sejsawell

[sejsawell]

Prickly Pear Cactus 🌵 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We met a guide while backpacking that told us that the fruit (the little nubbins on the ends of the cactus) can be eaten like a sweet dessert. Apparently it's as simple as roasting them on a flame to burn off all the spines... and once that's done you can peel the outer skin off and eat the inner fruit! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Even after all of the months we spent in the desert, we never tried it. Accidently eating cactus spines while being hours away from medical help wasn't really part of the plan.. but now we're really curious- has anyone tried it? ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #youngnomads #grandcanyon #nps #nature #outdoors #arizona #travel #roadtrip #usa #adventure #naturephotography #landscape #hike #camp #explore #plant #pricklypear #cactus #plantlove #food #desert #summer #keepitwild #goodtimes #backcountry #naturelovers #optoutside #staywild #sunset #travellers (at Grand Canyon National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrTws-unpZh/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1m7np6zm60976

[sejsawell]

Exploring the wonderful Monument Valley back in July this year. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We remember this day well. It was a completely stupid hot day and to be completely honest, Spence and I were over it. Having already spent the past 3 months in the desert of Utah and Arizona with the summer temperatures soaring, we were desperate for a change of scenery. The cooler temps of Colorado were calling. But we had one more destination to tick off our list- Monument Valley. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Tired, hot and a little grumpy, we drove the extra couple of hours to get there. And looking back, I am so glad we did. Monument Valley was so incredibly beautiful and such an iconic USA roadtrip destination it was well and truly worth the extra effort it took to get us there. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Moral of the story: if you ever find yourself in the Arizona/Utah area, we definitely recommend checking it out.. just maybe avoid doing it in the middle of summer if you can! 😅🏜🌡☀️🌵🔥 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #youngnomads #stayandwander #travel #exploremore #lifeofadventure #adventurevisuals #keepexploring #optoutside #keepitwild #travelphotography #outdoorwomen #girlsthatwander #sheexplores #shetravels #visualscollective #summer #arizona #usa #roadtrip #adventure #explore #run #free #travellers #landscape #nature #desert #vanlife #goodtimes #monumentvalley (at Monument Valley) https://www.instagram.com/p/BrRRV5UnTz9/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1c5nrjcyvljab

[sejsawell]

Exploring the deep, winding slot canyons of Vermillion Cliffs National Monument. We completed this hike back in June and we still can't get over the deep, rich, red colour of the sandstone. Not to mention the curves and swirling texture of the walls, as they twist their way to the sky (sometimes hundreds of feet above you!) . . . . . #youngnomads #optoutside #utah #hike #hiking #getoutside #adventure #usa #nature #landscape #summer #vanlife #hikevibes #womenwhohike #travellers #rock #texture #travel #explore #canyon #slotcanyon #fun #desert #roadtrip #outdoors #findyourway #yourpubliclands #naturelovers #color #takeahike (at Buckskin Gulch) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqgV0mwneaj/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=wm8c0k5bhfou

[sejsawell]

Looking down from the Horseshoe Bend Overlook we spotted these campers wayyyyy down at the bottom of the canyon. Surrounded by towering cliffs and the placid Colorado river snaking it's way around the bend, we think this looks like a pretty amazing and memorable spot to spend a night camping! Lucky kayakers! 🚣‍♀️🚣‍♂️⛺👌 . . . . . #youngnomads #optoutside #hoseshoebend #grandcanyon #camp #arizona #getoutside #goodtimesoutside #adventure #arizona #usa #nature #water #canyon #visual #texture #colorado #river #kayaks #kayak #camping #landscape #summer #vanlife #travellers #travelphotography #naturephotography #keepitwild #travel #roadtrip (at Horseshoe Bend Overlook) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bqd7jWhn3p4/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1njzhdt3brrlh

[sejsawell]

Missing summer days spent exploring Utah with @trey.goes.west. ☀️🏜 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Living in a van full time means showers are few and far between for us. Pair that with ALL OF THE DUST IN UTAH and you can get what we like to call in the #vanfam "Troll Feet" ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Based on this pic, we think Spence won the Troll Feet competition (this time!) 🧟‍♂️👣 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #youngnomads #dust #utah #reallife #troll #feet #dirt #nature #outdoors #vanlife #travel #roadtrip #usa #adventure #hike #camp #explore #stayandwander #desert #summer #flipflops #sand #realvanlife #soclean #notglamorous #liveoutside #outside #noshower (at Utah) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqThxBlncyi/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=10pd59twi2mau

[sejsawell]

Cooking up a feast (AKA @backpackerspantry Chana Marsala and some good ol' instant mash potatoes!) while enjoying the view from our incredible backcountry campsite in the Grand Canyon.   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ As we begin thinking about preparations for some major #backpacking trips up into the Yukon and Alaska, we would love to know what your favourite meal or snack is to bring into the #backcountry?   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #youngnomads #optoutside #grandcanyon #hike #hiking #summer #eat #getoutside #goodtimesoutside #findyouradventure #adventure #arizona #usa #nature #landscape #staywild #summer #sunset #camping #vanlife #camp #hikevibes #womenwhohike #travellers # #naturephotography #keepitwild #travel #youradventure (at Grand Canyon National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqOeSF-HpIE/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1j5j279p9fgiz

[sejsawell]

We won the @overlandexpo EAST Cool Ride competition with our little Delica! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Shout out and a huge heartfelt thanks to everyone who voted and shared for us- we couldn't have done it with out you! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We spent our prize money on a new @ARB awning to replace our janky DIY awning that was ripping (yay!) Plus it come with canvas side walls, meaning no more getting pummelled with sideways rain (double yay!) And mosquito netting walls to protect us from the insane amount of bugs that await us in Alaska (triple yay!) ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Besides winning the competition, we had such a great time at Overland Expo. Faced with below freezing temperatures, rain and more mud than you can shake a stick at... we still had such an incredibly fun experience. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ We would definitely recommend it to anyone interested in Overlanding, 4x4ing or just travelling in general. (Just remember your rain gear and boots!) We also met some absolutely amazing people (looking at you- @scottsimpkins, @wheelis_knives, @bushcraftglobal, @erikamedie, Vincent, Travis and Paul!) and can't wait until our paths cross again. ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ Thanks for inspiring, educating, and outfitting us @overlandexpo! ❤🚙🏕🌎 ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ If you are interested in going to the expo definitely consider volunteering- it added a lot of awesomeness to our experience and meant we were able to attend for free! ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀   ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ #youngnomads #vanlife #van #diy #roadtrip #travel #usa #explore #homeiswhereyouparkit #camping #vanlifediaries #adventuremobile #campervan #4wd #offroad #homeonwheels #delica #mud #freezing #cold #vanlifeinspo #adventure #vanconversion #overlandexpo #overland #4x4 #toyota #unimog #vw #overlandexpocoolride @preview.app (at Oskar Blues REEB Ranch) https://www.instagram.com/p/BqLyZzkHh5n/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=1w8u6hsulzdu9

[sejsawell]

"Wilderness is not a luxury but a necessity of the human spirit." - Edward Abbey. . . . . . #youngnomads #findyouradventure #adventure #explore #hike #hiking #backpacking #backcountry #grandcanyon #arizona #usa #nature #landscape #staywild #summer #sunset #camping #vanlifediaries #hikevibes #womenwhohike #travellers #naturephotography #packandgo #getoutside #stayandwander #keepitwild #optoutside #travel #campingcollective #goodtimesoutside (at Grand Canyon National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/BpyO9GWHqb5/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=14jtist609f61

[sejsawell]

We are stoked to announce that we were picked as a Finalist for the Overland Expo Cool Ride Competition in North Carolina next week! . We now need you to help us win by voting for us and sharing with your friends! Link is in our Bio. . The rig with the most votes wins. 🤞 . Thanks so much! We really appreciate it! ❤ . And if you're heading to the expo let us know! We'll be there all weekend in the Showcase Vehicle Area. We would love to meet up 😊✌ . . . . . #youngnomads #vanlife #van #diy #roadtrip #travel #summer #camp #usa #explore #projectvanlife #homeiswhereyouparkit #camping #vanlifediaries #vanlifemagazine #adventuremobile #campervanconversion #showusyourvan #campervan #vanlifers #travel #homeonwheels #delica #vanbuild #vanlifeinspo #adventure #vanconversion #overlandexpo #overland #4x4 (at Lone Rock Beach) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bpve5rAHIbC/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=qlzebfkdxae9

[sejsawell]

The symmetry of this cactus is on point 👌😉 …but seriously nature is the coolest.

~ When we think of all the incredible places we were so fortunate to experience and explore over the past six months nothing comes quite close to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon.

Over the course of the next week or so we will be sharing some of our favourite photos from the 10 nights we spent backpacking under the rim!

[sejsawell]

It’s pretty amazing where your feet can take you. 👣👣 . ~ When we think of all the incredible places we were so fortunate to experience and explore over the past six months nothing comes quite close to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon.

Over the course of the next week or so we will be sharing some of our favourite photos from the 10 nights we spent backpacking under the rim!

[sejsawell]

The Grand Canyon receives over 6 million visitors a year, but estimates suggest that as little as 1% of visitors actually venture below the rim to hike and camp in the backcountry. This photo was taken on the East Tonto Trail, where we completed a 28.7mile (46km) section of trail between Grandview and South Kaibab trailheads. During the four days we spent on the trail we only encountered a total of five people!

~ When we think of all the incredible places we were so fortunate to experience and explore over the past six months nothing comes quite close to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon.

Over the course of the next week or so we will be sharing some of our favourite photos from the 10 nights we spent backpacking under the rim!

[sejsawell]

The Grand Canyon receives over 6 million visitors a year, but estimates suggest that as little as 1% of visitors actually venture below the rim to hike and camp in the backcountry. This photo was taken on the East Tonto Trail, where we completed a 28.7mile (46km) section of trail between Grandview and South Kaibab trailheads. During the four days we spent on the trail we only encountered a total of five people! ~ When we think of all the incredible places we were so fortunate to experience and explore over the past six months nothing comes quite close to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. Over the course of the next week or so we will be sharing some of our favourite photos from the 10 nights we spent backpacking under the rim! . . . . . #youngnomads #grandcanyon #nps #nature #outdoors #arizona #vanlife #travel #roadtrip #usa #adventure #goodtimes #travelarizona #epic #naturephotography #landscape #hike #camp #explore #rock #views #womenwhohike #backpacking #backcountry #desert #summer #hikingculture #goodtimesoutside #yourpubliclands #keepitwild #getoutstayout #optoutside (at Grand Canyon National Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bo5evmQnH4h/?utm_source=ig_tumblr_share&igshid=len9x7e5fhes

[sejsawell]

The Grand Canyon offers one of the most visible examples of a worldwide geological phenomenon known as the Great Unconformity. 250 million-year-old rock strata lie back-to-back with 1.2 billion-year-old rocks! What happened during the hundreds of millions of years between remains largely a mystery.

~ When we think of all the incredible places we were so fortunate to experience and explore over the past six months nothing comes quite close to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon. Over the course of the next week or so we will be sharing some of our favourite photos from the 10 nights we spent backpacking under the rim!

[sejsawell]

Maybe its cheesy, maybe it’s a little obvious, maybe it’s a little stereotypical. But when we think of all the incredible places we were so fortunate to experience and explore over the past six months nothing comes quite close to the grandeur of the Grand Canyon.

Over the course of the next week or so we will be sharing some of our favourite photos from the 10 nights we spent backpacking under the rim!

[sejsawell]

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument.. a place where the boulders are bigger than your van and the landscape so alien you could swear you are on the moon. 👽🚙👽

[sejsawell]

Couples that climb mountains together stay together! ⛰👫⛰