real challenge.
