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Lita of the Pack
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Van life

Let’s get ready to hit the road

After living on the road for three years in a van, I have everything you need to get started including van build guides, camping tips and more!

Van Build posts

  • camper van water system

    Complete Guide to the Perfect Camper Van Water System

  • Frame a Van cover: Lita and Dylan stand in front of framed van with tools in hand

    How To Frame Camper Van Walls

  • Van Floor Insulation cover. Dylan and Lita sit on it

    How to Install Camper Van Floor Flooring

my favorite van life essentials

  • Campsite Map

    Free Campsite Map

    Find every place that we’ve stayed throughout the US, with recs for great free campsites!

    See it here

    More Van Life Content

    See all
    • The Perfect Baja California Itinerary

      The Perfect Baja California Itinerary

    • van next to a palapa in baja mexico with ocean behind

      5 Ways to Prep for Van Life in Baja Mexico

    • girl standing on van with sunset behind her

      10 Best Free Campsites in the US

    • Girl looking out at view from camper van

      5 Hardest Parts of Van Life

    • Me in middle of Lighthouse Rock Trail; van life chronicles

      Van Chronicles #1: Driving Across the Country, Three National Parks, and New Mexico

    • Van over rolling hills with sunrise in back

      The Ultimate Guide to Finding Free Van Campsites

    let's connect

    ON INSTAGRAM

    @litaofthepack_

    Anyone want to go for a coffee? ☕️☕️ 📍 Cafe Hagen Anyone want to go for a coffee? ☕️☕️

📍 Cafe Hagen Waterfront

The newest location of this Nordic cafe is in the cutest spot along the updated Waterfront park in Seattle! 

It’s right along my favorite bike trail, so I’ve already been a few times. But it’s perfect for anyone looking to get out for a bike ride or a stroll along the water. 

Who wants to go with me next? 
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#seattlecafes #seattlelife #seattlewaterfront
    WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY 🏡: Summer is coming to a WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY 🏡:

Summer is coming to a close, but it’s been so so sweet! 

This past week my best friend came to visit Seattle for her first time. I took her to all my favorite places, so she could know why I fell in love with the PNW. 

We attended a concert by paddleboard, made delicious fresh fish, swam in the surrounding lakes, and hiked around the iconic Mt Rainier. 

On the very last day of August, Dylan and I went to see Noah Kahan at T-Mobile park. The concert was the perfect end of August. 

Are you ready for September? 
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#wherewewentwednesday #mtrainier #mountrainier
    Yosemite National Park is on the line News came o Yosemite National Park is on the line

News came out yesterday that the Trump admin and the Department of the Interior are considering a proposal where they would give an area of land in Yosemite to a private equity development company. 

This company wants the land in order to build a shortcut road through Yosemite, so the guests of their properties can have an easier access to Yosemite’s iconic areas. 

In exchange, the developer would purchase land near Yosemite or California to give to the National Park Service. 

If this doesn’t make you mad, it should!

Public lands should be kept in public hands. Instead, they want to take parts of the park and give it to private owners for their benefit. 

👉 What can you do?

- Call your Congress people using the Congress Switchboard (202) 224-3121
- Email your representatives
- Share this post and news with others

We were able to halt construction on Big Bend and we can work together to make sure that this doesn’t happen!
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#yosemite #saveyosemite #saveourparks #yosemitenationalpark
    WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY 🚐: Last week, Dylan’s fam WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY 🚐:

Last week, Dylan’s family came to visit and it was incredibly special. 

We spent four days in Olympic National Park exploring all of the various ecosystems and showing our favorite people what makes Washington so special. 

It felt like the ultimate summer adventure with warm days on the trails, misty mornings in the forest, and summer vibes at Lake Crescent. 

The hardest part was having to say goodbye again. 
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#wherewewentwednesday #olympicpeninsula #olympicnationalpark I
    Happy 110th Birthday to our National Parks! I fe Happy 110th Birthday to our National Parks! 

I feel so lucky to have seen 58 out of the 63 beautiful National Parks in this country. The varying landscapes and wildlife throughout are truly astounding. 

The National Parks are a vital part of the US. So, we need to continue to fight for them as they have been continuously attacked in the past year. 

Make sure to stay up to date on public land news and always speak up for our beautiful parks! 

Now, which ones your favorite? 
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#nationalparkgeek #usnationalparks #saveournationalparks
    Guys it’s still summer! Hehe don’t get me wrong, Guys it’s still summer! 

Hehe don’t get me wrong, I love fall too. But, I hate how people like to rush through the seasons (except maybe the end of winter).

It feels like we’re always moving to the next thing, instead of holding on to the present moment. So, I am currently soaking in every last bit of summer. Find me swimming on the regular! 

Anyone else feel this way? 
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#endofaugust #summervibes☀️ #endofsummervibes
    WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY 🏠: We’ve spent a lot of t WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY 🏠:

We’ve spent a lot of time hanging out in Seattle the last few weeks. It’s been very chill, because we’ve been prepping for our egg retrieval. 

So time was spent doing small adventures and hanging out with lots of good friends. 

This past weekend Dylan’s family arrived and we are spending the week with them. It’s been so special to get to hang with our adorable nephew and the rest of the fam. 

Summer is going by in the blink of an eye. Does anyone else feel that way?! 
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#wherewewentwednesday #seattlelife #seattlelove 

Sunset boat views of the Olympics 

River night 

Troll of Vashon Island

Just a couple of dudes 

Tide pooling in Edmonds 

Happy Lita

Sunset walk views 

Dylan and his parents! 

The reality of all the meds we had to deal with
    Anyone want to head to Alaska? Lately I’ve been Anyone want to head to Alaska? 

Lately I’ve been thinking about going back to this magical state. Especially with cruise ships that leave from our neighborhood every single day. 

Kenai Fjords is one of the most unique national parks. This boat cruise leaves from Seward and you’ll have the chance to see glaciers, orcas, and incredible wildlife. 

Anyone else want to head to Alaska? 
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#alaskalife #alaskaadventure
    Say no to the Big Bend border wall! Trump has or Say no to the Big Bend border wall! 

Trump has ordered a border wall be put up along the Rio Grande in both Big Bend National Park and Big Bend Ranch State Park.

Contractors have already come into Big Bend and started bulldozing trees in the Santa Elena Canyon area. And they plan on blasting areas to put up the wall. 

Big Bend sits inside the largest protected dark sky reserve on Earth at 9.6 million acres. Along with the border wall, there will be flood lights ruining this dark sky. 

But, Big Bend isn’t the only place at stake. They’ve also started work making space for a border wall through Organ Pipe Cactus National Monument in Arizona as well. 

These landscapes are about to be changed forever with devastating consequences.

We must speak out before it’s too late. The government has a chance to stop this now! 

Call Governor Abbott at 512-463-2000. Tell him to stop the construction in Big Bend.

Sign the petition at @nobigbendwall to get it to 200,000 signatures and keep protesting! 

And follow the @outdooralliance for updates 

@govabbott 

#nobigbendwall #bigbendnationalpark
    Do you agree with these? I think a life full of Do you agree with these? 

I think a life full of adventures, friends, and fun is pretty chic. Oh yeah and of course working to protect this beautiful planet we live on! 
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#kindachic #publiclands
    Alaska, go vote on August 18th! There’s a importa Alaska, go vote on August 18th!

There’s a important primary election for US Senator 

Two Dan Sullivans are running for office 

The first is incumbent Senator Dan S. Sullivan
- He’s been in office for 12 years as a Republican Senator
- His net worth has grown by millions of dollars as he has been trading stocks while in office 
- He’s voted to support the Iran war 8 times
- He has voted to raise the debt ceiling so that the National debt is at the highest its ever been

The other candidate is Daniel J Sullivan Jr
- He’s from a small fishing community in Alaska
- The state tried to kick him off the ballot, but he fought his way to the Alaskan Supreme Court and won
- He’s running with no party affiliation
- He wants to lower healthcare costs for Alaskans, especially those who live in rural communities and often have to travel hundreds of miles to get help
- He also is against the Iran War and the rising costs that places on Alaskans

The top 4 candidates on August 18th will move on to the election in November. So, Alaskans make your voice heard and vote!

#alaskaelection #dansullivan
    Can you see them?? 🦟🦟 It’s unfortunate I have the Can you see them?? 🦟🦟

It’s unfortunate I have the same taste in views as the mosquitoes. This is one of my favorite spots in the Canadian Rockies, Mount Assiniboine Provincial Park. 

It requires a 16 mile/25 km hike to just to get into the park. 

Permits to backpack here are difficult to get, but worth it despite the mosquitoes. 

Would you still go? 
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#mountassiniboine #canadianrockies🇨🇦 #backpackingadventures
    PSA: Sunrise and White River areas are closed unti PSA: Sunrise and White River areas are closed until further notice! 

Sadly, earlier today a new fire broke out within Mt Rainier National Park. This is the Grand Park 2 Fire and it’s just 1.3 miles from Lake Eleanor 

The fire is growing fast and is reportedly already over 200 acres. 

Praying for all of the wildlife, firefighters, and nature out there. This wildfire season has been horrible and I hope they can get control of this soon. 

Please let others know who plan on visiting Mt Rainier 
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#mountrainier #mtrainiernationalpark
    WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY 🚐: This was truly a weeke WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY 🚐:

This was truly a weekend of misadventures. But that being said, it was still a wonderful time up in  Canada. 

I had gotten permits to backpack Berg Lake all the way back in December. Originally, we had plans to go for 4 nights, but we had to change everything. 

After I tore my hamstring a month ago, I knew I couldn’t make it 24 miles round trip. So, we took a night off so that we could take the helicopters in, that only fly twice a week. 

Then, on our 9 hour drive into Canada the van started squealing, so we had to stop at a dealership and get it fixed. Luckily, it only took a few hours. 

Then, the forecast showed wildfire smoke and pouring rain all of Saturday Sunday. We loved hanging up there but decided to call it a night early. 

We had a 12 mile hike to make and it poured on us for 6 of those miles. With 2 to go, my left knee completely locked up. So, Dylan took my bag with 1 km to go. 

And even with all those misadventures, I’ll still look back fondly on this night spend in one of the most stunning places in Canada! 

Anyone else have things go awry on a trip lately? 
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#wherewewentwednesday #berglaketrail #canadianrockies🇨🇦
    Wildfire season breaks my heart 💔 Over the weeken Wildfire season breaks my heart 💔

Over the weekend, fires broke out in Mount Hood and all over Washington. Burning hundreds of acres and forcing thousands of people to evacuate. 

As I drove up to Canada, I passed skies that were covered in dark reds, as wildfires burned nearby and smoke filled the air.

This year alone, the world has seen record breaking wildfires throughout the West, Canada, and Europe. Hurricanes have destroyed cities. 

Living in a van for three years, I saw firsthand the destruction of places that I came to love. Places like Jasper, Canada, Asheville, North Carolina, and Stanley, Idaho. But, we shouldn’t only care when these natural disasters affect us.

We are seeing real time change across the globe. This is not just our home, we are seeing habitats destroyed and animals lose their lives. 

The time for change was years ago. 

Climate grief is real. We must do better. Plant more trees, stop using AI for silly things, work  within your community, make small changes, and give time to efforts working on sustainability.

Use your dollar wisely by spending at places that support the climate and avoiding those that continue to make it worse. And vote for those who advocate about climate change. 

No one is perfect, but we can all do things to help. 

There is only one planet earth and we are all responsible for her. 🌎
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#wildfireseason #climatechangeisreal #savetheplanet
    WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY 🏡: The last two weeks hav WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY 🏡:

The last two weeks have been a bit quieter around here as we’ve stuck in the Seattle area. 

I recently got a new Fujufilm camera and I’ve been loving playing around with it! 

My parents came to visit and it was so special showing them around our neighborhood and making them understand why we moved across the country. We had amazing weather and went out on a sunset cruise together. 

This past week we went to Whidbey with friends and had a wonderful day out and about! 

Even the small adventures feel exciting when you love where you live. 

Do you like spending time exploring your home? 
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#wherewewentwednesday #seattlesummer #seattlesunset
    Anyone else? Featuring a hike we did a month or Anyone else? 

Featuring a hike we did a month or so ago. Really missing being out on the trails right about now. 
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#outofoffice #washingtontrails #alpinelake
    This was the last time I was out on the trails 🥾 This was the last time I was out on the trails 🥾

Sorry friends, I’m skipping where we went Wednesday this week, but it will be back soon!

This summer started off with a bang, we were doing things constantly. Going on hikes, making new friends, exploring all over Seattle and of course traveling to the Dolomites. 

But then on this hike, I stood up quickly and my knee popped. 

Luckily, it’s a hamstring strain and not something that requires surgery. But, it has taken me out. 

I’ve had to stop hiking and rest. So summer has looked a little different then I had pictured it. 

But maybe, this was a sign that I need to slow down.
And summer can still be fun, the adventures may just look different.

Leave some ideas on some fun adventures to do without a working knee! 
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#kneeinjury #dolomite #dolomites
    Who are you dragging along? Lucky for me Dylan i Who are you dragging along? 

Lucky for me Dylan is actually up for any adventure. But we did have some fun filming this 🙌🏻

I do the planning so that we get to see incredible places like these
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#dolomite #dolomites
    WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY ✈️: After spending the w WHERE WE WENT WEDNESDAY ✈️: 

After spending the week with friends, Dylan and I split off to explore the West side of the Dolomites. 

On the first morning apart, we went to go see the sunrise at Cadini Di Misurina and it was absolutely spectacular. Truly one of the most mind boggling places I’ve seen with my own eyes…

Sadly though I injured my knee while standing up pretty badly (possible meniscus tear). So the rest of the trip was spent hobbling along and mostly relaxing and enjoying the views.

That being said, it was definitely worth it… even if I am out for the summer. 

Anyone else get an injury doing something so mundane? 
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#wherewewentwednesday #cadinidimisurina #dolomite #italiandolomites 

Rifugio Freidrich August is known for their fresh donuts 

Enjoying said donuts 

The Gorgeous Seceda - thank goodness there’s a cable car up here!

Alpe de Suisi at Golden Hour

Cadini Di Misurina showing off

Dylan made sure to keep me in good spirits 💕💕

Church of St John

What’s he pointing at? 

Early morning light in Venice
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