well its been great. thanks for ur info.

[Jay FX4]

I can relate to where you're coming from. I have been working my current job for 12 years. It's a union job and the money is okay, but my hours seem to keep getting worse. My two days off vary from week to week - I don't know when I'm going to be off the following week until Friday making it almost impossible to plan anything, and now we have to work two nights per week until 10pm. I bust my ass all day every day and I have numerous injuries to show for it. I give it my all but the routine has become so monotonous I feel like I'm just going through the motions and I can't enjoy my life. I feel like a robot and I'm stuck in a rut I will never escape from. I have never in my life played the lottery and I never will, but I refuse to believe that there isn't a better way to make a living and a life. I'm a photographer, just an amateur, but I would love the freedom to travel the country and the world and not be trapped living the typical 9 to 5 "life" that 99% of other people live.
Live it up, man. And have fun.....

 

[Doofy]

Why? ...but, Why? Probably not the safest or the most prudent thing to be doing. I guess, I must be missing the "footloose" or the "wandering" gene. There are far to many crazies out there that would just as soon kill you than look at you. McCandless was ill-prepared and clueless and paid the price. The world has changed and not for the better. There are still kind, caring people out there...willing to help you out, though.

 

[Boggin]

so is this gonna be like Man VS. Wild show?
congrats man, not sure if its worth giving up a ranger tho, hah

 

[dirtyrangerclub]

well im preparing myself and all that i will need. im going to have a gps (a must have) im gonna have an 8" laptop with verizon wireless internet, so i can keep up my blogs, and upload pics and videos. my cell phone which will be off. all of will be used to the minimal. i plan on being in a town or city on sundays. ill go to church and someone may let me charge my stuff. but i will work on farms when i can for food and a shower. i know it a big risk to take and ppl r crazy these days. but thats where i trust in god with my saftey. we all have a set death date that u cant stop. im not scared to die. i know where im going.

 

[Will]

I see kids--I think of them as modern Beatniks--along Indiana 46 pretty often. Saw a group today. They invariably end up in a police car. Hitchhiking is illegal. And everything is private property so you sit down for a while somewhere and a cop shows up. You are going to end up seeing more rather then less of what you want to escape. And everyone you deal with will be on that edge--cops and other Beatniks. When I was in France in '94-'95 there were a lot of Eastern European kids doing the same thing. You would see groups camping in the parks. There, it's a fine line between being a gypsy and part of the scenery and being seen as a transient.

My advice is to just tackle one thing--do the Appalachian from stem to stern. You will have tons of time with the brain pumping as you go up and down hills for a couple thousand miles to figure your life out. You are part of the scenery there so you aren't going to have trouble with the police. You will run into lots of other people just like you--I know many people that were in your shoes and did the whole trail from Maine to Georgia in their early 20s. It's a concrete goal with a beginning and end. You can afford to do it with the money from selling your truck. It will take you a few months I think and by the time you are done you will probably be ready to get a job. If not, then you can go do the Pacific Crest trail.

 

[gjm4l]

hey man good luck with that stuff! I'm writing cause I read will's post. I actually work at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in NC and the AT trail runs through there. I've met many, many thru hikers and one of my good friends has done the whole trail twice. It takes between 6 and 8 months depending on who you talk to and your willingness/ability to hike. But of the people I've met who have done it they all say that it is a totally wonderful life altering experience and they tell me that if you are prepared for it, that its totally worth it. Maybe that would be a great starter for you. I'm not trying to change your mind or anything like that, do what you feel you have to. But will's right about the crazies and the law out on the open road. Whereas along the AT people are accepting and helpful because many of them are kindered spirits. They say that starting early spring(marchish) will make for the best chances of good weather throughout but I suppose since your up north the southern winter wouldn't be as bad if you started from your neck of the woods and came down. Well whatever you decide GOOD LUCK and I hope that it all turns out the best for you and you get where you want to be

Oh and just for a reference I had a discussion with that friend of mine just last year about the budget of it and he said it could be done with a tight budget of around $6000 depending on the gear already in your posession. Oh and if you do decide to do it stop by the NOC and I'll try to hook you up with a little whitewater rafting too (I love my job)

 

[crbnunit]

Meh. I used to work for a year or so, save money like crazy, quit and travel all summer. I traveled all over the US and Mexico caving, climbing, camping and backpacking. Those were great times. You know you have had a good vacation when you are looking forward to getting home!

We put almost 15,000 miles on a little Mazda pickup one year. Drove to Alaska and backpacked in Denali and the Talkeetna Mountains. Drove back across Canada, backpacking in Banf, Yoho, and a few other parks. Hit Glacier NP in Montana, Rocky Mountain NP in Colorado. Drove back to Texas, grabbed the climbing gear and went back to Colorado, across to Utah, Nevada, Arizona, New Mexico... We had a great time.

Like you say, do it now while you are young, have no ties and can enjoy it. Be careful and have fun!