Thinking about Dirtbagging for a year!

You should definitely follow through with this, you won't regret it! I'm currently doing the same thing: graduated high school last spring and am on a year long trip with money saved from working through high school. Actually, I'm traveling with a friend who has a van with two beds in it, and van life can be quite comfortable most of the time. We also run a blog, where we post pictures and videos I've edited (we're boulderers).

I have a few bits of advice based on what I've picked up so far (been on the road for about four months):

  1. Money As you already know, money is going to be your primary concern. Having a good dirtbagging setup is crucial for being able to stay on the road for such a long time, but obviously setups can get pretty expensive. I would recommend getting something along the lines of a van/trailer/pickup+camper, etc., because it is very nice to have a bed, interior stove and sink, and lots of storage. If that's too expensive, you can definitely build a more affordable setup in a minivan/pickup.

When you're actually on the road your primary costs will be food and gas. You can spend less than $100 a week on food with a little self-restraint, and how much you spend on gas varies, but isn't usually too high.

Estimate a budget before you set off, and have more money than you estimate you'll need, as miscellaneous costs (car repair, camping, showers, beers, etc.) can stack up.

  1. Nutrition Nutrition is incredibly important, especially when you're climbing and exercising all the time. Strive to eat lots of fruit, vegetables (broccoli, spinach, sweet potatoes) some source of protein (chicken and beans are pretty cheap), and grains (rice/quinoa). All of these foods will be relatively inexpensive and will keep you well-nourished.

  2. Other tips When planning your route, follow the weather. Many areas will be fine to climb in during the spring and fall, but will get ball-freezing cold during the winter. You can look up climbing areas on mountain project to see what the weather is like throughout the year.

You're going to see a lot of the same people in a lot of the same places, doing exactly what you are doing. You'll meet a lot of new people, so if you are traveling alone but want to find a sport/trad climbing partner, it shouldn't be too hard.

If you are doing a significant amount of bouldering, shoot me a pm, and I can let you know what areas I personally think should be at the top of your list. And if you have any other questions, feel free to ask. Hope this helped!

/r/climbing Thread