Let’s face it: finding sleep in a hostel dorm with eleven strangers doesn’t exactly come easy. Chances are, one person will snore like a freight train, another will stumble into the room drunk at 3:00 am, and a third person’s alarm will go off well before the sun rises (and they will hit snooze repeatedly). … Read more
“Don’t go there. You’ll get robbed.” This was the popular advice given to me by taxi drivers and hostel managers when I asked about Tepito, Mexico City’s most notorious neighborhood. I’m usually great at listening to advice from locals, but this particular day I decided to keep asking until I got the answer I wanted. … Read more
Price: $230 MSRP – Check Price on: REI | Amazon Noel’s Rating: 4.6 of 5 stars Pros: Very comfortable; no break-in period; excellent ankle support, traction Cons: Relatively expensive; potential durability concerns; bulky Weight: 52.6 oz | 1.49 kg Women’s Model: REI | Amazon Lighter Option: Salomon X Ultra Mid 3 GTX: 36.5 oz | 1.04 kg … Read more
Disclaimer: My step challenge ended up lasting 31 days, the full month of July. Since I started The Packable Life, I have spent crazy amounts of time sitting and staring at a computer screen. Yes, I enjoy working on my website, but damn, I need to get off my ass more often. I just started … Read more
In my late-20s, I was a travel-hungry restaurant worker with $31,000 in debt and nothing in my savings account. I spent my days working an increasingly frustrating job, and I was unsure if I’d ever lead a life that inspired me. What I wanted was to wander the earth freely and at my own pace, … Read more
Sunblock and sweat run into my eyes as I trudge through a harsh, unearthly landscape. Ahead, the trail is fading away and a blast furnace sun beats down. A whisper of self-doubt reminds me that I’m completely alone in the middle of the driest desert in the world. I take a slow, deep breath and … Read more
Profound Patagonian winds tear into my tent as I begin to realize that sleep is a fleeting possibility. Rest, however, is of little concern. Because I will soon be watching the sunrise over a pastel-blue bay of untainted water. The mountains at my back will burn orange as calving glaciers crack softly in the distance. … Read more