DeHaas and Kahlua at John Ford's Point, Monument Valley, Utah. (Trevor DeHaas)

From sweeping gorges to jagged peaks, America is home to breathtaking, vibrant wildernesses just waiting to be explored. , 26, recently quit his job to explore these landscapes accompanied only by his furry best friend, Kahlua, a three-year-old Catahoula Leopard mix that he rescued from a shelter when she was only 11 weeks old.

“When I found Kahlua, I just saw her, a little puppy with spots, and it was a done deal from there,” DeHaas told weather.com. “She’s been a great adventure-dog. She definitely keeps me active.”

DeHaas has suffered from an incurable kidney disease since he was a child, but he recently learned that his health had deteriorated even further this past year. This news, along with a growing wanderlust and the fact that he won the to visit in Arizona (a place only a few people get to visit each day), led him to quit his job and travel full-time. The pair have been on the road ever since.

Trevor DeHaas and Kahlua.

(Trevor DeHaas)

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His first trip with Kahlua was to upstate New York and Maine, but since February, the duo have hiked, camped and paddle-boarded their way through Utah, Arizona, Colorado and California. While paddle boarding, Kahlua usually sits at the back of the board, and, according to DeHaas, she is usually very good at riding there the whole time (unless swimming ducks get a little too close).

Next, the two of them plan to explore Oregon and Washington on their cross-country tour, though they might also cross the border and venture into Canada to see Banff National Park or Alberta. “Basically, anywhere that has mountains, lakes, bodies of water and hiking trails is somewhere we want to go,” DeHaas said. Kahlua not only loves to go on long hikes and ride the paddle board, he said, but she also loves to swim so destinations with water are always a hit for the duo.

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The weather has greatly affected DeHaas and Kahlua’s travels since February because of their early start this year. There was still snow on the ground at many of the destinations, such as Colorado, causing road and trail closures. The duo also endured incredibly strong and violent winds for two weeks in Utah. The winds were so strong that they damaged one of DeHaas's cameras and forced the pair to abandon their beach tents to sleep in the car instead for a few nights.

The rapid changes in temperatures and environments were also difficult for Kahlua for a little while. “We went through some really rough conditions, from snow and ice to sand and sandstone in less than a week,” he explained, “and her paws ended up getting irritated from the sand in Arizona. I think she likes California and Utah better, where there is a lot of grass for her to run on.”

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DeHaas said that his favorite destination so far is,because of its breathtaking landscapes, but he thinks that Kahlua’s favorite is because of its dog friendly beaches. “At one of the dog beaches, she could be off leash. It was like a giant dog park right there on the sand,” he said. “She loved it because she just loves to run around and dig in the sand.”

To learn more about their travels, visit or follow their journey.

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