Shoutout to freecampsites.net (not sponsored). This is and was my go-to site for finding free campsites in the U.S. Many of the sites are reviewed, and some have comments updating the status of the site. For example, because of the coronavirus, some of the campsites were closed, and some places closed for other reasons years ago. It usually lets you know if four wheel drive is required, and it also lists some campsites that require a fee but are cheap. Camping along national forest roads is free unless it's stated otherwise. Some national forests have signs posted along the road saying no camping, and all of the official national forest campsites require a fee. I found several campsites just by driving until I found a pull-off with a fire ring off the side of the road. When I found myself in a city, I would find some street that didn't have no-parking signs or signs indicating I would be towed, and I would sleep in my car.

First, I would lay down the tarp, then set up the tent over it. Not always necessary, but in some of the drier, rockier areas I camped it likely saved my tent from a small hole or two. In the tent I would have my sleeping pad, sleeping bag, blanket and pillow for sleeping, and usually I'd have warm clothes in there too in case it got cold at night. If I was in bear territory I would have my bear spray holstered in one of the tent's pockets, and irregardless I would always have my phone and keys with me as well.

This was one of the things that was on my mind the most. Where can I fill up gallon jugs of water for free? I tried walking into a gas station and going to the fountain drinks to get water there, but I felt weird not paying for anything, so I looked for other options. Most national parks have water filling stations that are better than drinking fountains for filling gallon jugs, so that ended up being the most common source for water. Some national forest recreational areas have water filling stations as well, and rest stops and city parks are a good resource for water fountains that may or may not be good for filling those big ol' jugs. I would also refill water when I stayed with friends and family! At the start of the trip I only had two gallon jugs plus the 2.5 L in my camelbak, but later on I ended up getting three more gallons, which would last me about 4 days (a little more than one gallon a day depending on how much I hiked and if I cooked once or twice).

I tried out different options for where to cook. Most campsites were just a lot of dirt, not always flat, so if I cooked on the ground, I would lay down the outdoor blanket and set everything on top of that. This worked out fine, but sitting on the ground isn't always the most comfortable, especially after a long day of hiking, and the blanket would get pretty dirty. The other method I tried was setting up everything on top of the closed trunk. This would work out fine, until I realized I forgot something I needed in the trunk and had to set everything on the ground, get what I needed, and move it all back. I ended up cooking in the following way. I would sit in the front passenger seat and set up the jetboil on the center console, and I would have other things I needed at my feet. This worked out well, and I would crack a window or have the doors opened for airflow while I cooked. This way, I was in a comfortable seat, and when I inevitably forgot something in the trunk, I could easily get up and go get it.

There's nothing like washing off in an icy rushing river. I only took showers when with friends and family, so when I was without the comforts of civilization I would take advantage of the cold, clean flowing water of rivers. I used Dr. Bronner's soap, which is biodegradable, and I would use my shammy towel to scrub and soak up water so I didn't have to have my full body in the water. Some of the rivers were so cold my feet would go numb and it was only bearable when the sun was shining, providing extra warmth. When I was in a private area, I would get in my birthday suit like the filthy animal I was, and when I was around people I'd go in my speedo.

When I wasn't staying with friends or family, I would go to a laundromat in a city. My clothes lasted about two weeks, and washing clothes usually cost about $6. Waiting for laundry gave me time to plan my next move or get some reading/journaling done!

The hottest place I camped was at the south entrance of Joshua Tree National Park. During the day it got to around 112 degrees Fahrenheit. The temperature would stay in the upper 90s until about midnight, and would fall to the upper 80s and low 90s just before sunrise. I slept in my underwear without the rain tarp on my tent to get the most breeze possible. There's really not much you can do other than be hot, sweaty, and sticky all night long. It's hard to get good sleep.

The coldest place I camped was near Twin Lakes, CO in the mountains. During the day it was a wonderful mid to upper 80s, but in the deep of night it got down into the low 30s. Despite the sleeping bag being rated to 32 degrees Fahrenheit, I was so cold at night that I couldn't sleep. Later on I learned how to deal with the cold better. I would put on socks, pajama pants, long sleeve under armour, T-shirt, sweatshirt, and beanie. This outfit in the sleeping bag would be comfortable down to the mid 40s, but what saved me several nights was wrapping myself in a blanket inside the sleeping bag to insule myself more. I would also throw on my down jacket as well when it was cold enough. With this setup, I slept pretty comfortably, but my face and neck would still be cold, so that's why I think getting a neck gaiter would be a good investment.

Disclaimer: This is what I did to avoid bears, but may not always result in staying clear of bears. Do your own research on what to do when in bear country.

Going into the trip, I had no idea what the proper procedure looked like for avoiding bears while hiking and camping. Along the way I was told to store all food in a bear proof container or put everything in the trunk of the car. Then I learned that bears are also attracted to things with strong odors in general like soap, toothpaste, and sunscreen, which made camping a bit more of an ordeal. And then I learned that they can smell water, so you shouldn't even have water outside the car or with you in your tent. I accepted this as the cost of visiting wild country, and putting everything in the trunk of my car resulted in no bears coming in the night to rip off my car doors to get inside. Another important piece of advice is to make sure your hands are clean of food when going to bed, and to carry bear spray in case things go wrong. Later on in the trip I ended up leaving food in the backseat of my car, and still no bears ever showed up to my campsites. It was also suggested to have the car parked far away from the tent, but several nights I camped right next to my car and thankfully no bears arrived. May luck be on your side.

When hiking, generally what I saw posted at trailheads is to make noise throughout the hike to alert them of your presence (bad things happen when they are surprised), carry bear spray, and avoid hiking alone (Ha!). If you encounter a black bear at close distance, wave your arms slowly to appear large, slowly back away facing the bear (do not run), and avoid making eye contact. If you encounter a grizzly bear at close distance, hope that it doesn't decide to murder you.