Re: The Education of Axel Heyst
Posted: Tue Feb 01, 2022 11:52 pm
Yes... well, I also think a lot of people have no idea why they'd want to become a howlie in the first place. The benefits are far from self-evident, and the lack of attractive examples of howlies easily on hand is part of the issue I think. Not many howlies in popular culture (although see the howlie thread for what examples do exist, of course...) So it's less a lack of willingness to do the work, it's lack of a Why to do the work, and then even if that's sorted, it's a lack of a clear What Work Exactly to Actually Do. The lack of a linear do-this then-that makes the whole thing require a high level of creativity, so it's basically impossible to just grind your way to howlie status as you say.
But - do you feel stuck? I feel like I've got my eyes a few paces ahead, but I actually am progressing in what I need to be progressing on in the here and now. I mean, from one perspective the shipping container build was a "mistake" - it turned out to not be the solution I thought it'd be - but I see that as the dues owed to this non-standard process of figuring an alt lifestyle out.
Anyways, you and WRC have inspired me for a long time to post actual trip updates. Last Wednesday the grind of getting things ready for us to leave was getting to us, and I said "Fuck it, let's go to Death Valley".
We did four nights. I had legit dirtbag-nomad business just inside Nevada on the far side of the park, where we camped the first night. Then we took Titus Canyon in to the Park, a first for me. A Corolla could do it, so it wasn't the most exciting route from a technical off-roading perspective, but the views were worth it. Could see Whitney from the ridge above the pass near Thimble Peak, and I have a thing for slot canyons. We met friends at a campground the second night (they're not dirtbags, so they balked at my offer of poop bucket access and dry camping up in a canyon somewhere), then did the Dante's View hike, an 8.7mi out-n-back with views over Badwater straight to Telescope Peak, 22mi away straightline.
It was the last trip with the truck. I'm fixing a few things on it and will be listing it for sale in the next few days. Even though it's had a rough and tumble 245,000miles, it ought to fetch a decent price due to the chip/supply line shortage. It's probable I'll get another vehicle whenever we get back, but I won't *need* a truck, so I might as well let go of it now while the lettin' go's good.
But - do you feel stuck? I feel like I've got my eyes a few paces ahead, but I actually am progressing in what I need to be progressing on in the here and now. I mean, from one perspective the shipping container build was a "mistake" - it turned out to not be the solution I thought it'd be - but I see that as the dues owed to this non-standard process of figuring an alt lifestyle out.
Anyways, you and WRC have inspired me for a long time to post actual trip updates. Last Wednesday the grind of getting things ready for us to leave was getting to us, and I said "Fuck it, let's go to Death Valley".
We did four nights. I had legit dirtbag-nomad business just inside Nevada on the far side of the park, where we camped the first night. Then we took Titus Canyon in to the Park, a first for me. A Corolla could do it, so it wasn't the most exciting route from a technical off-roading perspective, but the views were worth it. Could see Whitney from the ridge above the pass near Thimble Peak, and I have a thing for slot canyons. We met friends at a campground the second night (they're not dirtbags, so they balked at my offer of poop bucket access and dry camping up in a canyon somewhere), then did the Dante's View hike, an 8.7mi out-n-back with views over Badwater straight to Telescope Peak, 22mi away straightline.
It was the last trip with the truck. I'm fixing a few things on it and will be listing it for sale in the next few days. Even though it's had a rough and tumble 245,000miles, it ought to fetch a decent price due to the chip/supply line shortage. It's probable I'll get another vehicle whenever we get back, but I won't *need* a truck, so I might as well let go of it now while the lettin' go's good.