BACKPACK
My first experience living out of a backpack was on the Appalachian Trail when I spent nearly 5 months lugging that pack 2,184 miles from Georgia to Maine. Once I returned home I downsized my life, moved out of my apartment, gave away most of my stuff, couch surfed with friends, and eventually moved into a Honda Element to start my VanLife. I loved living with less and the next logical thing to do was park the rig and spend the winter months bouncing around the world chasing summer in the Southern Hemisphere. After a few winters abroad I’ve gotten used to living out of 60 liters while traveling by bus, plane, van, bike and on foot. From South America to Asia, Australia to Europe, living out of a backpack has led to some great adventures!
Backpack Videos
Backpack Highlights
First Digital Nomad Destination
Published: February 2, 2016
Bouncing Down The Peruvian Coast
Published: March 24, 2016
Living Long Term On Koh Lanta
Published: September 25, 2021
Spending A Summer Down Under
Published: November 24, 2018
All Backpack Posts
Hiking The Snowman Trek In Bhutan
When Luis Escobar calls and asks “Do you want to have an adventure?” always say yes. Over the years I’ve crewed him while he ran 146 miles across Death Valley,…
Life On Lanta
After riding my bicycle to Chiang Mai and pushing the Mae Hong Son Loop I was ready to return to Koh Lanta and settle back into island life. While Hilux…
Bicycle Touring The Mae Hong Son Loop – Part 2
I rolled into town exhausted from the previous day’s wrong turn that resulted in 12,000 feet of climbing and extremely sore legs. Once I found a $5 a night room…
Bicycle Touring The Mae Hong Son Loop – Part 1
After cycling 1,000 miles from Koh Lanta to Chiang Mai I took a few weeks off the bike to relax, catch up on work, get a tune up and explore…
Bicycle Touring Thailand – Week 2
Having cycled 500 miles in 7 days from Koh Lanta to the Amphawa Floating Market I took a break and stayed in town to relax and catch up on work….
Bicycle Touring Thailand – Week 1
After spending 8 months locked down on Lanta during the global pandemic I was ready for an adventure. I ordered an inexpensive mountain bicycle and touring gear from Decathlon, assembled…
Long Term On Lanta
After going 5 days without wifi in my island bungalow, I begrudgingly headed to the coworking space on Koh Lanta. In 5 years traveling the world as a “digital nomad”…
Locked Down On Lanta – COVID-19
I landed on Koh Lanta in the middle of a personal crises, my relationship had collapsed and I’d been hopping from country to country trying to figure out what to…
Winter In Bali
The summer Alaskan adventure was in the rear-view… actually, the rear-view was in the rear-view… I met Lisa at Born To Run in May and somehow talked her into heading…
Camino de Santiago Packing List
I once heard an accomplished backpacker say that the the only thing he wished he’d taken on his last trip was less. I’ve learned over the years that the less…
Hiking the Camino de Santiago – Camino Francés – Part 1
For my 30th birthday I ran 30 miles. For my 32nd birthday I ran 32 miles. For my 35th birthday I walked 500+ miles across Spain. I’m worried about turning…
Hiking the Camino de Santiago – Camino Francés – Part 2
Day 9 kicked off the second half of my Camino de Santiago hike along the French Way, or the Camino Francés. In 8 days I’d covered 240 miles, and striking…
Hiking the Camino de Santiago – Camino Finisterre – Part 3
I left Santiago de Compostela before dawn, following my headlamp through the suburbs. Since most pilgrims only go to Santiago I had the trail to myself. I hiked until noon,…
New Zealand VanLife
After traveling for 3 months in my backpack I missed van life, so I shifted into sales mode and talked my friends into renting a van to travel across New…
Summer Down Under
With winter blanketing North America I coped with the cold the best way I could, by flying to the Southern Hemisphere. After shivering through most of my trip to Vietnam…
Motorbiking Vietnam & Myanmar
River Trip 2017 was gonna be epic! We researched locations and picked the Red River through Vietnam from China to the South China Sea. We booked flights and purchased “Do…
Bike Tour – Uruguay
We had one week in Buenos Aires before our flight back to the United States and our “No Plan Plan” meant that we could do anything that would take about…
Bike Tour – Patagonia
I woke up in El Chaltén, fairly hungover from the previous day’s liters of wine, and stumbled out of the bus terminal to this. The southern stretch of our Patagonia…
Bike Tour – Carretera Austral
The sun peaked in through the opening in my sleeping bag as I heard something scavenging beneath me. I sat up in the cool air and startled the stray dog…
Bike Tour – Central Chile
Step 1: Register for Race Across America, the World’s Toughest Bicycle RaceStep 2: Train for Race Across America, the World’s Toughest Bicycle Race Train? Oh yeah…well…can we at least make…
Lima, Peru
After hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu I was looking forward to heading to the coast, slowing down, enjoying the beach, and catching up on work. Brandy and I…
Hiking The Inca Trail
Compared to the Appalachian Trail hiking the Inca Trail was like flying first class with a personal chef and a chauffeur to carry your stuff. Back on the Appalachian Trail…
Northern Peru
I climbed in a Volkswagen van, pulled the door shut, and settled in for the 6 hour ride to Peru. After backpacking South America for 2 months and I finally…
Vilcabamba
I checked into Hostería Izhcayluma and another traveler greeted me with “Hi, how long are you staying?” “Just two nights”, I said. She replied, “Oh, good luck with that, you’ll…
Cuenca
After spending a week exploring the Galápagos Islands with my brother I was back to rolling solo. Tyler caught an early flight out of Guayaquil and I hopped on the…
Digital Nomad Packing List
When considering my digital nomad packing list, I thought back to the most important less I learned from thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail, take less. I’d rather be underprepared than overpacked….
Galápagos Islands
It was a picture perfect day when we landed on San Cristóbal in the Galápagos Islands. Translucent blue water, sea lions lounging in the shade, marine iguanas swimming through the…
Montañita
After spending several weeks exploring the Andes and the Amazon, it was time to hit the beach. I took a bus to Guayaquil, stayed one night in the metropolis, and…
The Amazon
I spent my first 10 days in Ecuador living near 10,000 feet above sea level. I enjoyed the mountains, but it was time to get lower. I made my way…
Quito, Ecuador
The sun set over Miami, and when it rose again, I was in Ecuador. Modern travel is fast, efficient, and…unromantic. I would have preferred to earn my entry into South…
I’m Moving To Ecuador
I listed 6 countries on a piece of paper and rolled a die…I’m moving to Ecuador! Let me explain… Since thru-hiking the Appalachian Trail in 2012 I’ve been dreaming of…