A THANKSGIVING VAN BUILD, AND #VANLIFE WITHOUT THE VAN
It was hot, dusty, arid, and lonely. It was Thanksgiving, and the end of my 7,000-mile continuous backpacking trip around the western United States—I had less than 100 miles to go. I had turned off the Arizona Trail nearly 500 miles prior and hadn’t seen another nomad since. The desire to finish the gigantic Great Western Loop was strong, but on this celebrated day of thankfulness, I was lonely. I yearned for a big meal surrounded by family. At 24 miles for the day, I hadn’t seen a soul. I craved something more than the dehydrated meals that filled my pack. I wanted to talk to someone, to have companionship, and to take my mind off
