This year as we were heading west through the northern states, Rusty and I made a pact not to miss this wild and mysterious place called “mako sica” by members of the Lakota tribe, translated to “bad lands.”
On our way through Kentucky, we stopped at Mammoth Cave National Park for a few days. Surprisingly, neither of us had ever been there before.
On our way from Tulsa and northern Arkansas (and several weeks of visits with family and friends) toward Kentucky and the east coast, we found ourselves passing through the Ozarks. The Ozarks are old… really old.
It was a year ago, while were hiking on the Colorado Trail, that the idea of hiking the Grand Canyon Rim-to-Rim-to-Rim in two days began to take shape in my head.
On our way to the Grand Canyon, we had to stop at Bears Ears National Monument, one of the newest in the country. It’s full of trails, amazing rock formations, and archeological treasures. So what’s not to like?
On our way out of Colorado, I agreed to join Rusty for one more adventure and attempt to summit Mount Elbert with him. But, the prospect of climbing the Rockies’ highest peak was daunting, to say the least.
One of the things we love about vanlife is the ability to be spontaneous and adjust our plans when a novel adventure comes our way.
The second half of my Collegiate Loop adventure would take me back south, along the Western Route and cross the Continental Divide several times. I would also travel elevations a thousand feet higher than anything on the Eastern Route, much of it above the tree line and through a truly alpine environment.
Brasstown Bald is Georgia’s highest peak at 4,784 feet above sea level, and we were eager to hike just about anything once the Covid lockdown eased.
We are Girl Hobo and Rusty (Ren and Troy), two greys who met on the Appalachian Trail. We started a life together, converted a van to travel and hike across the country, and we like to eat well. Now, we’re sharing what we’re learning on the road, and we’d love you to join us!