Andy,My name is Andy Laub and I am a journalism student at Emerson College in Boston. I came across your site after I hit a link from the Pacific Crest Trail website. I then read your profile piece published by the San Francisco Chronicle.
I was inspired by your story. Also, I'm interested in how you made it into a living; writing about it, getting sponsors etc. When I read the profile piece in the San Francisco Chronicle, I felt like I was reading a piece of myself. I have run marathons and done week-long backpack trips in the past, but it has never completely satisfied/tested me. I am always in motion and have felt constrained staying in one place to work and finish my degree. There has always been a strong urge, deep down, to drop everything (after I graduate) to go out and hike/kayak as far as possible, writing about/capturing it with pictures and video, and make that into my living. I'm just not sure how to do it.
I would love to attend "Hike your own Hike" on the 26th, but being in Boston, I have a minor setback, ha ha. So any advice on how to prepare for long trips; where to go; how to get sponsors; things to expect on the trail, would all be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
All best
-Andy Laub
The good news is that kayaking/hiking for a living isn't as hard as you might think. There are two things to consider: income and expenses.
Fortunately, income isn't a problem for most Americans. It's easy to make over $30,000 a year.
The challenge is learning to live on just $10,000. We have a tendency to raise our expenses to meet our income. My business school classmates tell me that they can't survive on less than $200,000 a year.
When I suggest living with roommates, ditching the car, stop buying clothes, cooking at home, drinking only water, and bringing your lunch to work, then they say: "Oh, that's too extreme! I can't do that!"
If they learned to live on just $20,000 a year, they would have over $80,000 saved (after taxes). You can travel for a long time on $80k.
One friend of mine gave up her apartment to live in her car. Although she only lasted a few months, I commend her efforts to live simply.
In short, I encourage you to live below your means. Once you've done that, then the world opens up to you. I write about it in Chapter 2 of my book. Please read it.
You can make money guiding kayak or backpacking trips. Outfitters are always looking for people. Or take a job that makes real money, live like a monk for several years, and then go off and explore the world on your own terms.
I've gotten this question so many times, I've written a long post about it. Check out how you can travel the world months or years.
Regarding sponsors, please read my post on how to get sponsors.
I hope that helps.
Good luck,