InsideOut Travel—Rambling Man Alan Meyer

by Joshua K. Hartshorne

Since leaving home six years ago, Alan Meyer hasn't spent more than seven months in one location. In most places he only spent the night, and at the age of 24 has racked up more adventures than many people twice his age.

Despite being nearly washed away in a flash flood, losing his dogsled team in Alaska, facing daily bicycle tire flats in Baja, Mexico, and numerous other mishaps, he continues to love traveling and has no immediate plans to settle down.

Many people say they would love to spend their lives traveling, but they can't afford it. They can if they are Alan. He lives cheaply, hitchhiking, hiking, sleeping under bridges or on park benches. He has gotten jobs here and there that allow traveling—most notably, trail building.

	A TRAVELER'S LIFE
	Rambling Man Alan Meyer
	by Joshua K. Hartshorne Since leaving home six years ago, Alan Meyer hasn't spent more than seven months in one location. In most places he only spent the night, and at the age of 24 has racked up more adventures than many people twice his age. Despite being nearly washed away in a flash flood, losing his dogsled team in Alaska, facing daily bicycle tire flats in Baja, Mexico, and numerous other mishaps, he continues to love traveling and has no immediate plans to settle down. Many people say they would love to spend their lives traveling, but they can't afford it. They can if they are Alan. He lives cheaply, hitchhiking, hiking, sleeping under bridges or on park benches. He has gotten jobs here and there that allow traveling—most notably, trail building.				He has worked as a landscaper, a moose-packer and a sled-dog trainer as well—not that he knew anything about sled dogs when he started, but it was an opportunity to spend a winter at a remote lodge in Alaska. “We barely have your plane ticket, and you’re worried about the tent stakes?” Obviously, you have to work up to such a lifestyle. As a child, he spent his summers backpacking and rafting through the wilds of Montana, so he is used to roughing it. His first big trip after high school was with Marty, an experienced guide. As time went on, Alan became more independent, more knowledgeable, and more comfortable on his own. How did you find yourself in the midst of a flash flood? I was traveling in New Zealand with Marty, who is sort of like my second father. We had been hitchhiking until we saw this river in a canyon that looked good for a hike, and we thought perhaps the fishing would be good higher up. So, we hiked up the river canyon. more >> << home << discuss article >>
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A TRAVELER'S LIFE

Rambling Man Alan Meyer

by Joshua K. Hartshorne