😕 FEELING DEFEATED w/ Full Time Airstream Travel

Full-time travel has been wearing on us. Heat waves, unhealthy air quality, sudden family emergencies, and frequent relocation have taken a toll on us mentally. We’ve been lucky to travel to Colorado’s best mountain towns, including Crested Butte, Aspen, and Telluride-but it’s been a hard summer.
An unfortunate reality of climate change is that heavy wildfire smoke and unpredictable heat waves will only become more frequent during summertime. We are deeply saddened by these significant changes that we have seen so clearly in the past several years alone.
Let’s all do our part to help mitigate these conditions. Respect fire bans, minimize your resource consumption, and carefully consider the food you eat and the ways by which it’s farmed. For more on how our food production affects the planet, consider watching this timely documentary: www.earthconsc...
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❗Thinking of installing a solar system on your RV? Also watch our complete tour and explanation of our system • 🌞 RV Solar System Expl...
🌞 Also check out our free guide that goes into even greater depth on a HUGE range of RV solar system topics thiswyldelife....
For our installation, we bought a complete kit from AM Solar. Visit AM Solar online bit.ly/twlsolar and use code TWL5 for a ✋ 5% discount on your order!
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We begin this video in Crested Butte, where we left off in our previous video (you can catch that video here • BEST COLORADO MOUNTAIN... ). While in Crested Butte, we camped in our Airstream for about 10 days at Washington Gulch, a prime dispersed camping area.
We’ve learned to take advantage of clean air when we get it, so we did a nine mile hike to Green Lake. This trail weaves through beautiful aspen and evergreen trees as it climbs steadily to a picturesque mountain lake.
For a couple of weeks, we have been prepping and conditioning for the Four Pass Loop that begins at the Maroon Bells in Aspen, CO. This backpacking trip is typically done over three or more days. The 26-mile trail climbs over four passes that are more than 12,000 feet tall. In total, the trip includes 8,000 feet of elevation gain.
Need to know what to bring on your next backpacking trip? See below for our preferred gear!
In this video, we’ll show you how we packed for the trip, and how we got to the trailhead (spoiler: it involved reservations, a truck, an RV, some walking, a bus, and another bus). Sadly, despite all of our preparation, things did not work out in our favor.
Later, when Crested Butte was once again blanketed in thick wildfire smoke, we decided to head south. Flagstaff, AZ, seemed like the easiest option, but we were reluctant to leave Colorado so soon. So we decided to gamble with a stop in Telluride, CO, where we had been just a few weeks earlier (watch that video here • Telluride, Colorado fo... ). Luckily, this decision paid off!
🎒 Backpacking Packing List:
👚 Our Ideal Layering System… yeah, we like Patagucci, okay? Their stuff lasts forever, works great, and is produced ethically.
• Patagonia Capilene shirt backcountry.tn...
• Patagonia R1 Fleece backcountry.tn...
• Patagonia Houdini wind jacket backcountry.tn...
• Patagonia Torrentshell rain jacket backcountry.tn...
• Patagonia Micro Puff backcountry.tn...
• Darn Tough synthetic socks backcountry.tn...
🌜 Sleeping
• Big Agnes Tent. We’ve used ours for well over 5 years and 100 nights. We recommend the lightest option that your budget allows. backcountry.tn...
• A pad, a bag or quilt, and a pillow that make sense for your budget and needs.
🧑‍🍳 Cooking
• We use an MSR Whisperlite International stove, but within North America a good backpacking option is the Pocketrocket backcountry.tn...
• Cook Set backcountry.tn...
• Good To-Go meals. Many vegan options like this one amzn.to/38l2HWn
• Water Filter. Safely drink just about any water source amzn.to/2WtVtNg
👉 Gregory 45 L backpack. Pack small and light, and you won’t need a bigger, heavier pack. backcountry.tn...
✅ Other Essentials:
• Flashlight or headlamp
• Water bottles
• Towel backcountry.tn...
• First Aid Kit backcountry.tn...
• Hat, sunglasses
• Underwear, ideally non-cotton
• Sunscreen, SPF lip balm
⛺️ Love camping? Check out three of our favorite FREE camping spots on our website bit.ly/3xtQrxZ
As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. When you buy through our links, we may earn a small commission, which helps support and grow our channel at no cost to you.
#airstream #camping #fulltimerv #rvliving #backpacking #aspen #maroonbells #crestedbutte #colorado

[@Bunny_Mellon_B]

Just found y'all. The hummingbird at 11:20 something! 🐦 so cool! Anyway, I've just binged a bunch of your videos. I'm planning a future S'Up trip to AZ and your trips looked amazing! It'll be awhile, but I'll get there! 👍👍😁❤️

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Nice catch on the hummingbird :) So glad to hear you're enjoying our content! Where are you headed in AZ with your SUP?

[@Bunny_Mellon_B]

@@ThisWyldeLife I would love to go to the area where y'all were. Hopefully there will still be water there! (Moab is also on the list). I'm still early in the planning stages 😁

[@ThisWyldeLife]

@@Bunny_Mellon_B that would be an amazing trip! Hopefully there is still water... the water crisis is very real.

[@Butterflies.and.Tulips]

Just found your channel. My son works in Telluride as a ski lift operator (last 3 winters) and summer 2022 is his first summer working at the golf course. He loves it out there!

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Telluride is our favorite place in Colorado! The landscape is stunning, the town is charming, and there is so much to do there. Check out our other videos we made while we were there! I hope you get a chance to visit your son while he's working there.

[@Butterflies.and.Tulips]

@@ThisWyldeLife I hope to get there this summer!

[@ThisWyldeLife]

@@Butterflies.and.Tulips Awesome, enjoy!

[@Susan.I]

It’s a very sad dangerous stuff to breath!

[@Susan.I]

It’s even worse Summer 2023!

[@rebeccas8476]

Thank you for being honest about all the ups and downs of your journey! We’re just weekend warriors but sometimes we get overwhelmed too. It helps to know we’re not alone.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Travel usually is a ton of fun and hugely rewarding, but sometimes it does get hard! Things don't always go to plan, stuff breaks, weather moves in, etc. But it still beats hanging out in front of the TV at home!

[@scottbpipe]

Keep on trucking as we are enjoying watching your journey it will get better and thankfully Summer is nearing an end. I hope you don’t give up as your channel and personalities are a breath of fresh air and more of what we need in this world right now.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Thanks for the kind words! We're certainly sticking with it, and we have some fun new twists coming up that we're excited to share with you :)

[@scottbpipe]

@@ThisWyldeLife we are here for it… have the popcorn and our airstream all ready! Hope to catch up with you on the road!

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Awesome! Hope to see you out there.

[@patrickholmes1044]

Thank you for another great video! I’m sorry to hear you’re feeling defeated but glad to see things seemed to be turning around. I think we’re all feeling a little trapped lately. Between the pandemic, wildfires and everything else bad happening in the world it feels like it’s hard to escape the awful. Hang in there!

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Thank you, Patrick. You put it well... there are just a lot of things disrupting everyone's "normal" right now. At least we're all in it together.

[@cindyparker9289]

Its been a difficult year, your not alone!! you got a lot of company with smoke environment.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Thank you, Cindy. We know the smoke has made it a hard summer for a LOT of people. Wishing you the best 👍🏽

[@rvnut1133]

Don't be hard on yourselves guys, it takes time to get the hang of it. In my case, I am an introvert and can't be around crowds and much less in a pandemic, as a result it has helped me find what works for me. I do not go where everyone else go at the same time during the Summer, I stay east of the U.S. and then head West early Fall to visit the places after everyone is gone. Of course, plans will change based on the weather but for the most part it works for me. I am also looking to buy a piece of property to have as a home-base I just don't know exactly where just yet.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

How has the air quality and weather been out east this summer? Where have you found the most dispersed camping? We have considered heading that direction next summer.

[@rvnut1133]

The air quality, skies, sun and the beaches have been amazing in Florida, and it usually is unless there is a hurricane on the way which gives you enough time to pick up and go. The temperature has been between the 80's - 90's with the occasional rain in the afternoons but at least I don't have to deal with mud slides, fires, flash floods and 100+ degree weather. Many people get scared of Florida because of hurricanes but the good thing about it is that you have ample time to pack and go unlike with what is going on out West. If you don't like hot water then it is not for you, it doesn't bother me because when it gets too hot I just turn on the a/c and I am good to go. On very hot weeks I just go to National Parks and pay for full hook-ups until it gets better. I am not in a rush to get anywhere. You will find more boondocking spots in the Central Florida area where not many tourist go and it is quieter and peaceful. I work from the road and it is perfect for me. I have found great boondocking spots on Campendium but it depends on what you like and want to visit. I have a few favorite areas; Osceola National Forest - Cobb Hunt Camp; Cypress Creek Florida Preserve and many others which are part of the National Parks System, they are free but reservations are required. You can also check the South Florida Water Management District which manages many of the free campgrounds. I spent some time down in the Florida Keys but I did paid for those of course and it was worth it and amazing.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

@@rvnut1133 Thanks for the good info! We're from Florida originally, so we're fairly familiar with the state. More so with the northern areas than down south. Believe it or not, we hardly visited south FL and the Keys when we lived there!

[@rvnut1133]

I am a Floridian as well.

[@momplusfive]

Great thing you have the option to go somewhere else, home base is called muchdocking at families houses!

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Absolutely! We're lucky to have family that we can crash with if the going really gets tough.

[@VS-zx6xi]

I’m all about the “view check”.😄The fridge dump gave me a chuckle.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

That's the most important setup step, right? The fridge dump happens all too often...

[@carlbebbington730]

Hi there, I’ve been enjoying your travels very much. I live in the UK but also have a new Airstream, but the European version. It’s great to see you wild camping, that’s more difficult to do here with a trailer (or caravan as we call them here). This summer we are planning to do more and longer trips and work as we do, we are designers so can work remotely. So your travels are very inspiring, it would be great to camp in the US, we did it once but with an RV we hired… was great fun. Well keep travelling and keep posting.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Glad that you have found inspiration and enjoyment in our videos! Happy travels this summer! We hope to spend some time traveling the UK one day.

[@carolgunnerson6930]

Gosh, we love you guys here in Northern CA. We really understand the smoke you're dealing with. Today the AQI where we live is 278! We'd love to be camping in our Airstream but at this point we won't even leave the house. So glad you found a temporary solution! We're living vicariously through you until our air clears!

[@ThisWyldeLife]

AQI of 200+ is next level... it's so unhealthy! Being forced to stay inside and avoid the smoke has a negative effect on mental health, too. Humans just aren't meant to live that way. If you can swing the trip, Flagstaff still has good air quality, and Sedona is starting to see more mild temps. We hope your air clears up soon! Stay healthy up there!

[@carolgunnerson6930]

@@ThisWyldeLife Truly apocalyptic… and yes, depressing…😘

[@DivandBenny]

Your Airstream looks so cool! We don’t really have any in my country so I love to see them 👍

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Thank you! We've always loved seeing Airstreams on the road, too. Thanks for tuning in from the UK!

[@teddygingerbear1372]

We live near Tahoe in western NV and today was >300!

[@ThisWyldeLife]

That’s terrible! So sorry to hear that. Hope you get some relief soon!

[@joshuaruland758]

The hummingbird was crazy awesome!!!

[@ThisWyldeLife]

I was wondering if anyone would spot that! They love the tail lights on the Airstream. We need to get a feeder so they're not disappointed.

[@davidyule3605]

Perspective. Life is change. While you you were unable to do your backpacking journey, don’t lose sight of what you have. Thank you for sharing your lives. Also, if air quality gets really bad, N95 masks will filter the particulates.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Thank you, David. We did find that the now ubiquitous N95 mask is an excellent line of defense against bad smoke.

[@somedayistodayrv]

I know it can be tough at times, but hang in there. It will be a great thing once you get the hang of things and how it can all work and come together. Wish you the best my Airstream trailer friends. Take care and stay well.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Thank you for the positive words of encouragement! Safe travels!

[@markj10]

Hang in there with life on the road …like wine, it gets much better(and easier) with time! Please pm me with more details about Telluride disperse camping? I’m leaving Bend 😕 next week and heading that way (Colorado). If you need a place to decompress for a few days, I own a couple of Airbnb’s in Flagstaff.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Thanks for the sage advice, Mark. Setbacks are a part of life, whether on the road or in a house. We just have to stay positive and roll with it! Good to know on the Airbnbs! Drop these coordinates for Last Dollar Dispersed into Google Maps: 37.9837681,-107.9503680 Be sure to access via Deep Creek road from Hwy 145. Last Dollar Rd becomes very rough north of those coordinates. Have fun, and let us know if you need any more recommendations!

[@lancemiller1608]

Why don't you just pick a spot and stay there for awhile? We have been rving for years, we usually do 3 or 4 months at a time, and we stay at each place for a month at a time. Why don't you just do that. Get far away from the places that have smoke, come back to them another year. It seems like your making it harder than it has to be. I'm sorry your struggling, but make it easier on yourself and pick a great place to stay and just plant yourself for 30 days so you can recharge your batteries and get to know an area.

[@kevincameron8437]

Dang, I hate it for y’all about having to cancel your hike. Looks like it would have been a good trip.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Thanks, Kevin. We were extremely bummed, too. It was an experience we were looking forward to for many reasons. Plus it was an ordeal just to get there!

[@stevewillicombe8572]

Sorry about the unrelenting smoke and issues chasing you around the he West. These are the times that bring out the woman and man strength you didn’t know you had. I also love the shots of your cooking and one bowl dishes. Would love to see more on that. Ironically Cathleen Gregory was at Maroon Bells for a day hike recently kzbin.info/www/bejne/pHeWk2l9i69ritU. Looks like your timing was just a few days off. Hang in there. We love your fresh take on Airstream living

[@ThisWyldeLife]

You're right, these are the times that make us stronger! Looks like Catherine did get lucky with her Maroon Bells timing, and was even treated to a dusting of snow. We had the same snow shortly after arriving in Telluride, and it was a beautiful sight to wake up to. Glad to hear you appreciate the food shots... food is a huge part of our lives and we love sharing our creations. Our goals are simple: nutritious, tasty, and EASY. Most of our cooking happens on the grill, sometimes with rice or beans in the Instant Pot. Maybe we'll make a video sharing some of our favorite dishes and strategies for eating well in a small space!

[@Susan.I]

It gets worse . I’m sorry to say, get out of the area! Save your lungs!

[@timothypinto9518]

Do you have a dexter lift kit, or is your AS at factory height?

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Thanks for your question, Timothy. We have the 3.5" Dexter lift kit. It was installed by a mechanic in Denver.

[@Susan.I]

Get out of that area!

[@harrybrewster8376]

Think of the people who cannot change their location. You are much better off.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Absolutely. As we mentioned in the video, we feel for people that live in places like Crested Butte. Most houses don't have AC, and smoke or no smoke, they have to open their windows in the summer. Wildfire smoke takes a huge toll on everyone affected.

[@Traylors_outside]

Buy a house! Way to many people jumping on the bandwagon!

[@ThisWyldeLife]

Would you like to give us a loan?

[@Traylors_outside]

@@ThisWyldeLife 😂. You made the decision to sell everything and jump on the quarantine I’m gonna live in a camper bandwagon not me.

[@ThisWyldeLife]

​@@Traylors_outside we were not homeowners before moving into the Airstream. We were renting, and over the course of two years spent enough to pay for this trailer. Home prices and rent are out of control anywhere that is a desirable place to live. Aside from having a ton of awesome experiences, we're now able to save a lot more-which will make home ownership more feasible if we decide to go that route. If we can qualify for a loan, that is. Business owners need at least two years of tax returns from the same business to even be considered for a mortgage.

[@navigatingwithnana]

@@ThisWyldeLife Hang in there guys- life is perpetually changing, so "down" times do happen. Just focus on what you have to grateful for and all the incredible and beautiful experiences that lie ahead in your many years to come. As Winston Churchill once said, "If you're going through hell, keep going..."

[@ThisWyldeLife]

@@navigatingwithnana Thanks for the positive words! We DO have a lot to be grateful for, and that's what we like to remind ourselves of when things get harder.