solo travel
You've got somewhere to go, but no one to go with; solo travel is the nexus of independence and opportunity.
Reindeer Hunt, East Iceland
After two weeks in Iceland, my final week was spent in the Eastern Mountains with my Workaway host and a few of his friends hunting reindeer. My host had been waiting five years for this and finally, this year, he won the lottery to hunt reindeer.
By Tatiana Ragsdale7 years ago in Wander
Through the Heart of Mount Whitney
I’ve done a lot of ambitious things in my life, but amongst the hardest was waking up at 3 AM to climb the highest peak in the States, trek 7,000 feet of elevation, by myself, then hike back down with enough time to make it home for dinner. Some could call me crazy, but I don't think I'm alone in the fact that I crave something more than a monotonous 9 to 5.
By Lana Nevers7 years ago in Wander
The Precipice
It was colder than I had expected. The wind was welcome, but became icy quite rapidly. The sweat that covered each layer of my clothing stuck to my glistening skin, growing colder with every gust of mountain breeze. There was no refuge from the sting. The irregular shapes of perspiration had formed a splotchy pattern on my zip-up hoodie. Darker patches of black grew steadily, staining my hoodie like lakes amidst an arid landscape. I opened my mouth to taste the air, but it punished me by taking my breath away. The blood inside my teeth sent shockwaves through my jaw, corroborating the obvious: fall was here. As my muscles began to relax, my pulse slowed. There was a different, louder crunch beneath my feet, as I made my way to the precipice. The trees were changing, and there were so many of them. They were different here. In time, we would see which ones were deciduous, and which ones will live forever. After all, time reveals everything.
By Solachi Voz7 years ago in Wander
Quest of the Phoenix 2017 (11)
Since I’d fallen asleep so late last night, I did not get up this morning until 7:45, the latest of the entire trip. I showered and then found it to be raining outside. Heading to the office, they had no breakfast, but at least they had coffee (which was a relief since there was no coffee-maker in the room). I thus finished off the last of the dry food I’d brought for Firstmeal and opted to leave a bit earlier than planned, since I only had about a five-hour drive today and I wanted to consume more fattening, horrible shite from purveyors yet untested. I seemed to have missed my chance to try Chick-Fil-A, White Castle, Church’s Chicken, or Whattaburger, but another burger franchise still awaited. In Michigan City, Indiana, to be precise.
By Nathan Sturm7 years ago in Wander
Quest of the Phoenix 2017 (10)
I rose via alarm (Did I mention that I brought my own alarm clock?) at about 7:15. I showered almost immediately so that I could grab breakfast (which was minimal but adequate) without stinking too badly and returned to my room to study my route for the day yet again. At some point someone knocked on the door and a child’s voice said, “Hi.”
By Nathan Sturm7 years ago in Wander
How I Decided to Hike the Pacific Crest Trail. Top Story - August 2017.
The first time I had ever experienced camping, I was six years old. I was with my family and we stayed at a state park somewhere below Houston, Texas. We played football, climbed trees, made s'mores, and slept in a gigantic seven person tent. In the mornings, I would steal Pop Tarts out of the trunk and drink cold Gatorade from an ice cooler. If we had to use the bathroom, no worries! The fully air-conditioned bathroom of the service center was a car ride away. That was what camping was to me, in the summer of my sixth year of existence.
By Niche Veraldi7 years ago in Wander
Quest of the Phoenix 2017 (9)
I didn’t sleep too well, thanks to a combination of lingering coffee (which, of course, I’d needed to get through my Vanishing Point-esque marathon) and whatever is the car equivalent of jet lag. But I figured it would be enough. Had a nice, big, fat continental breakfast with extra coffee; studied my route for the day; the usual. After checking out and loading my stuff into the car, I called my dad again, since he wanted to know that I was okay, etc., and also to vicariously relive his own various trips out West back when Route 66 was still Route 66.
By Nathan Sturm7 years ago in Wander
Comfort Zone
"Google, define comfort zone." "Comfort zone. The place in which one functions with ease and familiarity." Well then, by formal definition, my comfort zone measures at an approximate fifty-mile radius, ninety percent of which consists of farmland and sagebrush. It is endless stretches of fields, country backroads, and Grandpa cussin’ the referees between grumbles of “you call that holding, ref?” and “someone get this man some binoculars!”
By Kendi Stoneberg7 years ago in Wander
Quest of the Phoenix 2017 (7)
Today I had what was only like an hour’s journey to Casa Grande where I would be switching hotels because…I dunno, just to see a bit more of Arizona, mainly the area south of Metro Phoenix. Thus I slept in, not rising until 6:45. Once again I got a nice breakfast courtesy of the motel and re-planned my routes; I was also pleased to discover that my clothes had dried properly overnight. Taking the first load of stuff out to my car, I found the housekeepers, a middle-aged Hindu couple, sitting on the hallway floor waiting for me to leave (due to the short drive today, I had pushed my departure time close to the 11 AM limit). I told them that I had to go back inside one more time, did so, and then gave them the go-ahead before returning my keycard and heading out.
By Nathan Sturm7 years ago in Wander
How to Meet Women While Travelling
This is the chance to see new worlds, have new adventures, and, more importantly, meet new people. Being single pushes these boundaries a little further and the ability to say "yes" to opportunities can certainly get your heart racing. Being single whilst travelling doesn’t mean you have to travel alone, on the contrary, the single perspective is thrilling, fun fuelled and full of adventure. Dating sites may well have been your friend over recent months and helped you to fine-tune your social skills and abilities with flirting techniques. But always remember these skills, techniques, and new found confidence can always be transferred throughout your holiday or travelling experiences. Here are the top tips on how to meet single women whilst travelling and share your good vibes.
By Sandra Baker7 years ago in Wander