Hayden Rowland | Last-Minute NOLS Trips & Summer Jobs Out West | Tom Rowland Podcast Ep. 461

Hayden Rowland is Tom Rowland's middle son who attends Montana State University in Bozeman, Montana, an avid outdoorsman who completed a month-long NOLS expedition in Alaska involving backpacking and sea kayaking. In this conversation, Hayden reveals three distinct paths for spending a summer out West—from last-minute NOLS trips where students signed up just two days before departure, to finding work in national parks during what might be the best hiring season in years, to navigating dispersed camping on BLM land with nothing but a rooftop tent and a sense of adventure. If you've ever wondered whether it's too late to plan an epic summer in the Western United States, this episode will change your mind.

The Cross-Country Road Trip Nobody Regrets

When Hayden graduated high school, he and Tom drove across the country to Utah for what became a defining experience—the Desert Southwest with its concentration of national parks. But what makes this option so compelling right now is how accessible it actually is. Hayden breaks down the three essentials: sleeping arrangements (rooftop tent, car camping, or truck bed), eating strategy (coolers versus camp stoves versus bars), and water management (gallon jugs or Aqua Mira purification). The key discovery? Dispersed camping on national forest and BLM land means you can camp for free in stunning locations, and a national park season pass gets you into every park across the country. The spontaneity is part of the adventure—Hayden recalls coming to intersections and literally flipping coins to decide which direction to take. The full road trip strategy starts at 2:14.

The NOLS Trip Where Someone Signed Up Two Days Before Departure

Most people assume that organized wilderness expeditions require months of advance planning, but Hayden witnessed something that shatters that assumption completely. During his month-long NOLS expedition in Alaska involving backpacking and sea kayaking, a student joined the group who had signed up just two days before they left. He showed up in Alaska, bought all his gear, and jumped right in. This year might present an even better opportunity—Hayden notes that his trip included a lot of foreign students, and with potential travel restrictions, there could be unexpected openings. NOLS, based in Lander, Wyoming, offers trips ranging from two weeks for younger students to full semester programs, with their signature location being the Wind River Range. How someone joined a NOLS Alaska expedition at the last minute starts at 8:32.

Finding Work in Western Towns During a Labor Shortage

The employment landscape in Western tourist destinations has shifted dramatically, and Hayden has observed it firsthand in Bozeman. Restaurants throughout town display help wanted signs, suggesting a real labor shortage. But the challenge isn't finding work—it's finding housing. That's why Hayden emphasizes targeting employers who house their employees. His friend Arthur Levovitz worked at Dornan's near Jackson and lived there for two to three months. National parks represent another major opportunity through concessionaires like Xanterra, which operates lodges, restaurants, and Hamilton stores in places like Yellowstone, Roosevelt, Lake, and Glacier. The last time Tom visited Yellowstone, foreign students filled most positions—if travel restrictions are limiting that workforce, this could be the best hiring season in years for domestic students. The reality of finding work and housing in Bozeman starts at 12:55.

The Rivers Worth Fishing This Summer

When Tom asks Hayden where he'd go fishing if he had a few weeks free, the answer reveals both familiar territory and unexplored dreams. The Missouri River near Bozeman tops Hayden's list for regular access—they've camped up there and found no problem securing spots, with shuttle services available and older gentlemen who looked like they'd been living in their cars for a week doing it right. But Hayden's wish list includes the Jackson area, Henry's Fork, and potentially Waterton National Park in Canada. He also mentions a friend in California who speaks highly of the American River. What makes these destinations compelling is the availability of dispersed camping nearby, meaning you can fish world-class water without breaking the bank on lodging. Hayden's fishing plans and the Missouri River experience start at 17:44.

Final Thoughts from Tom

Recording this on Memorial Day hits different when you're talking about the freedom to just get in a car and go anywhere in this country. That's what those who served and sacrificed gave us, and it's something we should use. I remember that road trip with Hayden to the Desert Southwest—neither of us had really spent time in that area, and we just bounced around. Arches, Zion, Canyonlands, Bryce Canyon. We'd come to a T in the road and literally flip a coin. That spontaneity, that sense of discovery, it's available to anyone willing to pack a cooler and figure out where they're going to sleep.

What struck me in this conversation is how accessible these options really are. You don't need six months of planning. You don't need a huge budget. Hayden's talking about people signing up for NOLS trips two days before departure, about finding dispersed camping on public land for free, about restaurants in Bozeman with help wanted signs in the windows. If you've been thinking it's too late to make something happen this summer, this conversation will change your perspective.

I'm proud of the experience both Hayden and Turner have built out West. They're documenting a lot of it on the Turner Rowland Podcast, which you should absolutely check out. But more than that, I hope this episode gives someone the push they need to actually do it—to get in the car, find a job in Jackson, sign up for that last-minute NOLS trip, whatever it is. We have an incredible country full of incredible places just sitting there waiting. This one's worth your time if you've ever wondered whether it's too late to make a Western summer happen.