Our Fifth Month: By the Numbers

Showing off our beards

On August 4th, we celebrated five months of being on the road. Less than one month left to go! Here is our fifth month "by the numbers"...

16,220: Total number of miles traveled (Stevens Point, WI to Colorado Springs, CO)
3,504: Number of miles traveled in July
18.3: Total average MPG (lower than normal due to high speed limits in Montana, Idaho, and Colorado!)
24: Nights spent in the Burro in July (most so far!)
5: Nights spent in friends' homes in July (thank you, Uncle Jojo and Aunt Kendra, and Bill and Susie Kiger)
6: Total number of states visited in July (Washington, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Utah, Colorado)
9: Number of National Park/Monument/Recreation Area sites visited in July (North Cascades NP, Glacier NP, Hells Canyon NRA, Craters of the Moon NM, Flaming Gorge NRA, Dinosaur NM, Colorado NM, Black Canyon of the Gunnison NP, Florissant Fossil Beds NM)
$264: Number of dollars saved by using our America the Beautiful Annual Pass to get into federal recreation sites (thank you, Mom and Dad Buchholz!)
8: Number of National Forests camped in during July (Gifford Pinchot, Kootenai, Flathead, Lolo, Clearwater, Boise, Ashley, Pike)
1: Number of State Parks camped in during July (Mueller State Park in CO)
6: Most number of days we went without showers (PU!)
2: Number of hail storms that hit us in July (thank goodness for the Burro!)
105°: The hottest temperature (in °F) that it got inside the Burro (Hells Canyon, ID)
4: Number of snakes encountered on the same trail in a day (on a trail in Hells Canyon ironically called the Snake River Trail)
1: Number of rattlesnakes almost stepped on (same trail... thank goodness for the rattle)
16%: Greatest slope that we hauled the Burro up (Hells Canyon)
10: The lowest number of miles we had left until our gas ran out on before finding a gas station (yeah, we were sweating a bit)
1: Number of "clothing optional" trails we hiked (hooray for Idaho hot springs!)
9,490: Total number of photos taken on the trip
Countless: Number of times we've wondered what life will be like when we get back home (but we refuse to talk about it yet)
Too Many: Number of times Walden has asked for a "new activity" in the car  (we've done dot-to-dot, mazes, coloring, stickers, you name it)

Licking lava