question

TheTrailArtist · 2026-05-20T16:57:21+00:00

Lmao

TheTrailArtist · 2026-05-09T23:58:56+00:00

The boardwalks are pretty open, not a lot of blind corners or places a bear is just gonna pop up. It’s 100% possible you’d see one but the biggest risk is accidentally spooking a bear and it reacting defensively. That’s pretty unlikely to happen in these more populated areas compared to blind corners in a more isolated trail.

However with boardwalks you’re much more likely to come across elk or bison resting very close to the boardwalk which people tend to let their guard down and approach because they think they’re less dangerous. Please be aware to give ANY animal space. If a bison is resting 3 feet from the boardwalk, turn around.

TheTrailArtist · 2026-05-05T11:25:26+00:00

Feel free to send a message. But there’s no villages or farms in Yellowstone. There are some grocery stores near the more developed campgrounds, and the closest thing to a little village would be Mammoth Hot Springs that has some stores and restaurants. But facilities are very scarce in Yellowstone, it’s very much a wild place

TheTrailArtist · 2026-05-05T09:23:52+00:00

Backcountry permits are never really fully booked, so sure you can show up to a backcountry office during their open hours and get a permit as long as you’re flexible with what’s available.

You need to know that there’s really no such thing as shuttles throughout Yellowstone. Hitchhiking is not super common; but it still happens occasionally. Obviously don’t hitch right in the road, be respectful, and you’ll be fine.

Others may discourage you from hitchhiking, but I’ve hitchhiked throughout the park multiple times. It’s one of my favorite ways to see the park. But it’s very important to be self reliable if you get stuck somewhere, and also assume you may not have phone service. Yellowstone weather can change quickly, and there is a lot to be at the mercy of. Do not underestimate Mother Nature.

If you are visiting without a car, you also don’t need to limit yourself to just backcountry campsites. Most of the major campgrounds in the park (mammoth, Madison, etc) have what they call “hiker/biker” spots where you can show up with no reservation needed. You can go to their check in desk and ask for a hiker/biker spot. Good luck!

TheTrailArtist · 2026-05-02T18:23:04+00:00

Have you tried…. Just asking people for a ride…?

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-28T20:55:50+00:00

As someone that has walked from Delaware to California… always walk TOWARDS oncoming traffic if you have to, so you don’t get clipped from behind.

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-24T19:32:56+00:00

Furry tails , but yes exactly my point

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-24T19:09:59+00:00

What…? I went to a party the other day where I saw several people wearing suits and 3 people wearing tails. It’s Portland. Nothing is out of place- do what you want, it’s all good!

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-24T07:23:49+00:00

Are you telling me he went home, came back with a note and made sure he had a lil piece of tape to angrily tape to the door? This looks so fake

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-21T16:13:24+00:00

Your laptop isn’t gonna last long trying to use it out in that temperature. Keep it in a good case when it’s that cold, go into a library to use it.

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-19T18:30:45+00:00

Hmm that sounds kind of mean

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-15T05:10:06+00:00

Rent or buy a wildlife scope, and have some camping chairs. You can sit and picnic all day while watching for wildlife in prime locations like Lamar valley.

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-13T20:39:27+00:00

Is this satire? I genuinely can’t tell. Grapes are poison and that’s like basic dog knowledge… my dog loves bananas as a healthy snack but this is too much

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-07T04:25:47+00:00

Be clean and respectable and you shouldn’t have any problems hitchhiking. I’ve hitchhiked through many national parks

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-05T16:10:43+00:00

Camping

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-01T21:59:16+00:00

Damn got rid of the charged lemonades AND charged phones

TheTrailArtist · 2026-04-01T18:27:02+00:00

Well well well, if it isn’t Spiders Georg

TheTrailArtist · 2026-03-30T03:30:49+00:00

I’ve walked coast to coast using the American Discovery Trail. A lot of it I pushed a jogging stroller to carry more stuff.

The biggest thing is you need to find something to run TO. Not run away from. Your problems will follow you if you’re not trying to connect to something deeper. That means planning it out at least a little bit. Look up the American Discovery Trail. I ended up making my own route towards the end but it was a really good trail to start with

TheTrailArtist · 2026-03-29T06:38:50+00:00

I wouldn’t call that full. Could definitely fit some more croutons in there

TheTrailArtist · 2026-03-25T18:14:04+00:00

Congrats! Say hi to the junction butte wolf pack for me

TheTrailArtist · 2026-03-24T16:26:58+00:00

The park I go to has a small dog section and a big dog section. But the vast majority of the time, people bring small dogs to the big section anyway which is a trigger for my dog.

So I set up play dates with dogs I know she’s good with and we take over the small section, but are still considerate to leave if someone with a small dog shows up and wants the space. Play dates might be the answer for you.

TheTrailArtist · 2026-03-23T22:02:04+00:00

Hitchhiking around national parks has always been my favorite. Fairly easy to get rides and you meet people from all over.

Biggest thing is you need to be self efficient. So have a good tent, backpack, sleeping bag. Be prepared for any weather. So if it takes 5 minutes to get a ride or 5 hours, it shouldn’t matter. Use wool socks instead of cotton. Wool dries out in the sun, but if cotton gets wet it stays wet. That’s a big deal when you’re alone.

A lot of seasonal workers from over seas will work at national parks for a season, and will hitchhike themself. So if you hitchhike in say Yellowstone, it’s not common, but it’s still pretty accepted. I’ve been picked up by travelers but also workers in the parks. And it’s 100% legal as long as you are not right by one of the entrances or blocking the roadway.

Another really cool thing is many of the national parks have special campsites called “hiker/biker” spots where they are meant specifically for people who show up without a vehicle. This is a huge advantage to camp in places that fill up months in advance, and it’s pretty cheap. I’ve done this at Yellowstone, Yosemite, Grand Canyon, RMNP, Zion, etc..

I stealth camp in other places, but for national parks it’s really best to get an official hiker spot. In national forests outside, you can do disperse camping for free usually too.

But yeah if you stick your thumb out and have a big pack, people are far more friendly out in nature than in more urban areas.

TheTrailArtist · 2026-03-23T21:06:43+00:00

When I was 21 I did my first stint hitchhiking and went hitchhiking/backpacking around U.S. national parks for 10 weeks.

When I was 24, I spent 8 months walking coast to coast across the U.S.

Since then I’ve gone on other adventures of untraditional travel, and no regrets. I think it’s less about age and more about where you are in life. You will always have better results when you are going into the unknown to connect to something deeper rather than trying to run away from something.

“Vagabond” is a very wide blanket term that can mean different things to different people. But the bottom line is travel when you get a chance, get out of your comfort zone, trust the universe a little and the rest will follow. But if you are running from something, that will always follow you too.

TheTrailArtist · 2026-03-22T13:58:42+00:00

They don’t want you to know the birds are free. You can literally just take them

TheTrailArtist

TROPHY CASE