< more recent | 1-7 October 2024 | older >
7 October 2024: This morning we crossed the mountains, following the Monongahela National Forest’s Highland Scenic Byway as the sun caressed the heights. There was a brisk wind as we looked out over the forest below, then said “goodbye” to “big” mountains for the rest of this trip. Descending down into a landscape of gently rolling hills we continued westward towards Kentucky, stopping for the night near Louisville …
6 October 2024: Up early today to go looking for elk around Benezette PA, where people come from all over this time of year to observe the “elk rut” and hear the elk bugle. Of course whether or not you get to see the elk is a matter of chance, though chances are “good” if you spend time at one of the many “viewing areas” that have been established in the area. We heard some bugling and did get to see a few elk in the distance like apparitions revealing themselves in the fog. Later in the morning the fog burned off and we had an opportunity to go check out a trail on State Game Land 311 that is usually closed to the public. It was a beautiful drive and a really nice way to cap off the morning. Leaving Pennsylvania, we turned south through a corner of Maryland before reaching West Virginia where we took a scenic byway, the Seneca Trail, that followed the ridges of the mountains into the Monongahela National Forest…
5 October 2024: Big drive day today from New York west across New Jersey and much of Pennsylvania. The push west instead of going directly south is due to the recent hurricane Helene that hit several of the areas along our original route. We had to change direction to avoid traveling through the disaster-effected areas where we would be potentially in the way and add strain on already over-stretched resources. So we are heading west first, then turning south and eventually picking up our route somewhere in western Tennessee. Our first “stop” is a dispersed camp spot along Medix Run in the Moshannon State Forest where we will be well-placed to go looking for Elk in the morning …
4 October 2024: Starting off this roadtrip a little bit different, and that is fitting as it will be quite “different” from most of our overlanding adventures that are more off-road and off-grid. But before getting into the details of this journey, a fun “departure” with a “hike” along a “trail” of Jack O’Lanterns (and lots of other cool Halloween-themed decor) set up in the middle of the woods. It made for a fantastic evening walk and a great send-off…
3 October 2024: Keeping up with “tradition” Ruby went to the car wash and got some detailing prior to hitting the road. We loaded up and got everything prepped and ready for “take off,” just a little bit “excited” to explore this “new” route…
1 October 2024: We’ve been really lucky with the weather, as summer is “holding on” and today was just perfect. Relaxed by the fire pit late into the evening, enjoying the odor the pine cones gave to the fire…
THIS MONTH:
Roadtrip time! Heading south in search of the history of the Mississippi Delta region, with a focus on Louisiana and the different styles of music that evolved there as different cultures came together “back in the day.” Of course we will also be exploring some of the backcountry and enjoying the outdoors along the way…
COMING UP SOON:
Making a quick stop at Overland Expo East. Overland Expo EAST is located in the heart of the Blue Ridge Mountains near George Washington & Jefferson National Forests, and Shenandoah National Park and runs from Friday October 4th to Sunday October 6th. No other event features a gathering of so many overland legends, authors, and experts. Overland Expo EAST offers more than 300 session-hours of incredible programs—that’s 150+ different classes, slideshows, demonstrations, and activities—brought to you by 100+ instructors and presenters from around the world…
USnomads.org is very proud to be presenting the fourth edition of the Nomad Overland Virtual Adventure Rally in 2025. This is a unique kind of rally experience — a ten week event that participants can do from anywhere within the continental U.S.A. Competitors design their own routes as part of the rally, then drive it in a points-based online competition that includes optional activity tasks, quests and weekly challenges. The 2025 rally will run from 2 June – 10 August and is open to any driver within the United States who has an off-road capable vehicle — stock or modified. Registration for 2024 is currently open. For more information see the Rally website …
HIGHLAND SCENIC BYWAY
The Highland Scenic Highway is a beautiful corridor through West Virginia’s Monongahela National Forest extending 43 miles from Richwood to US Route 219, seven miles north of Marlinton. The Highway follows State Route 39/55 for 21 miles from Richwood to the Cranberry Mountain Nature Center. It then turns onto State Route 150 for the 22 mile parkway section. The Highway traverses the mountainous terrain of the Allegheny Highlands and Plateau, and rises from Richwood, elevation 2,325 feet, to over 4,500 feet along the parkway. Black Mountain is the highest point on the highway at 4,550’. The Highway is a paved two-lane road and is not maintained for winter travel (it is normally closed from early December to March). Four Scenic overlooks provide spectacular views of the Allegheny Highlands, each with unique views into the surrounding valleys…
PENNSYLVANIA’S STATE GAME LANDS NO 311
State Game Lands No. 311, located in Elk County, consists of 3,792.9 acres of mostly mountainous and wooded terrain. Pennsylvania’s remnant elk herd use this game lands as its primary range. Other prevalent wildlife species that can be found here are bear, deer, turkey and grouse. This fall, the Northcentral Region Office of the Pennsylvania Game Commission hosted a series of “open trail” days on state game lands where the general public was invited to come out and explore. Specific trails were opened to vehicles licensed for travel on public roads (no ATVs or SxS) and staff set up informational “stations” at various points where visitors could stop and learn more about habitat projects and hunting and trapping opportunities. A roughly 3.5-mile self-guided drive provided a peek behind the curtain on the elk range starting at the Winslow Hill Viewing Area in Benezette before entering the game lands at the bottom of Dewey Road and continuing to Porcupine Road. The route showcases elk habitat management including the planting and maintenance of forage plots and the use of prescribed fire, early successional and aspen forest management, acid mine drainage treatment, grassland bird and American kestrel management, and recent infrastructure improvements including two different styles of Game Commission bridges…
RISE OF THE JACK O’LANTERNS
Rise of the Jack O’Lanterns features “the World’s Longest Jack O’Lantern Trail” at roughly one-mile long with over 10,000 illuminated objects including 7,000 hand-carved jack o’lanterns, 3,000 specialty lanterns, and hundreds of family-friendly Halloween-themed visual displays. The Rise is a unique and immersive walk-through experience with the illuminsated jack o’lanterns creatively arranged along a scenic path through the woods at night. This is the event’s 11th season and the trail will only be open for 18 select nights…
Nesconset | Paris | Belgrade | Arrington | Mandeville | New Orleans
MORE NOTES FROM THE ROAD:
September – New York
August – New York
26-31 March – Eastbound
20-25 March – NM
15-19 March – DVE
9-14 March – AZ
1-8 March – NV & AZ
23-29 February – Glamis
16-22 February – Roadtrip SW
1-15 February – Roadtrip SW
January – Paris
22-31 December – Holiday Roadtrip
15-21 December – Holiday Roadtrip
1-14 December – Holiday Roadtrip
8-30 November – New Jersey
1-7 November – Cape Cod
27-31 October – Cape Cod
16-26 October – Long Island
1-15 October – Roadtrip East
23-30 September – Roadtrip East
16-22 September – Colorado
8-15 September – Moab LONCON
1-7 September – Roadtrip West
Archive
ROADTRIP
An epic journey crisscrossing the USA from east to west and back again, exploring some of the beautiful wild spaces that make up our “public lands.” The roadtrip covered almost 15,000 miles, much of it off-grid and off-pavement, focusing on the deserts of the American southwest. Some locations were truly “iconic” while others were little known, and the segments of independent exploration where punctuated with some fun events across the region… [read]
SPECIAL REPORT
All about exploring ghost towns and abandoned places in the USA and beyond, with tips, and information on the many different types of sites to be found across the globe, including detailed guides for eight specific sites… [read]
REFLECTIONS
EGYPT: CAIRO REFLECTIONS
A quick overview of impressions from a stop in Cairo during our recent scouting mission in Egypt and Sudan … [read]
SPECIAL REPORT
A look into south-eastern Algeria on the border with Libya and Niger: overlanding with the Tuareg in one of the most remote corners of the Sahara … [read]
LOCATION
This installment of a series that focuses on locations around the USA takes a look at some favorite places near our home base in NY. We share a few places we like to explore, where you can experience something of the raw natural beauty of coastal beaches, pine barrens and a little bit of obscure military history… [read]
