In 2022, my wife, Whitney, and I were some of the lucky ones. We downsized our stuff, shoved the rest of it into storage, bought a van, and hit the road. The goal was to explore the United States for six months. What came of the trip was a sixmonth exploration of some of the United States’ best rock-climbing destinations.
Our Trusty Steed: Sage
Our vehicle of choice was a green 1998 Ford E150 Club Wagon. With over 200,000 miles under her belt, she was old; but boy, did she do the job and then some. I mention Sage because, as you might expect, she wasn't aptly built for rowdy, off-road adventures. Nonetheless, we still spent plenty of time on back roads, exploring the harder-to-reach crags and cliffs that our country has in store for climbers.
Keep in mind that, at a minimum, a healthy, powerful engine, high clearance, good tires, and rearwheelrock-climbing destinations. And if your rig is sporting four-wheel drive, you're in better shape than we were.
