Hit 200 backcountry miles in 3 months and my wallet is still crying

I spent last summer hiking the Sawtooths thinking I was saving money by camping free and cooking ramen, but after tracking every single dollar I dropped $1,200 on gas and gear repairs alone. That number shocked me because I thought budget travel meant dirt cheap, not just cheap compared to a hotel. Anyone else track their actual costs on a long trip and realize they blew way more than they planned?

3 comments

3 Comments

sean_torres7122d ago

wallet is still crying" seems kinda dramatic for $1200 over 3 months. That's like $13 a day for literally living outside which is still way cheaper than renting a place.

jake63822d ago

Hit 300 miles on the AT last year and spent twice that on just resupply.

susan13018d ago

That $13 a day breakdown actually gives me some peace of mind because I never thought of it that way. Sean, you make a solid point. But still, seeing $1,200 leave my account in one big chunk hurt way more than spreading it out over rent. I did the same thing you did with ramen and free campsites in the High Sierra last fall and ended up spending nearly $900 on a new tent after a storm tore mine up. Did you factor in gear replacements too or just gas and food?

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