Sabbatical Road Trip
40+ days from Oregon through California, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, and Texas. Solo truck camping, national parks, backpacking, and a few weddings along the way.
By the Numbers
Steps, miles, sleep, and fuel — tracking 40+ days on the road with a Fitbit and a Google Sheet.
Days 1–3: Wallowas
4-day backpacking trip in the Eagle Cap Wilderness of NE Oregon — until my hammock ripped in the rain.
Day 4: John Day and Malheur Wildlife Refuge
Saying goodbye to my brother and heading south through Eastern Oregon toward Steens Mountain.
Day 5: Steens Mountain and the Alvord Desert
Summit drive, bike riding on the playa, and a night at the Alvord hot springs under the stars.
Day 6: Salt Flats
Flooded Bonneville Salt Flats on a sunny post-rain day — great photos and a slight detour well worth taking.
Day 7: Bryce Canyon
An accidentally 13-mile day hike through the hoodoos — the rim trail, Navajo Loop, and Queen's Garden.
Day 8: Capitol Reef
Solo overnight backpack in Lower Spring Canyon — total solitude, total darkness, and filtered water from a standing pool.
Days 9–11: Zion
Three days including the Narrows, Angel's Landing, guerrilla truck camping, and a pair of California condors.
Day 12: Monument Valley
Catching the monuments in the rearview mirror at golden hour after a detour from slot canyon plans.
Day 13: Mesa Verde
Ranger-led tours of Cliff Palace and Balcony House, and learning the real story of where the people went.
Days 14–18: Albuquerque
New Mexican food, old friends, and a surprise at Angel's Peak campground.
Days 19–27: Austin and Dallas
Sister's wedding in Austin, then family time in Dallas before heading back out west.
Day 28: Carlsbad
Sunset bat flight at Carlsbad Caverns — no cameras allowed, but unforgettable.
Days 29–31: Albuquerque
Back for a high school friend's wedding — not many pictures, but a lot of fun and plenty of dancing.
Day 32: Santa Fe
Historic chapels, capitol art, and Petroglyph National Monument before heading back on the road.
Days 33–34: Drive to Yosemite
A long slog through Arizona and California farmland to get to Yosemite in time for a Half Dome permit.
Day 35: Half Dome
23 miles, 6,000 feet of elevation gain — the hardest hike of my life, and I'm glad I did it.
Days 36–37: San Jose
Friends, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the 101 north toward home.
Day 38: Redwoods
Something I'd wanted to do since moving to the PNW — a quick loop in Prairie Creek before winter closures shut the trail.
Days 39–40: SW Oregon Coast
The Samuel H. Boardman State Scenic Corridor — natural arches, secret beaches, and whale sightings.