So Let's get this started...

Like I said the other day, I am going to be hitting the road soon...    and there is some prepping I have to do to get everything ready...

I want to do this as efficiently as possible (Least amount of cash) and maximize my time on the road...

"The Seeds":

So last summer (2025), after 13 years, and 220,000 miles, I traded my Jeep Wrangler in for a new Jeep Gladiator-Rubicon. 

My 2010 Jeep Wrangler

It was my intention to get it set up as an "overlanding" ready vehicle, so that meant adding some new 'bells and whistles' to the already pretty stacked out Gladiator. So I added the "Decked" storage system in the bed area, and then added a "Lost Canyon" rack on the back.  These two items will form the backbone of my overland travels.

My new 2025 Jeep Gladiator - Rubicon

My original plan was to eventually get an overland style camping trailer like the Turtleback line of Overland Trailers...   But unfortunately...  Life kicked me in the teeth in August and I was RIF'd from MITRE after 4 and a half years with the company...  (I told you things have been changing a lot) 

So that was put on hold, as spending nearly $50K on an overland trailer was not feasible for me to do at this time.

But as time progressed through the RIF process...   My wife coming home from Korea (She's been there for two years taking care of her mom who is 94 yrs old) and having a less than enjoyable job search experience (again), the urge to become a gypsy continued to grow...

Then the reality of my own mortality hit as I explained in the last post, with a lot of my Army buddies now going through some serious health issues... I realized seeing my friends as much as possible was more important than sitting in this huge house alone, and wasting away while I job hunt...  And this lit the spark!

So in the back of my mind, I started piecing together a loose plan of what I wanted to do...   And the "Walk-About" was born!

So how to make it happen...

The Plan:

The plan started out as a simple road trip to Arizona to see my brother/best friend, Bill H. who was recovering from open heart surgery. But as I thought about it...   the plan grew...    And my "YouTube" algorithm didn't hold me back either, suggesting "overland" videos, and "how to" and "best gear" and a bunch of other stuff...

And one of the things it showed me was "Dispersed Camping" on BLM (Bureau of Land Management)  or Forest Service land where you can camp for free...  But it's rough/remote camping with no amenities available.  And I am OK with that!

So I started more research and the idea of a Roof Top Tent (RTT) kept popping up. Especially since the Turtleback trailers I was looking at had the (No Brainer) option of adding an RTT to the trailer to make it a "self contained" unit.  So down that rabbit hole I went...    

And I came to the conclusion that for less than $3000, delivered, I could get a top of the line "soft shell" RTT from a company called "23Zero".  "23Zero" is sold via a company in Utah, but the tents are made in Australia!  And the Aussies know how to overland camp!!!  (Some of the best Overland Campers and trailers come from Australia!) 
And while there are bigger units available (sleeping 3 or 4 adults), I don't need one that large, as it will just be me and Sam, so (Ironically) I have chosen the "Walkabout 56 - 2.0" with the optional Annex from 23Zero!

The Walkabout 62 with Annex (Sales Photo)

I plan on placing my order within the next few days, and was told delivery takes 5-7 business days from when the order is placed. 

And as I began planning, the ideas changed slightly...

There is a lot I want to see, while I still can!  (I should mention I am writing this as I recover from a surgery on my neck/shoulder for some of my nerve issues in my arms...)   So my "things to do and see" list has grown considerably!!!

What was a trip to see "brother Bill" has turned into a major cross country, round trip hitting a lot of friends and family along the way, as well as some of the National Parks  and Monuments I have never been to, (and a few I have) to make it an epic road trip for me and Sam!

And with the change to an epic road trip, the planning has also changed.  I want to bring my large ground tent as well, for when I am in a place for more than one night (National Parks) where I can set up a "base camp" and still be able to sight-see without having to tear down and set up the RTT repeatedly.

So the plan now will have me visiting National Parks in WV, TN, (Maybe) AR, AZ, (Maybe) CA, UT, CO, WY, and SD. With visits to friends and family in TX, AZ, (Maybe) CA, CO, SD, (Maybe) WI, and PA in a nearly 8000 mile (Estimated) round trip...  to see this great nation in all it's splendor...   To find myself... To think about the future...   and just live while I still can...

Some of the planned places I hope to visit

You all will be coming along...

Its time to go for a walk-about...

 Welcome back to the "Sage Adventurer"...  

It's been quite a while since I have posted, and that is because there has been a lot going on in my personal life that has kept me pre-occupied with survival...

And that's what brings me to where I am at now...   Survival...

A lot has happened in the past 24 months in my personal/family life...
A lot has happened in the past 6 months in my professional life...

My health isn't much better. In fact, as I write this, I am recovering from surgery on the nerves in my neck/shoulder.  

I have spent a lot of time here at the house alone over the last two years...    I have spent a lot of time thinking about the future the past six months.

And reality keeps hitting me in the face...   Time is running out...   And I am not going to live forever...

And I am reminded of that when I look at my brothers in arms, and what is going on with them...   In the past 24 months... Jeff M. had open heart surgery...  "Moose" has lost nearly all his vision...  My best friend and Brother Bill H. lost his wife to Leukemia a little over 18 months ago, and then ended up having open heart surgery before Christmas... Greg P. was diagnosed with bone cancer, and has his entire femur and knee replaced with titanium, and has been going through chemo treatments...   And finally another friend, Chris N. passed away a few weeks ago from heart failure (COPD).

And it hit me hard...   we are all dying...   I AM DYING...  every day...   a little bit at a time...

So I have decided while I can...   Regardless of the expenses involved...   I am going to take a few weeks and live the gypsy life...  Load up the Jeep...   Grab Sam...   And take an epic road-trip to see the country while I still can...    And before life forces me to be an adult again...

I will begin sharing more about my plans as they become solid...
I plan on Vlogging on my YouTube channel the preps I am going to be doing to get ready and then sharing as much as I can on our travels...

I will be updating this as well...  So this is just a return to writing as I begin this journey that will take place in the next month or so...

So stay tuned...   And enjoy the ride...

Finally finding ME time in nature...

 

So I finally got my lazy ass outside and did a "REAL" hike... (More than 3 miles, and not on sidewalks in my neighborhood...)

I did a 7.3 mile loop at Prince William Park National Forrest outside Quantico VA.   It's a nice quiet park, without all the hustle and bustle of major National Parks, but still busy enough where you will find people should an emergency arise.

I actually first visited the park a few weeks ago and did an 11.2 mile bike ride...  I had been ridding the trails along the Rappahannock River in Fredericksburg, but they are pretty flat, and pretty crowded so I wanted something a little better.   

That took me to Mott's Run Reservoir City Park, also in Fredericksburg, but that 6.7 mile loop is a bit on the physically demanding side, which got me looking for something a little gentler to ride with the wife some time in the future...   And PWP was the answer.

When I was looking for the bike rides, I found that Prince William Park has a lot of single use trails (Hikers Only) and aren't that difficult.  Water crossings are all bridged, and the trails are well maintained.

The trails are clearly marked, but they are not color coded to the map I had, so you had to pay attention to the signage as well.  I had also downloaded the trail onto my phone via Gaia GPS Maps, so it made staying on the right trail easy.  (Lots of intersecting trails, and fire roads, so getting misrouted could be possible.)

The route I took went counter clockwise, and seemed to be "against the grain" as I passed a lot of people going the other way, and not many going the same direction. But since the trail starting at the visitors center is one way out to the North Valley or South Valley trails, it doesn't matter which way you go. 

While the trails are smooth for the most part, there are areas where roots are exposed and could create a tripping hazard, but like I mentioned before, the trails are well maintained and are an easy walk.  (I did use my walking sticks though, just because of the issues with my knees and ankles.)

And even thought the elevation guide from Gaia shows some major changes, they are for the most part gradual, and never really slowed me down... But it will still get your heart rate up, and your lungs working overtime!!! (Maintained about a 3 mph pace the whole way, which for a first time out on an unfamiliar trail, was a good pace.)

I wore my GoPro Hero8 Black on this hike, just to record the video...  And since I upload my videos to the GoPro Cloud, they send back a quick little "highlights" video to show you what you recorded (And what GoPro is capable of.) I wanted to share the clips here, but they exceeded the 100MB limit so here is a link (I hope it works) 

GoPro Highlights video

I will definitely be going back soon... 

And more to come here as well...

2024... Off to an unusual start...

 So my life is never simple...

Work...   Family...  Health (Physical and Mental)...   All are constantly taking me in different directions...

And this year isn't looking to be any different...

I won't ever talk about work...  But it's got its ups and downs lately...   Some of which have me thinking about a lot of things in my future...

My health is the next thing...  Back trying to loose some weight, to try to fix some other things that I can control...   And hopefully make the things I can't a little better to deal with.  So hopefully there will be more hikes and bike rides and adventures to share this year...

Family is another issue all together...   But its not really something for a blog about my "adventures", but depending on how things go with my health issues...   and how they affect my work situation...  Because of my current situation, things may look very different in 12-18 months...   But who knows any more...

Anyways...   For anyone who may actually read this...   Remember to make time for yourself...   Take a "mental health day" OFTEN...    Take the trip...  See the sites...  DO SOMETHING...   LIVE your life...  Trust me...  You don't want to be like me and regret all the missed opportunities because you thought it wasn't important...

GET OUTSIDE and LIVE...

Surviving...

 So here is an update on all the "Sage Adventures" of the year...

I have managed to get my basement finished...  (But not in time for the wedding unfortunately...)

I do have some minor finishing projects for the basement still, but its mostly done...

I managed to survive the wedding its self... And the wedding I have to say, was more than I could have ever expected!!!

Unfortunately, my health issues are still lingering...    Achilles Tendon issues...   Cervical spine issues...  and the ever present "demons" lurking... (Which were part of the reason I started my blog...)

I do hope to get back to the outdoors soon...   The Appalachian Trail and Shenandoah National Park are calling me...   Even if its just for a weekend get away...

Regardless...   I do have my annual hunting trip home to South Dakota in a few weeks... So at least there is that...

More to come soon...  I promise!!!  (And Hopefully some YouTube content as well!!)

Restart...

 Just checking in with everyone...

Been a crazy year...  and with an upcoming wedding in a few months...   It will be just as crazy...

I am hoping to take some "me time" between working on my basement, traveling for work, and getting ready for wedding guests etc. to find some 'me time' and explore some 'day hikes' in the Shenandoah Park area, which is just an hour away...

New gear...  New trips...  (Probably new injuries knowing my luck) but want to make the best of things while I can...

More to come in the very near future!!!

Has it really been a year???

 WOW...

A year since I last posted...  this is NOT good...

Happy New Year!!!  Lots to update anyone who stumbles across this blog on...   More to come tomorrow!!

YouTube... I am there... (I think)

 So I am in the process of setting up a YouTube Channel to post my videos to.   

As I post videos, I will share the links here, since I am not sure where I will be getting the most traffic...  (I am guessing YouTube...)

More to come!!!

(Welcome to the 21st Century...)

Link to my YouTube Channel:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC5xW9wR-_6MW6ECDXei_bkQ

Summer "Vacation" has begun...

Finals are over...
I am still unemployed...
I am living the life of a 'real' college student, sitting at home in the basement, playing the Play Station... LOL    But not for long!

Was hoping to head west this next week for a few days of solo-camping, but I don't think the weather is going to cooperate... (I can/will hike in the cooler temps...  But not the rain, and the Black Hills are expecting rain most of this next week. (Even a chance of Snow on Monday!)   So the earliest I might head out is NEXT weekend (5/17) for a couple days.

Plus it gives me some extra time to put together the pre-hike videos and posts, explaining the process again...

So now that all I am doing is "looking" for work...  I will have more time to blog away!!!

The next few weeks...

So it looks like things are FINALLY getting back to "normal" (Whatever normal will be after this...)

Anyways...    Classes are done...  Finals this week...   and then the summer starts...   Of course, my focus then turns to finding a damn job...   But oh well...

Anyways!    This time of year always brings my annual post-school trip to hike and clear my head.  I had thought about going to Cloud Peak Wilderness in Wyoming...  But after talking to the Forest Service office out there...   the trails and passes are still snow-packed, and will be, usually until the end of June.  So my trip this year will be back to the Black Hills, and Black Elk Wilderness again.  Maybe going at it from a different direction again as well just to keep it interesting.

Because of finals this week as I mentioned, and next Sunday being Mothers Day, I will probably head out some time after that. And because I am not currently employed, I don't have to worry about vacation balances, or taking time off.   So I may stay three or four days this trip.  That will be determined soon.

Along with all of this. Since classes are done, I will have some time to get some new content added.  Maybe a video or two before.   Some from "during" for sure...   And maybe one when I am done.   Explaining the details that go along with getting ready for and then going on a solo hike. Then a recap at the end to close it all out with things I learned or experienced on the trip.

Hope to share a lot of good things this summer...  Since there aren't a lot of good things going on in my world right now.

More soon...

GRS

New Link: "Wilderness.net"

So I am getting things ready for my annual spring trip to SOMEWHERE...   And I am leaning more towards going to the Bighorn National Forest, and Cloud Peak Wilderness area this year.  So I am doing a lot of research into the area, (I just emailed the Ranger Office to see about trail conditions for mid-May and later (Snow free etc.)

Anyways, because of the COVID stuff going on, I have done more time searching the internet for info and I found a new website from the University of Montana, called "Wilderness.net" and is a way to link to all the US National Wilderness areas quickly.

Here is the link:

https://wilderness.net/default.php

You can search by state or wilderness area name if you know it.   It provides a basic reference to wilderness areas and other information you may want.

Take a look!