Early Retirement Extreme Forums

I have vivid memories of field dressing my first deer, around age 12. I can remember everything about that day. Not many memories of the others over the years. A childhood friend took a bite of the still-warm raw heart, of his first deer. Something his dad told him he had to do, and probably because...

It depends on the season. Spring, Summer, Fall: Crocs. Winter: Boots. Crocs! They were an unexpected Christmas gift this year. I’m traveling in Mexico right now, and for simplicity they’re the only shoes I brought. Surprisingly versatile. Good for water, and not bad for walking. I’ve had a few 10+ ...

Best wishes on your new journey! You can do it!

Lots of great advice above! WRC nailed it on the big cost items. Mostly living it up in town and gear replacements. To minimize the former, my strategy was to camp less than 10 miles from town so I could arrive in the morning, eat a ton of food, resupply, maybe do laundry, and then get back to the t...

To Mexico and beyond, beginning in a few days. Unsure how long the trip will be. May return early, after a few months, to hike another long trail in the US. Updated figures for the end of year: https://i.imgur.com/oLSm1v7.jpg https://i.imgur.com/bi2Up96.jpg https://i.imgur.com/cOjG3QI.jpg https://i....

Nov 1st NW: 187k
Oct Spend: $325 (!)

$165 charity
$85 restaurants
$30 travel
$25 phone
$20 health

Yo WRC! Thanks for the post, always enjoy hearing your thoughts. The trip will be slow, unplanned, and open ended. Not sure where I’ll go yet, though will probably begin in Yuma AZ and walk across. May meet a good PCT friend in Mexico City. Also hoping to see some friends in Guat — they live in the ...

It’s been almost six weeks since finishing the long trail. Plenty of rest, relaxation, and family time lately, and also quite a few house projects at my parent’s and brother’s. Most recently it’s been fencing, siding, painting, and kitchen cabinets. I also went on a nine day hike to finish the Arizo...

The trail is finished! 113 days from start to finish. More details and maybe some pictures to come, once I’m back home.

@theanimal I haven’t sent myself any boxes, instead I’ve just resupplied at shops along the way. Occasionally pricey, and occasionally a small selection, but I’m not a picky eater, and don’t have any food allergies or particular requirements. Some resupplies have been more sugary than I’d prefer. I’...

Quick update from the trail: Oregon was great (apart from the occasional mosquito clouds). Mt Hood/Timberline Lodge, Crater Lake, and Eagle Creek were my favorites. Washington has been great as well, so far. The Goat Rocks were quite a surprise. Glaciers at 7,000 feet. It felt like I was back in the...

Animal & WRC — thanks for the kind comments! Day 70 on the trail is quickly approaching, and it looks like I’ll cross mile 1500 on that day. I should be out of California (wow it’s a big state!!!) before day 80. I saw my first bear on the trail, just south of Donner Pass. It’s looking like it’ll...

I’m having a great time on trail! I’m nearing day 40 and am pretty deep into the Sierra Nevada range. Water is less of a concern in this section, which is a nice change. A few hours rest at a clean flowing creek is nearly as good as an overnight stay at a hotel. You can wash up, body and clothing, a...

Yo WRC! 15lb base weight at the beginning, now around 12lb. Saved weight by going stoveless, replacing a heavy sleeping pad, and switching to a tarp shelter (which doubles as a rain poncho — the “Gatewood Cape”). Could save 2lb with a pricey quilt and lighter backpack, but I’m satisfied with the gea...

Will do!

Hey Axel! I did have some hiker box luck on the Arizona Trail. I’ll check those first before hitting the grocery store. Not planning to mail myself packages so it might work out well. I found it challenging to pack the right amount of food. Sometimes, especially in the first two weeks, I just wasn’t...

I hiked 555 miles (70%) of the Arizona Trail over the last month or so. Had a great time. There were so many interesting people on the trail. The gear is sorted and the legs are ready for the PCT, which is just a few days away now. Wealth is flat over the last several months (~230k) and spending is ...

Home-free and car-free now. Gave away most of my stuff, and am left with the equivalent of two duffle bags. Hanging with family in Arizona for a bit. The family properties are great. Gardening, composting, chickens, diy projects. Also catching some of the nephew’s baseball games in the evenings, fun...

10-18 lawn mowing, farm helper, poker
18-19 plastic factory, steel factory
19-24 accounting
24-29 poker, work break
29-33 gov analyst, gov accountant
33+ work break now

The job is in the rearview mirror, and it feels great. The last bits of income will trickle in throughout the month. Just a few days after the job ended I had a wonderful backpacking + car camping trip with a friend. It was a nice way to celebrate the beginning of this new chapter. My PCT hike begin...