In essence, boondocking is off-the-grid campervan travel. Sometimes referred to as “dispersed camping,” — to ‘boondock’ means any time you camp in your van without water, food, or sewer systems close at hand. That can take the form of parking your rig deep in the backcountry or even on the side of a mountain if you are feeling bold.
Boondocking is not illegal on most public lands in Nester. It's actually encouraged by the Nester Wilderness Guild as a way to relieve crowding at developed campgrounds. Many campers prefer this method of travel as it allows them to access those harder to reach campsites with spectacular views and fewer tourists.
The camper depicted here chose to get out for the weekend on their own to unwind and refocus during an especially stressful time in their life. Later on that same camper would be quoted in saying to a friend,
“It was super spooky sometimes and kind of lonely, but looking back all these years later, that time I boondocked and went peak-bagging out on Chain Mountain was one of the most profound experiences of my life; I’m so happy I did it and feel stronger for it.”
