On this Blog I have barely mentioned that I am doing this four month trip through the rockies but it is actually the reason I started it, so let me familiarize you with my trip:
I will be traveling through New Mexico, Colorado, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana from June 2013 -October 2013
Goals/Strategy
- Safety -Primary goal. Peruse intelligent, preventative backcountry skills and behavior that allow that ability to be efficient and proficient.
- Education - Seek world class outdoor education through institutions like Exum Mountaneering, Colorado Mountain College, National Outdoor Leadership School. Peruse greater education in Wilderness Medicine, Mountaineerng, Rock Climbing and Canoe Touring.
- Experience - Outdoor leadership comes with experience. Spend an extended period of time in the backcountry with variety of different activities/environments.
- Personal Achievement - I am passionate about outdoor recreation with a background in the outdoor industry. This will allow me to gain greater respect within the professional community and connections in the outdoor industry hot spots out west. Visit many of the major National Parks in the Rockies.
Methods/Tactics
Safety is reflected in many of the tactics I will use. Safety in the care of my vehicle, my Jeep, is primary due to its constraints of age and the gear I am hauling. I have more time than anything else on this trip and I have no qualms with taking it slow.
- Set a maximum driving speed at 50mph.
- Minimize interstate travel by using highways and country roads
- Drive no more than 4 hours or 250-350 miles a day.
- For driving in the Mountains seek out river valleys or go find a route to engage in activities while going around the range. *AVOID HIGH MOUNTAIN PASSES WHEN POSSIBLE*
- Start any longer back country stay (> 3 days) at a public lands recreation site that has present local personnel with authority over the safety and law enforcement of citizens present.
- Park the Jeep and start at the most populous trail heads.
- On longer stays always make personal contact with the local authorities and pass on your information packet with emergency contact and important rescue information.
- Take advantage of summer in the rockies and how that attracts many visitors. Traveling without a companion in the mountains can be very dangerous, even on a good day. Having people around and possibly recruiting people at the trail head will be very advantageous to your safety. Many nights will be spent alone in the wild don't worry.
- Use the local state parks and major campgrounds for rest and recovery, access to hot showers, laundry facilities and internet access.
- Rather than drive the shortest distance spend the time jumping from park to park or going to lands with public access over spending the night (and money) in a town.
- Remain in contact with people back home whenever possible. Keep a few contacts as responders. Notify them when you are going in and when you should be out and in contact.
- In the event of vehicle failure at a trail head, or safe location where the vehicle can be stored, use the bicycle touring equipment to go to the nearest town and seek help.
- In the event of major vehicle failure at an early stage in the trip consider renting a storage unit for the jeep and excess supplies and bicycle touring home.
The Jeep is the primary logistical instrument. The Jeep will carry myself and all of my gear safely there and back. It has been serviced and outfitted properly to carry a canoe for interstate travel at 50mph + and a sturdy rack for the bicycles. My safety concerns are not with out cause being the Jeep is 13 years old, 130,000m, and a 2.5l 4 cylnder engine hauling about 600 pounds of gear.
- Locking weather resistant 12 cubic foot roof mounted cargo box.
- A military grade shipping container that will carry three large duffle bags of gear totaling 200cubic liters of space and supplies that will be locked to the roll cage of my Jeep by heavy gauge steel chain.
- About 40 pounds in chains and bicycle locks for the bikes canoe and any gear left at trail head.
- Anti theft measures installed on the jeep.
- A complete set of supplies needed for Mountaineering, Bicycle touring (mountain or road), Canoe touring, and Backpacking. *See inventory page*
- Use gasoline as liquid fuel for the camp stove if needed. This will ensure that you always have fuel. Carry a 1.5-2 gallon gas can in the vehicle.
- 7 Gallon hard plastic water container and 5 gallon gas can.
- $8,000 divided four ways. $2,000 for gas, $2,000 for education $2,000 for food and lodging, $2,000 for Jeep Maintenance/ emergency slush fund.
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