By Jenny Dengler
On April 1, Rolf, Tayden, and I packed all our unsold and personal belongings into a 5×8 Uhaul and moved from Denver to San Francisco to drop off our unneeded possessions at my motherʼs house. We spent three weeks in one of our favorite cities, visiting friends and family and, most importantly, trying to pack everything we needed for the next year into our Nissan Xterra. This was no easy feat and took almost all of the three weeks to find the perfect solution.
To illustrate: We have a rooftop tent by Tepui Tents on our roof, plus a gas can and some extra goods packed into our Sea to Summit dry bags. On the back, a Thule hitch cargo carrier holds our tents, ENO hammocks, MHM backpacks, Crazy Creek chairs, tarps, GiegerRigs, and anything else necessary for sleeping or backpacking. The back compartment on the interior holds our clothes, books, cast iron Dutch oven (Yes, it is heavy, but makes some delicious meals!), food, tools, and anything we need to access quickly.
The backseat holds the most precious cargo, Tayden, and everything he needs—from his B. Toys (Yes, toys are critical on this trip; ask any parent of a 18 month-old.), to books, to Miles Outside dehydrated meals, to his beloved blanket and stuffed animals. Above Taydenʼs head, a small hanging cargo net holds some towels, and enough FuzziBunz cloth diapers to make our lives a bit easier and our impact on the environment minimal. Moving up front, the required electronics and more food and water are packed around me and Rolf. One of the best features in the front is the cup holders. They are so large that they hold our 40-ounce Hydro Flasks perfectly, so we have nice water access on the road. It is a bit tight, but it is safe and comfortable. It is definitely a sight to behold, and we have already received plenty of questions. The good news is: The more we eat the more room we have!
On April 25, we left California on our way back to Colorado. We stopped to visit Rolfʼs Uncle Martin in Santa Rosa for a beautiful night with family, and then headed toward Tahoe, where we spent our first night in our Tepui Tent. It was a great first night, and Tayden slept so well. The morning was chilly and made me question why I am camping for the next year since I am not a fan of cold mornings!
However, seeing the beauty of nature always warms the soul. After a quick run through Tahoe we traveled through Nevada to Utah. We camped the second nights off of Highway 50 after checking out some archeological sites and the sand dunes. The third night was spent in Richfield, Utah, off a 4×4 route in the Fishlake National Forest. It was a unique site to say the least. Utah has amazing off-road access; however, this sometimes leads to destruction of the environment and careless acts in nature. Our site was filled with broken beer bottles and scattered garbage. The night was super windy, but Tayden slept through the night!
From there we made our way into Colorado, where we crashed at a friendʼs house. It was nice to have a shower after 5 days! The next couple of weeks were sporadic since we have yet to begin the trip. I wrote this update from Moab, where Rolf and I worked a mountain bike event for Bikerpelli. We aided bikers on the Kokopelli Trail, and my mom and Tayden are enjoying time together in Moab. We returned to Colorado last weekend and officially kick off our year on the road today as we head out of Colorado into Wyoming.
After 8 months of planning, moving, prepping, and fine-tuning logistics, we are finally making our dream a reality. We know this will be an intense year, but we are so excited to meet fascinating and kind people on the road. We have already been welcomed by so many. I canʼt wait to see what this year brings our way!
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With a mission to motivate and empower families to explore America’s wilderness, WAM reader Jenny Dengler took off on a one-year road trip with her family. During Expedition America 2011, the three will average one week in each state while attempting to climb their highest peaks. Jenny explains her reasons why and invites you to follow their journey through her blogs for Women’s Adventure magazine.
My curfew was lightning bugs, Mom didn’t call my cell, she yelled my name! I played outside with friends, not online! If I didn’t eat what my Mom cooked, I didn’t eat! Sanitizer didn’t exists, but you could get your mouth washed out with soap!! I rode a bike with out a helmet, getting dirty was ok & neighbors cared as much as your parents!!!! Re-Post if you ate dirt, drank from a garden hose & survived!!!
Best of luck, Dengler family! I went on a similar (but much shortened) road trip by myself a few summers ago. It changed my life and I will always be grateful for every night spent in my little tent.
If you are interested and can get my email from the magazine, let me know when you are headed to Vermont. We’re expecting a little one at the end of the summer and our apartment is rather small so I can’t guarantee a place to stay with me. However, I would love to try to help you out however I can when you’re here.
We sent Jenny your email address, so maybe she’ll be in touch. Thanks!