Archive for October 2016

Get Going! 5 Steps to Go From Dream to Reality

By on October 13, 2016

The moment has finally come. You step out your door for the last time. The planning is done.  The preparation is as complete as you can make it. You’re free. The adventure has begun!

Getting to that point can seem impossible at times. The dream seems distant and tenuous. How do we handle the job, the mortgage, the kids’ school, the responsibilities?  The needs of daily life press in from all sides, leaving precious little time to dream of big adventures in faraway places, much less to take the steps to make the dreams a reality.

Set A Date

For both of our overland trips, we found that the first and most important step required to actually make the trip a reality was to set a date. Even if that date is two or more years in the future, a concrete date changes your mindset. Suddenly all of things that you knew you needed to do to get ready turn into important tasks, not just things that should get done someday.

Put a “countdown clock” somewhere in your house where you’ll see it every day. “434 days till departure.” Your trip suddenly becomes real. You’re going to do it. It’s going to happen!

Save, Save, Save!!

Once you have a date set, you should also have in mind how much money you want to have in the bank before you leave. This number might be the main driver for your departure date. Don’t forget to include trip-related expenses — for example, new tires for the car you’ll be taking, or maybe a rooftop tent.

Figure out how much money you can save each month and do the math to determine how long it will take to save up that much. Once you have a date set evaluate your purchases with the trip in mind. That Indian place down the street is really good and you’ve been jonsing for a vindaloo, but maybe the long term goal is more important.

Make a To-Do List

Every time you think of something you’ll need to do before you can leave, put it on the list. You might categorize the list based on how much lead time it requires. Here’s a sample of just a few of the things on our pre-departure list:

  • Talk with a property manager about renting out our house (a few months prior to departure)
  • Renew passports
  • Research travel medical insurance
  • Find a storage locker for our stuff

Be sure to include on your lists things you can do now. Setting up a website for your blog or designing a storage and sleeping system for the inside of the family minivan are two examples of things that can be done way in advance.

Once you start accomplishing things and checking them off the list, you’ll feel like you’re taking concrete steps toward your goal, and the trip will become more and more real with each passing day.

Keep Tabs on the Overlanding Community

Join overland Facebook groups, such as Overland Sphere, International Overland Families, online forums like Horizons Unlimited, and subscribe to travel newsletters, like The Practical Overlander.

Watching others as they plan, prepare and ultimately depart on their trips will give you the sense that what you’re doing is within reach.

Learning from those with actual overlanding experience can save you a lot of time and energy.

Ask your questions and engage in discussions. There are a number of topics that you can watch:

  • Destination specific topics will have discussions on where to go and what to see and do along your route. You’ll also find information about the current political situation and learn about issues involving borders and officials.
  • If you’re preparing or building a vehicle or camper, you can get lots of ideas for modifications and layouts from people who have tested various approaches.
  • Bringing the kids? Connect with other families on the road and learn about approaches and challenges to keeping kids entertained and educated while traveling.

Prepare the Vehicle

Purchasing your trip vehicle (if you don’t already own it) and getting it ready can be an enjoyable part of the preparation.

Purchasing the van we took on our most recent trip was a big step toward making the trip a reality. A one-ton diesel van was a completely impractical vehicle for our urban lives. Seeing it sit in the driveway as we left for work each day, it seemed to call out to us to get going, get on the road, and to not look back.

our van build

If like us you’re bringing a vehicle that isn’t your daily driver, start designing and building the interior. Jennifer and I were each working full time jobs up to our trip (see the section above on Save Save Save), so we worked with a local company, Colorado Camper Van, to implement our design for our home on wheels.

Keep the Momentum

Once you get started taking concrete actions to make your trip a reality you’ll find that it takes on a life of its own. You’ll check something off your list, but think of three other things to take its place. But that’s okay, you still have 434 days till departure. Oops. Make that 433 days.

Van driving in Chile

 

Are you itching to get out on your own overland adventure?  What is your biggest challenge?  Leave us a comment below and tell about us your travel dreams!  Subscribe to our newsletter and receive our best content in your inbox.

This entry is filed under Getting Started. | 4 Comments

The Unexplored “West End” of Montrose County

By on October 13, 2016

October used to be “Moab Season” for me. At least once a year we’d pack the car with camping gear and mountain bikes and head to the desert outdoor recreation mecca that Moab has been for the past 20 years or so. With stunning red canyons, sheer cliff faces, arches, fantastic mountain biking and wild camping in the desert, what’s not to love?

Over the years more and more people got the same idea and today on a spring or fall weekend it’s tough to find a spot to camp. The popular trails can become so crowded they’re almost no fun anymore.

Last spring Arches National Park had to be close briefly due to traffic congestion.

Last spring Arches National Park had to be close briefly due to traffic congestion.

 

So last weekend when I had the chance to get away for a couple of days, I decided to head “out west.” Not as far west as Moab, but almost to the Utah-Colorado border. Home to the tiny towns of Nucla and Naturita, there’s no way to access the area via a paved road without leaving the county. Either by dirt roads across the Uncompahgre Plateau or by going the long way around through Ridgway, it’s over two hours from Montrose.

With similar elevation, climate, and topography to southeastern Utah, the West End is a fantastic destination for those looking to get off the beaten track.

History

Like Utah, the area owes much of its early development to mining. Some gold was mined, but the main industry was uranium and vanadium. These two minerals gave the now-defunct town of Uravan it’s name. Mines cling to the cliffs overlooking highway 141 as it winds its way through the canyon. One company even hung a man-made canal off the side of a cliff to bring water to a mine.

The hanging flume was started in 1887 and operated for 3 years before the mine it served went bust.

The hanging flume was started in 1887 and operated for 3 years before the mine it served went bust.

Mountain Biking

I came primarily to mountain bike and got some recommendations from a local. Mountain biking here falls more into the “adventure” category, with most trails following old mining two-tracks through the rough wilderness. Scenery abounds though, and if like me you enjoy canyon country you’ll be right at home.

Even on a fall weekend with perfect riding temperatures in the mid 70s, I had the trails to myself. Not mostly to myself, I mean I was completely alone. In six hours in the saddle I saw not a single other rider. Or hiker, or ATVer for that matter.

The trails themselves are not well worn in. I could see tire tracks from other bikers, but none seemed recent. As is to be expected on old mining roads, there is some hike-a-bike as the roads were designed to reach mining areas, not for recreation. To me this just added to the sense of adventure.

At the entrance to Red Canyon. The trail climbs about 5 miles into the canyon following old two-track.

At the entrance to Red Canyon. The trail climbs about 5 miles into the canyon following old two-track.

At the head of the canyon the trail climbs steeply up to the top of the mesa.

At the head of the canyon the trail climbs steeply up to the top of the mesa.

Views into the Paradox Valley with the La Sal mountains in the background make the climb worthwhile.

Views into the Paradox Valley with the La Sal mountains in the background make the climb worthwhile.

 

The Y-11 loop features some fun, fast, and technical singletrack. At times the trail clings tenuously to narrow benches high above the canyon floor.

The Y-11 loop features some fun, fast, and technical singletrack. At times the trail clings tenuously to narrow benches high above the canyon floor.

Camping

Established campgrounds can be found on the Uncompahgre Plateau, but this time of year I wanted to stay at lower elevations. There is a semi-developed campground near the old Uravan townsite known as the “ballpark” with picnic tables and portable toilets. It’s also easy to drive a short distance up one of the side roads off the highway and find a secluded spot to bed down for the night.

Finding a secluded campsite is no problem. And for star gazers, the skies don't get much darker.

Finding a secluded campsite is no problem. And for star gazers, the skies don’t get much darker.

Motorized Fun

With it’s maze of rough dirt roads, the area is perfect for exploration by dirt bike, ATV, or 4×4. The recently inaugurated Rimrocker Trail is a 161 mile long back country route linking Montrose with Moab. The trail is meant primarily for ATVs, but could be used by mountain bikers as well.

So the next time you’re in need of some solitude in the desert, head south from Grand Junction and explore this little known secret.

Colorful fall aspens on the Uncompahgre Platea

Colorful fall aspens on the Uncompahgre Plateau

 

 

 

 

 

This entry is filed under colorado.