Adventures in Packing and Organization for Solo Trips
Let’s take a quick pause from my daily adventures in the Grand Tetons. As you remember, I was talking about my second full day in the park and how, on my third day, I went to Yellowstone National Park for a day trip. I still have two more posts about my hikes in the Grand Tetons, but first, I wanted to share a little about my solo trip packing and organization experience.
Packing Is Hell!
Since my first long road trip to Colorado and Utah, I have wanted to write this post. Sadly, I didn't capture my struggle in a video. I did better at capturing my battle for my birthday trip in 2021 and even the suitcase skirmish of 2022. But this struggle?
What struggle am I referring to? The god-awful task of …
PACKING!
The pictures below are from my Colorado and Utah trip in 2020. I wish I had taken more pictures and videos of packing for this trip. This was my first long road trip, and Indeed needed all four seasons of clothing. I know this doesn’t seem that big of a deal, but it was a battle!
The photos below are from my birthday trip to Arizona and Utah in 2022. My cat even tried to help! On this trip, I tried using a big suitcase instead of using the Osprey airport cover ( the grey bag above). Because carrying that really hurt my shoulders since it was only one strap and it was awkward.
First, I will start by saying I am getting better at it … eh … sorta.
Second, when you go on Instagram and you see travelers living their lives, it looks glamorous. But no one really shows what it takes to pack for a long extended trip, and if they do, they show you the gear but don’t show the struggles they have.
Well, I am different.
I am your girl who will show and discuss things that aren’t all glamorous. I am happy to give you my perspective on packing, organization, a few life lessons, and a good laugh.
Before I decided to go solo camping, my travels consisted of going to Telluride in the winter and maybe a long weekend to somewhere like Chicago or Canada. My other long trips were to Iceland or Europe. For some reason, I didn't struggle too much with packing on those trips, except for Telluride.
You can ask my friend Jess; I still fucking struggle to pack for my ski trips. I have been going to Colorado since 2015, so there is no logical reason I struggle. I have even upgraded my clothes over time to bring less. Yet every January or February, I facetime her to say, "Jess, I fucking hate packing. Help me, please." And her response each time is to laugh at me and say, "You’ve been here how many times?"
Yes, yes … I have been there several times. I can't deny that. But for whatever reason, I have trouble. And ladies and gents, I am packing for only ONE season during these ski trips: winter.
Now try packing for four seasons in 16 days!
I only had one check bag and a carry-on with the rest of my gear. My mind went on overdrive. Like I said, I have upgraded my clothing to maximize the length I can wear them. I will do a post in my tips and tricks section to tell you everything I packed. But in the meantime you can check out some of the things I took when I was hiking.
But even so, I still have issues with packing.
Inside Bel's Mind ... Turn back!
So, I want to give you, my readers, a glimpse of what goes through my head while packing. Please let me know if you are like me … or am I the only one who is crazy?
Am I packing too many clothes?
Am I not packing enough clothing?
Why does packing suck?
Why do I even travel?
Oh, Right, I love to travel!
But … why … do … we … need … to … pack?!!
WHYYYYYYYY?
Bel..stop being dramatic; it's really not that hard.
Everything will be fine. You got this!
What if I freeze to death?
What if a bear eats me?
Wait, why am I thinking about a bear? That has nothing to do with packing.
Oh, I have a bear can. I'm good!
WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK IS WRONG WITH ME?!
Bel … get out of your head. It's a scary place right now.
The video below is from my trip to Colorado in June/ July of 2022. I finally captured how I felt about my struggles packing for four seasons and ending it with my favorite stage line! :)
Travel Changes
I went from looking cute in jeans with a jacket in my carry-on case for going out to bars in Chicago to now checking out to see if I can wear a shirt for four days in a row without it smelling like death.
Now don't misjudge me. I have always been outdoorsy, and I love to get dirt on my hands.
But when I started to travel, I wanted to go to different cities and countries because I was drawn to the excitement of them. Traveling was something new, shiny, and fast-paced. It was the sexiness of being unknown in a new place. I loved every single minute of that.
But my travels have changed from playing in cities to playing in bear country.
I put a lot of pressure on myself to ensure I have all the right things because I don't want to be that person who doesn't have the right gear. I started to get into gear the more I went to Telluride because it helped cut down on what I brought to ski, but I got really obsessed with gear like tents, sleeping bags, backpacks, etc., during the pandemic because I could no longer travel like I used to.
Being outdoors was one of the things that saved me.
The other week, Jess and I talked about how no one teaches you about life. It's more challenging to learn new things when you are an adult than as a kid, whether it’s camping, hiking, biking, skiing, etc. It’s so intimating when you are surrounded by people who do this all the time, and then there’s you. Who just starting to learn but people pull you into the deep before you are even ready.
I remember asking my friend Elena for advice on what I should buy to upgrade my camping gear. I still ask her and my friend Jess about things. I never want to be that newbie around experienced people because it's scary to be vulnerable, and in some cases, if you do one wrong thing, you can injure yourself or others.
I guess I developed this reputation amongst some of my friends….
I am a solo traveler
I am a solo female traveler
I am that solo female camper
I am that solo female hiker
And in many aspects, I am. But that's because I research the fuck out of things. I ask 837,498,375,298 questions, read, talk to people, and try hard to ensure I have "everything" I need to be that experienced person. Because I surely don't want to be that person hiking in a crop top and Nikes in the snow at the Grand Tetons or that girl hiking in a summer dress in the Narrows where the water comes to chest height.
I am FAR from perfect, FAR from being an expert, and I indeed make many mistakes. But that’s how one learns, even though we may not feel good about our mistakes!
Organization for a 16-Day Trip!
As you remember from a previous post, I did sleep in my tent for one night at Jenny Lake, but after that night, I slept in my rental vehicle. After viewing the picture below, you will wonder, “How the hell did she manage that?” The answer is VERY CAREFULLY.
I am a Type A person. I don't mind a mess for a hot second, but I need things to be organized, or I will lose my brain and other things. And both have happened!
So, sleeping in a Dodge Durango with:
Four bundles of firewood,
A wet tent,
A sleeping bag,
A camping chair,
16 days' worth of clothing,
Food,
Water,
And more …
was interesting. And cuddling four bundles of firewood next to a wet tent wasn't the most relaxing way to fall asleep. But that's what happens on trips. You make do, and you make shit up as you go. I feel like that’s all I ever do in my life. As mentioned above, I am not a complete expert on everything outdoors. I am sure you think I’m crazy and that I should be doing it differently.
You are probably thinking, “Oh, I have no place to be here! Why the hell should I even listen to or read her posts?”
And my answers are that, yeah, I am a bit crazy, but the good kind.
But these posts are for people who were like me 2, 3, 5, or 7 years ago. They’re for people who need someone to learn from and who need to know the reality of traveling. Traveling isn’t always a pretty sunset with a glass of champagne; it can rip you into shreds. It can make you change your whole life. It can make you hate traveling, but it can also make you heal again.
I love sharing my stories because I know for sure I am not the only one out there who is just trying to figure shit out.
Tell me the one thing you wish you knew before you started to travel—anything from packing to a life lesson.