Jonathan Irish The couple journeyed along Route 66 with their trailer in tow.

While pair has been traveling with an SUV and Airstream trailer, Payne and Irish have also explored on foot, in boats, and in tents. “We do a combination of driving, roadtripping, but also really digging into the park as well,” said Irish. “But besides backpacking, we’ve been kayaking, ice climbing and all kinds of crazy adventures.” The journey has given them the opportunity experience the natural beauty and topographical diversity of the United States first-hand. It’s also helped them make new memories at locations with which they’ve always felt familiar. Payne said re-visiting Mt. Rainier National Park in her home state of Washington gave her a fresh perspective on the mountain that had overlooked her Seattle home her whole life.

Jonathan Irish Death Valley was one of the many breathtaking landscapes they got to see.