< more recent | 16 – 23 September 2021 | older >
24 September 2021: Had an afternoon to explore around Grand Junction CO today, and following the advice of a friend decided to pick up a scenic route that goes through the town of Gateway on Highway 141, with lots of trails, overlooks, camp spots and scenic ruins. Just enjoyed a nice easy drive with plenty of photo stops …
23 September 2021: Broke camp at Vedauwoo and turned south into Colorado via a different route than before, this time taking the way that passes through the Arapaho National Wildlife Refuge. It is a route I had wanted to take the first time I came to Vedauwoo, but that time there were wildfires through this whole area, and in fact on the drive today I passed through long stretches of burned forest that were just beginning to show signs of new life. Stopped at the refuge to do the driving loop and had some great encounters with Pronghorn Antelope including a moment where I felt like they were “racing” me, running just a bit ahead of the Jeep, then speeding up when I sped up, as if to stay just far enough ahead to not be caught, but almost playing with me. I guess it is instinctual, and how they outrun their predators while conserving the maximum amount of energy for the long haul. I was also super excited to find some prairie dogs here, and I spend some time observing them before heading off to another area of the refuge for a hike and a fruitless search for moose (I saw tracks but no animals). After the refuge I continued straight down the rest of the way towards Grand Junction with a few more photo stops for incredibly beautiful locations en route…
22 September 2021: Took the whole day to explore around Vedauwoo, happy that I was finally able to camp here after so many unsuccessful tries (between wildfires and late snowfalls, the area had been closed every time I stopped here). Went exploring on foot in a few different areas, then took the Jeep on the backcountry trails to get a larger view of the landscape, and found a lot of great places for dispersed camping that I will remember the next time. It felt very “free” climbing around the rocks and I actually climbed up quite high without realizing I was doing it, then had to find my way back down which always seems a lot harder (at times like these I can totally relate to a cat stuck in a tree) …
21 September 2021: Made it to Vedauwoo in the early afternoon and set up camp in the campground, quickly making a fire to take the chill out of the air. It was already cold and very windy, but I was determined to finally camp here. Finding a spot wasn’t so easy, as many of the spots were full or else were “walk in” and I needed my Jeep to be nearby, so I drove the camp loops until I found a site that turned out to be really good, as it had a nice view on the rock formations and was tucked in between some trees and rocks which added privacy…
20 September 2021: Continued the drive across Nebraska, with a short stop at the Archway attraction in Kearney, where I actually went and had a walk through the museum exhibits to stretch my legs a bit. I also took a walk around the outdoor exhibits which I have already visited a few times before. Today there were these really pretty yellow wild flowers blooming everywhere. From Kearney I pressed on into Wyoming, and stopped for the night in Cheyenne …
19 September 2021: Broke camp and headed to the Neal Smith Wildlife Refuge to see the buffalo on a very windy day, then continued the route into Nebraska, stopping at a “new” place to camp there — Pawnee Lake…
18 September 2021: Long drive day but made it across three states, and all the way into Iowa. Stopped randomly at a Lake McBride state park to set up camp for the night and was surprised by the swampy forest landscape which didn’t seem very “mid-western” at all…
17 September 2021: Didn’t see any elk despite looping through a lot of the same areas where we saw them last year. Perhaps it is a little too early for the rutting season. In the afternoon continued west into Ohio before stopping to camp for the night at a place called Harrison Lake …
16 September 2021: Left New York and crossed most of Pennsylvania today before stopping not far from Benezette PA, the heart of “elk country.” The plan is to go looking for elk in the morning before picking up the road west again …
THIS MONTH:
Overlanding trip across the country from east to west as we return to the deserts of the southwestern USA for some training, exploring and events happening this fall. The focus is simple: taking the slow road and enjoying the journey…
COMING UP SOON:
Joining Team 127 in this year’s Rebelle Rally from 7-16 October 2021. The Rebelle covers more than 2,000 kilometers of stunning terrain across the Nevada and California desert. Blending the love of driving with the ultimate challenge of precise navigation, the Rebelle pushes participants to test their skills over 8 days of competition. It is designed as the ultimate competition combining multiple navigation rally skills including headings, hidden checkpoints, time, and distance using maps, compass, and roadbook…
Taking part in the Ladies Offroad Network Top Ten Weekend, the “grand finale” of the Annual Ladies Offroad Challenge where ten ladies get to join Charlene Bower for a 4-day epic weekend experience. Participants earned their spot in the “Top Ten Weekend” by competing in a series of 11 Challenges over 10 weeks, and now get to enjoy a fun and action-packed weekend of learning and adventure …
Roadtrip time, again, as we turn around and start heading back east. The plan is to take the slow road from Arizona to New York with a few fun detours along the way…
Every Day Is a Clean Up Day in 2021. Ladies Offroad Network has partnered with TreadLightly! to create a year-long program that encourages members to pick up trash on the trails whenever they are out off-roading. Participants simply pick up the trash, weigh it, take a photo, and log the location and time it took, then upload the details. At the end of the year there will be a series of prizes based on pounds of trash removed from the trails as well as participation in other TreadLightly! initiatives. This is a great way to do some good on a local level and make a larger impact via the national program…
Return to Paris for a few weeks to connect with friends and favorite places, with a bit of urban exploration in between. Looking forward to familiar locales and fun times in the city of light once again…
Advanced sand dune training with Barlow Adventures at the Imperial Sand Dunes in southern California. This three day driving and navigation program focuses on moving safely and effectively through large dunefields. Skills-building exercises are intended to improve pace, line choice and vehicle control, as well as developing precision map and compass navigation technique…
Trail Guiding for the California 4-Wheel Drive Association’s second annual Death Valley Experience fundraiser event running in March. Each day will feature a choice of runs to some famous, some infamous and some secretive points of interest within Death Valley National Park. The runs will depart from Furnace Creek and from Stovepipe Wells. Some of the points of interest we will visit during Death Valley Experience 2021 include Zabriskie Point (famous), Barker Ranch (infamous) and the Racetrack (learn the secret of the moving rocks). Other points of interest include Dante’s View, 20 Mule Team Canyon, Artists’ Drive, Chloride Cliffs, Aguereberry Point, Skidoo, Titus Canyon, and Darwin Falls. All of the trail runs are suitable for novice drivers and SUVs with high clearance and 4-wheel drive…
Stay tuned for a new kind of exciting adventure coming up in Summer 2022. Details will be released early next year…
MORE NOTES FROM THE ROAD:
1-15 September – CT Training
August – Paris
July – LI & CT
June – LI & VA
16-31 May – Long Island
8-15 May – Return to NY
1-7 May – Southeast Utah
23-30 April – LON Bogi’s & 5+
16-22 April – LON Navigation
8-15 April – Sedona
1-7 April – Nevada
16-31 March – New York
8-15 March – Death Valley
1-7 March – Arizona
22-28 Februay – Alabama Hills
15-21 Februay – Mojave Road
8-14 Februay – Death Valley
1-7 Februay – Glamis
15-31 January – Roadtrip Southwest
1-14 January – Long Island
22-31 December – Holiday Roadtrip
15-21 December – Holiday Roadtrip
7-14 December – Holiday Roadtrip
1-6 December – Long Island
15-30 November – Long Island
1-14 November – Long Island
28-31 October – Roadtrip East
22-27 October – Moab
15-21 October – Moab
8-14 October – Moab
1-7 October – Roadtrip West
16-30 September – Roadtrip West
1-15 September – Long Island
16-31 August – Long Island
1-15 August – Summer Roadtrip
Archive
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]
RE-OPENING
Report from the first trail run with the Off Road Consulting group at Rausch Creek Off Road Park as the post-pandemic phased re-openings begin in Pennsylvania and some of our favorite local trails re-open to the public after the two-month shutdown… [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]
