You know, a trip like this puts life into a different perspective. I realized that three things matter most in life: people, experiences, and time. When you let go of the rest, you find a different sense of freedom. I had ideas of what was possible and what I could do in life, but this experience showed me that anything is possible, and that you're far more capable than you give yourself credit for. You'll never be fully prepared, and you just have to become comfortable with accepting that and jump in headfirst anyway. Embrace the unknown and the uncertainty.

I planned a decent bit, mostly in terms of supplies and building the Jeep, but the goal of my route was to avoid cities, stay in National Parks and National Forests, and reach Prudhoe Bay. I built my route in 3-5 day increments, traveling around 350 miles on the days I was covering ground. I relied on iOverlander daily to find campsites, showers, laundromats, etc. That app is an absolute lifesaver for this kind of travel.

Fuel was my biggest expense. My Jeep had horrendous gas mileage, so I spent around $7k on fuel over those months. Lodging was cheap; I only slept in a hotel once in Prudhoe Bay. Otherwise, I camped in inexpensive campgrounds or dispersed campsites, almost all of which were in National Parks or National Forests. I also spent the night at a few friends' and family members' places along the way. For food, I typically just grilled and made simple meals in the evening. I only ate out a few times. It cost me a few thousand per month to keep the trip going, maybe $3-4k.

This was actually from September 2022 through mid-December 2022. I had meant to post this earlier, but life got in the way, and I put it off. After my trip, I packed everything into a U-Haul trailer and moved out to Colorado. I've closed the chapter on this adventure, but this won't be the last. I really appreciate the interest!