We bought a camper! And here’s how our first trip went…
Although far from a rugged camping trip in the wilderness, our first adventure in our new truck bed camper was a success! We spent this first trip outside of Las Vegas, Nevada to meet up with some friends for Thanksgiving, giving us a chance to test the new rig in a low-stress environment. Many nights, several miles, and wild temperature ranges later, Ben and I are so stoked to plan more trips in this awesome new toy.
Ben picked up the camper the night before we left, so we hardly had any time to pack and prepare for our trip. Despite this, our first night was well spent. We left after work on a Friday and drove for about 6 hours before stopping at a small food truck in Winnemucca, Nevada where we got some delicious tacos. With full bellies and heavy eyes, we found a free campsite on BLM land to stay at for the night.
While we hardly had anything prepped in the camper, our blankets and pillows haphazardly thrown on the bed proved for a cozy night’s rest. Turns out you don’t need anything too fancy to stay warm and comfortable in this thing! Rain spattered the camper all night, and although I LOVE tent camping, I was grateful to know I would stay dry all night.
With many miles to go, we woke up early and hit the road before the sun
rose, thankful that we did not have to pack up a wet, muddy tent. The drive through the Nevada desert was gorgeous, and I was surprised by the rolling hills and snowy peaks in the distance. Our drive was spent listening to music and podcasts, and discussing all our future dream trips with the camper.
After hours of driving and snacking galore, we arrived at our destination in Henderson, Nevada. Our friends and their family rented an Airbnb for the week, creating an easy spot for us to park for the trip.
I wouldn’t consider Las Vegas my typical scene, but I have to say the surrounding area is quite stunning. On Thanksgiving day, we went to Red Rock Canyon to do some climbing. Naivety got the best of us, and we were not expecting it to be so busy, but it seems everyone had the same idea to head outside and enjoy the beautiful Thanksgiving Day weather! We spent our day climbing at Cannibal Crag . It was shaded for most of the afternoon, making for some cold rock, but it was still a ton of fun! I bet this spot would be great in the summer when you want to stay cool out of the sun. We did not have much time to do more climbing, but I would love to check out Red Rocks again in the future.
After six nights in Nevada with friends, we hit the road to head back to Oregon. We decided to take a different route home and spent one night at a free campsite on BLM land in Susanville, California. It was FREEZING and I was so incredibly thankful for a heated camper to sleep in that night!
Even though we didn’t use all the bells and whistles, this trip was a great way to dip our toes into the world of truck bed camping and I can’t wait for the adventures to come!
Wild Wandering Woman 
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