Page 14 of Fresh Tracks
I reach down to increase the speed on the treadmill, but stop when the music cuts out. Looking at my phone, I feel a smile spread across my face when I see the name. Speak of the devil herself.
I swipe to answer the call. “What’s up, girl?”
“Just making dinner after skiing.” I hear the sound of pots and pans banging in the background. “Figured we should chat about meeting up in Jackson. I am so excited to see your face.”
I met Josie in college. She dropped out after our freshman year, when she rented a van that summer to visit national parks. She’s been living full time in her custom van ever since. While I love van life for short stints, I don’t know how she does it full time. It takes a whole different level of determination andindependence to not have a place to come back to, when you just need a breather from being on the road.
“You’re already bored of Taos, aren't you?” I tease.
She scoffs, her normal reaction to getting called out on her constant on-the-go ways. I can just picture the dismissive hand wave she’s making right now.
“No. It’s a cool mountain. I just miss you.” I’m starting to feel like I’ve been a bad friend because I miss her too. Blocking the guilt, I reach down to slow the speed on my treadmill, winding down my run. “You’re my backcountry buddy. There’s no way I’m skiing out of bounds if you’re not with me.”
Skiing in the wilderness, outside of the confines of a ski resort, chasing down untracked stashes of snow has been a passion of mine ever since my mom first took me out with my brothers. “What day are you getting to town? Maybe we can get a backcountry day in?”
“I’m going to head up to Utah first, ski around the Cottonwood Canyons before I head to you. Need me to grab anything from your place while I’m nearby?”
This is why Josie is my best friend. Outside of Kayleigh, and now I guess TJ, she's the only one that knows I got laid off and that I'm taking some time for myself. She would totally go an hour out of her way to my apartment without a second thought.
“If you end up nearby, I have one request.”
I hear Josie’s manic laughter on the other end.“Oh my god, did you forget your vibrator? Do you need me to go through your nightstand and pick one out for you? I would be honored.”
“Josie! No. Do not, I repeat, do not go through my nightstand.” Fortunately, I did remember to pack that. Living in a van for a few weeks requires a bit of minimalism, but I always remember the essentials and I’m not planning on finding a man on this trip. I’m used to having to take care of myself.
She pouts.“You’re no fun.”
I snort a laugh. “Anyway, I was going to ask you to grab my extra ski bibs. It’s been wetter than normal, and I want my other pair as a backup.”
“You got it. So where are we parking when I get there? Campground or?”she draws out the last word.
I know what she's getting at. Tanner will be back by next weekend, so maybe I could finally tell him about Wasatch Wishes, and we could park by his barn. I just don't want my family making a big deal about this. “I’m still working on that, but I’ll figure out a good spot. I don’t think a campground is in the budget though.”
“You know, if you're still looking for a side gig in the mean?—”
I cut her off, laughing. “For the last time, I’m not doing the cam girl thing.”
I hop off the treadmill and head over to the water fountain to refill my bottle. Being a faceless cam girl is how Josie finances her nomad lifestyle. More power to her, but that’s not for me.
“I know you’d love not having a boss,” she teases.
I let out another laugh. I’ll give her credit, she’s persistent. “Hey, I need to get going. Going to hit the shower and make myself some dinner too. Let me know if you have any issues getting into my place or finding my bibs. Thanks, Bun.”
“Of course. Can’t wait to see you soon!”
In the basically empty lot,the only sound is my van’s diesel heater.
Winter nights in Jackson are downright cold, even compared to Park City. Fortunately it’s not windy, otherwise my post-workout sweats that double as pajamas wouldn’t cut it. I don’t remember nights feeling this cold as a kid growing up here, but maybe I'm just becoming a bit more sensitive as I approach thirty.
If the kids at Wasatch Wishes taught me anything, it's that they're resilient. Playing in the cold all day, falling and getting right back up without getting hurt, it never seems to bother them.
The bone-chilling, crisp night air is just starting to get to me when I reach the back corner of the lot, where I parked. My black van with tinted windows and no logos or accessories on the outside does a good job of not attracting unwanted attention. I open the sliding door, once again thankful for my height when I make the step up into the lifted van easily.
While it might look like a simple cargo van on the outside, inside it’s my home on wheels. Insulated for winter, a few storage cabinets, a small kitchenette, and my cozy queen sized bed all make it feel more like home than my apartment sometimes. I even have a composting toilet, but I prefer to only use that for emergencies if I can't find a public restroom. Either way, it’s the perfect size for my solo travel shenanigans.
To some, it might look like I’m living out of my car. To me though, there’s always been something so freeing about being able to grab a few things, hop in, and head off on an adventure.
After stowing my gym bag in one of the cabinets and putting in my privacy window covers, I snuggle into bed and scroll on my phone. Most of my feed is skiing clips or van life influencers, but after taking a few book recommendations from Lizzy, there’s now a smattering of romance book content.
