Wow, five years of nomadic life flew by in the blink of an eye! It feels like yesterday that Byron and I were sitting in front of the fireplace in our rented 1700s farmhouse enjoying its warmth on a frigid winter night discussing the logistics of our new lifestyle.

At that time I was making my living as an Organic and pasture-based farmer in Hillsborough, New Jersey. Byron was working full time for a small software company and programming digital rock climbing guidebooks with GunksApps on the side. We were comfortable and relatively secure, although the impermanence of leasing farmland made me reluctant to go “all-in” and grow my business. 

My body began to break down due to the physical demands of farming. I wasn’t able to enjoy my hobbies like horseback riding or rock climbing anymore. I was burnt out so we decided to make a radical change; sell everything, end my lease, and move into a trailer to travel the country. It’s been five years and we haven’t looked back.

How we’re doing

We’ve fallen into a nice rhythm in the last few years. Life is not as frenetic as it was in the beginning. We are no longer planning yearly grand circuits or hitting as many destinations as possible. Flying by the seat of our pants is the norm now. There are a few favorite destinations that we like to return to each summer, where we end up staying put for weeks or months at a time. We definitely don’t move as often anymore.

How the horses are doing

The horses are well adjusted to our lifestyle. They travel well and enjoy exploring new trails. They have no problems with typical stress related issues like ulcers, weight loss, or colic. They are extremely bonded to each other so as long as they are not separated they are happy and content. 

River and Mackenzie have an incredible amount of freedom by modern horse standards. We frequently camp in very remote backcountry locations far from roads, people, and other horses. Over the years I got them accustomed to free-ranging around our camp. They recognize our trailers as “home.” They know that is where they will find food, water, and security. Interestingly, I rarely find them wandering more than a half mile away and they always come when called. 

When they need to be contained, I make pens out of electric fence and step-in posts. This set-up is light and flexible enough to conform to any situation that we are in. We travel with enough fencing to enclose up to two acres. I like to incorporate trees for shade and scratching. When that’s not possible I will park the horse trailer inside their pasture. I noticed a while ago that they appreciate snoozing in the shade it casts.

Where we’ve been this year

Paria, Utah

We spent last winter and spring as caretakers at Paria River Ranch, a campground and animal sanctuary in southern Utah. We previously spent three weeks here as guests in 2019, during which time we did lots of trail riding and sightseeing. This time around we were preoccupied with caring for a dozen equines, four goats, and a pig. I put my old farming experience to good use by doing a plethora of projects including building a shelter for the goats.

City of Rocks, Almo, Idaho

City of Rocks is one of our favorite climbing destinations. We end up there at least once or twice a year. So, it seemed like a natural choice to assume management of the annual 3-day long endurance ride when the former organizer offered it to us. However, the wet winter and copious spring rain made this a challenging year to take over.

Byron’s parents made the 2,300 mile drive from New York to help us during the event. Thank goodness they did because I don’t know if we would have made it through without their help.

A glutton for punishment, I also decided to add a human foot race to the event. The inaugural City of Rocks Ultramarathon offered runners a choice of three courses; just over Marathon distance, 50K, and 50 miles. We gave everyone the option to elevate or de-elevate too. A number of participants took advantage of that option, pushing themselves to new personal records. Feedback from runners was all positive with many asking if we’ll hold the race again, which of course, we will!

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Wild Iris, Lander, Wyoming

Wild Iris is another favorite climbing area. This was our third summer visiting. This year’s stay was relatively brief, only five weeks, but we made the most of it. We climbed and ran trails a lot. A few groups of friends came to visit too. Overall, it was my favorite part of the whole year!

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New Jersey & New York

We made two separate trips back East this year. The first trip in July, was to celebrate our friends, Malorie and Will’s marriage. The second trip, in September, was also for another wedding. Byron’s business partner, Christian married Emma at a beautiful farm in upstate NY. While in New Paltz, we competed in a 10-mile trail race at Mohonk Preserve and did some rock climbing.

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We crammed a lot of visiting friends and family into these two trips. It was really nice.

Things we’ve learned

The nomadic life came easy to us but we also didn’t know what we didn’t know in the beginning. We’ve gained a lot of practical skills along the way which I will discuss another time. I think the key to our success in this lifestyle is a matter of attitude. There are two major takeaways that I try to share with everyone who is considering hitting the road.

The first is that plans are just guidelines. Well thought out travel plans are comforting and somewhat essential in the beginning. However, just like rules, plans are made to be broken. Don’t pass up opportunities just because they don’t fit neatly into your plan.

Secondly, it’s important to go with the flow. Things will go wrong. Stuff will break at the most inopportune time. Weather or natural disasters will get in your way. It is frustrating when things change unexpectedly. Learn to accept it. Don’t let it ruin your experience.

I don’t know what the future holds. For now we are happy with what we’re doing. I’ve always got my eyes peeled for the “perfect” place to settle down but I haven’t found it yet.