Go West, My Friend

A snapshot of life from Minnesota through Death Valley in a converted cargo van

Go West, My Friend

Author

Jake Myhre

Photographer

Jake Myhre

Camera

Sony A7ii

Film

NA

Life on the open road has been prized by dreamers and vagabonds alike. But what is the drifter lifestyle really like? To not know where you’ll wake up next, or where you’ll find water, breakfast, or even a toilet? I wanted to know, so a few months back I bought a rusty Chevy Express cargo van and hit the road.

I built a bed frame out of scrap lumber and packed my worldly belongings underneath. And in late January, with loose plans to simply explore, my friend Jesse and I drove south out of Minnesota, hit I-70, and turned west toward the mountains.

Driving through Nebraska my mind drifted along the endless plains and didn’t awaken until the Rockies. It was in those old mountains that we found Rocky Mountain National Park. Located in the back of the park is a old ski resort that had trimmed back the trees many years ago, allowing for some wonderful backcountry ski touring even today.

"The nightly search for a parking spot became a hunt for a beautiful new backyard."

Moving further west required slower travel—the nature was too beautiful to just fly by. Utah and its gorgeous rock gave way to Nevada where stone came growing out of the ground, creating some of the most unique formations on earth. Soon Death Valley sucked us in. The cracked earth and old mountains, sand dunes and large canyons—everything seemed to speak in a soft, yet grizzled, voice. Come and explore, but be smart. Carry lots of water, extra water, and then some more water.

After Death Valley we rolled into the Sierras, my old summer home. Here it was back to the cold. One frigid morning I even awoke to a water bottle encased in ice. Frozen morning beverages was not something I was a stranger to, but neither was it something I particularly enjoyed. Still it was this cold air that kept the cream cold and snow on the mountains. Frozen beards were no excuse to avoid exploring and I grabbed a pair of skis to see the mountains.

Skinning up the Sierras showed me one of life’s wonders. The beauty of the snow capped trees and the difficulty to reach the top of a peak combined to create a form of adrenaline mixed with serenity that is nearly impossible to capture anywhere else. It also helps to have hot springs soaking the dirt roads at the base of the hills—a wonderful place to rest weary muscles.

Life on the open road now holds an ever-roaming spot in my heart. It allows the freedom to sleep where you want, explore the mountains you desire, and spend time with close friends around a campfire. The nightly search for a parking spot becomes a hunt for a beautiful new backyard. Morning coffee becomes a planning party for the next mountain, and sleep is induced by a never ending, yet ever changing, starry sky.

Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-2
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-11
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-18
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-17
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-9
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-4
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-6
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-10
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-15
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-19
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-14
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-3
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-5
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-12
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-13
Jake-Myhre-Roadtrip-20
Related articles
Lightship Launches Solar-Powered Electric RV Trailer for Extended Travel
The Lightship L1 is Blazing an Electric Trail for the RV Renaissance

With a contemporary design and functional innovation at its core, the L1 is redefining what the category of RVs and fifth wheel campers

Car Awning Guide: The 10 Best for Car Camping & Overlanding
The 10 Best Car Awnings for Car Camping & Overlanding

From quick set-ups to 270-degree coverage, these car awnings are ready for any adventure

Searching for Solitude and Superblooms in California's Carrizo Plain
Searching for Solitude and a Superbloom in Southern California

One photographer drove to her favorite solitary slice of wilderness to document The Golden State's historic wildflower superbloom

Photo Essay: The Search for Raw Baja, From Cabo to the Sea of Cortez
Photo Essay: The Search for Raw Baja, From Cabo to the Sea of Cortez

Photographer Christian Ramirez and friends explore Mexico’s Baja California to shoot CamelBak’s new spring line among their source of inspiration

20 Film Photos from 4 Days of Hiking in Zion National Park
20 Film Photos from 4 Days of Hiking in Zion National Park

Desert season is here—here's a glimpse of the beloved park and its searing natural landscapes via the lens of one intrepid Los Angeles photographer

Q&A: Eva zu Beck on Solo Travel, How to Plan for Big Adventures & More
YouTuber, World Traveler & Overlander Eva zu Beck Doesn't Want Your Advice

The famous YouTuber shares what not to leave in the comments, overlanding highs and lows, and what she really thinks about Yellowstone National Park

More articles
Go West, My Friend

Gallery Mode

Photographer

Jake Myhre

Camera

Sony A7ii

Film

NA

Back to article
Free Shipping on FM Zines!

HIKE & WINTER film photo zines make perfect gifts for outdoor lovers!

  • 60+ pages of inspiring photography
  • 30+ international contributors
  • Limited-edition & printed in NYC
  • Free shipping w code "ZINEME" thru 12/16
Shop Now
Free Shipping on FM Zines!