Blake Boles and Ryan Jordan discuss Dirtbag Rich

In this wide-ranging conversation, Ryan Jordan of BackpackingLight.com interviews Blake about Dirtbag Rich. Topics include:The historical meaning of “dirtbag” in climbing, thru-hiking, and outdoor cultureHow dirtbag culture has traditionally balanced freedom, poverty, adventure, and insecurityThe risks and trade-offs of choosing flexibility over conventional career advancementHousing strategies that support a dirtbag-rich lifestyle, including roommates, small homes, van life, travel, and shared livingHow cultural expectations around home ownership, status, and consumption shape lifestyle decisionsWhy relationships, community, and the ability to show up for others may be overlooked forms of wealthThe role of privilege in pursuing a dirtbag rich lifestyleHow to pursue outdoor freedom without romanticizing irresponsibility, poverty, or precarityFind the original episode (including a fairly critical discussion thread) here: https://backpackinglight.com/episode-146-dirtbag-rich-with-blake-boles/This conversation was originally published on May 1st, 2026.