By The Numbers: The West

Stop 1: Vedauwoo, WY - Coffee/Selfie break. My check engine light came on not long after leaving. Less then 3 hours after leaving Boulder...  

Stop 1: Vedauwoo, WY - Coffee/Selfie break. My check engine light came on not long after leaving. Less then 3 hours after leaving Boulder...  

Road trips are a damn good time. Whether solo or with friends/loved ones it’s an amazing way to connect; with one other, yourself, the land, a new community, something else. Ask anyone who has spent at least a few weeks on the road how it was and more times then not, no matter what happened or how much money they spent the answer will be something along the lines of “It was a damn good time!” 

The garage. Bend, OR

The garage. Bend, OR

But what most aspiring road trippers or vanlifers don’t realize is how much goes into and comes out, of time spent on the road. I’ve compiled a rough idea of the stats involving my last big trip touring from Colorado out to Oregon, back east across to Wyoming, North to Montana and back down to ol’ Colorado. Certainly I could have done this slightly cheaper, but I also like to treat myself every now and then to keep spirits happy and it’s a really good idea to always come handy with beer. Whether it’s for the owner of the house you’re parked outside of or after a long day of climbing and filming. Either way you slice it, gas is expensive and staying located in one area for more then just a few days helps to cut that cost. No matter what, it’s not always cheap, but do we want cheap memories anyways?

Self-shot on Waxie Pants (V7), Castle Rocks, ID

Self-shot on Waxie Pants (V7), Castle Rocks, ID

Dates - 9/7 - 10/1

Days on the road - 25

Days spent driving - 8

Deer/Elk Avoided - ~20+

National Parks Visited/Driven thru - 2

Auto Shops Visited - 2

Days spent climbing - 10

States visited - 5

Miles Driven - 4,600

Miles Ridden - 36.1 (2,320’ gain, 4,070’ descent) 

Miles Hiked - 25 miles

Trails Rode - 3

Pitches Climbed - 22

Boulders Climbed - 4, 2 3x’s

Wood Chopped - 1/2 cord

Beers Drank - ~ 70

Coffee Beans Consumed - ~ 35oz

Showers taken - 3

Images taken - ~ 4,000

Ben Hoiness somewhere mid route on the Northwest Ice Couloir, Middle Teton, GTNP, WY. 

Ben Hoiness somewhere mid route on the Northwest Ice Couloir, Middle Teton, GTNP, WY. 

Hanging in Hyalite Canyon, MT. 

Hanging in Hyalite Canyon, MT.