So I got this wild idea last month – what if I took my usual adventure trips but tried to actually give a damn about my carbon footprint? Sounds simple on paper, right? Yeah, no. Figured I’d document this mess as I go.
The Plan That Immediately Fell Apart
First up was picking a spot. Normally I’d just jump on the cheapest flight to anywhere snowy. This time? Nope. Pulled out my laptop, spent three whole nights:
- Comparing train routes vs short-haul flights
- Scrolling through eco-lodge websites that looked fancier than my apartment
- Getting headaches from calculating carbon numbers that made zero sense
Finally settled on this mountain trekking place five hours away by train. Thought “Hey, trains are green!”. Didn’t count on the transfer at 3 AM. Or the packed carriage smelling like stale sandwiches.
Gear Nightmares and Compromises
Tried being a hero using only my old gear. Big mistake. That “vintage” waterproof jacket leaked like a sieve during the first downpour. Ended up:
- Begrudgingly buying a new recycled-material rain shell from some startup
- Renting hiking boots from this sketchy gear library with mismatched laces
- Carrying reusable everything – water bottle, utensils, even a damn coffee cup
Felt like a pack mule by kilometer two. My backpack rattled like a thrift store bin.
Actually Doing the Damn Thing
Got to the lodge expecting granola and solar panels. Reality check:
- Solar heater only worked when it felt like it – cold shower Tuesday morning, folks!
- “Local organic meals” meant tiny portions with mysterious green stuff
- Guide kept picking up litter left by previous groups – ours and others
But hiking without jet lag? Actually glorious. Taking the slow route showed roadside villages I’d always missed before. Carried my trash the whole way like some weird badge of honor. Felt less like a tourist, more like a slightly lost local.
Home & The Ugly Math
Back home, pulled all the transport and gear receipts together. Compared it to my last flight-and-forget trip:
- Carbon cut by nearly 60% – mostly from skipping the flight
- Cost about 30% more (that “eco” gear rental isn’t cheap)
- Added 8 hours total travel time (mostly waiting on platforms)
Would I do it again? Maybe. If I packed better snacks. And brought flip-flops for the shower. The slower pace stuck with me – felt less like racing through a checklist, more like actually being somewhere. Still eyeing flights for next winter though. Old habits die hard. #CarbonTravelFails
