Backcountry Overland

11/06/2025

Headed out into "The Pike" (Pike National Forest) late yesterday in hopes of catching a nice sunset and the day before the full moon moonrise. I like the -day before- for photography with the moon still being 99% but sunset colors are still up to enhance things. Mother nature threw some clouds into the mix and ixnayed those photo ops, but still a sweet visit to a location I love out there.
A few miles of mountain biking, then some cross-country woods hiking, then some scrambling and crawling. never a disappointment when I reach "Bill Bell's Bathtub". Some nice quiet time on the rocks listening to the sounds of the forest.

Revisiting a close to home forest location, in hopes of catching the sunset, and almost full moon rise for June. Skunked by westerly clouds for the sunset, a...

11/06/2025

Awesomeness !!!
I donated to the fight.
THANK YOU BRC !!!

Following a signature from President Donald Trump, the use of off-road vehicles and all-terrain vehicles has been restored on roads in the Glen Canyon National Recreation Area.

25/05/2025

Good pedal power two wheelin' it the past week on the home turf trails. About 50 miles of trail riding on a few rides. Have to get the legs spry for running the "escape rig", should I ever need to abandon the 4x4 in the middle of nowhere. Plus, it's just darn good fun to get "out there" and keep the cardio up. I am particularly fond of mid-week late day rides. Most peeps are off the trails, the wildlife is beginning to stir for the evening, and late day colors & sunsets are good for the soul.
This ride I was "having a gas....on Gashouse Gulch". As most of my local rides go, I grunt out the first 1/2 climbing to somewhere, that makes the ride back mostly decent. Our local Buffalo Creek and Pine trails run from 6500 feet, to about 8600 feet.
One of the things I like to do when way out there with the 4x4's, is put on a pack and head out deeper by bike to some places. Then even ditch the bike at some point and hike/backpack further in.
Many ways to Overland, over the land........

A late day May 19 mile ride. The Lower Gashouse gulch segment was the icing on the cake. With the climbing part out done, it's a sweet roller coaster with gr...

27/04/2025

Lake Mohave:
After a sweltering & dry week along the US/Mex Border, exploring 200 miles across El Camino Del Diablo, & continuing my clockwise rotation around Arizona, it was time to find some beaches, cool down, and swim.
Following the distant U.S. terminus territory of the Colorado River, as it wiggled through desert country bifurcated by Arizona-California-and Nevada, maps showed populated and remote shores I could choose from. Havasu and Bullhead City were a bit too congested for my taste, but good to experience. And the Parker Desert Bar with its rough access road was interesting as it closed for the season.
But I spied up Lake Mohave, its surrounding deserts and 4x4 trails, leading to remote shoreline and hidden coves. That looked perfect !

18/04/2025

Good morning "April-tober".... It's been a good couple weeks enjoying warm spring temperatures, even 100° f along El Camino el Diablo last weekend. But this morning in valley of the gods.... After a cold night with some occasional frozen precip, temps were hovering about 40° and looking ominous in the surrounding areas.
Also noteworthy, no more diesel fuel in Bluff ! Either Mexican hat or Blanding are your two next closest.

17/04/2025

As that Wascowy Wabbit once said, "I must have took a wrong turn at Albuquerque!"..... Somewhere hidden out in Kaibab National Forest.....
No flights today. Last flights and tickets sold in 1967.
I love these old abandoned places & ghost towns. Your imagination pictures a once active place in the middle of nowhere. But today, all you hear is the cold blowing wind, some tin roof clattering, loose planks knocking, and dust scattering..... And hoof beats ??

17/04/2025

Tired of the Colorado winter cold, I went out looking for a early April dose of Summer. Southern Arizona seemed to fit the bill for now. After standing on the corner in Winslow Arizona, visiting Theodore Roosevelt reservoir and traversing the four peaks 4x4 Trail over the mountains towards Phoenix, I breezed through the Superstitions, and worked my way to Ajo, where I resupplied for a trek across the infamous "El Camino del Diablo". It's billed as 140 MI across the Sonoran desert from Ajo to Yuma. But you can easily burn up way more mileage exploring down there. I came out in Yuma with 201 off road miles on the clock. Temps were 100 plus degrees during the day, and cozy warm summer like nights.
Here is just a few highlight shots from along the way. I'll be working on some video.

11/04/2025

El Camino del Diablo, Ajo to Yuma underway.... Planning on a 3-day Trek.

18/03/2025

Out in some bentonite hills last fall. Sunset was nice, but my camp perch had a better easterly exposure. So, it was up early the next morning, to catch sunrise colors reflect off the mineral-colored striated hills, with a good cup-o-jo......

08/03/2025

Last July. Rio Grand National Forest, Colorado. 10 miles in from the pavement on dirt, a bumpy moderate rated 14 mile 4x4 road will begin. They will take you 24 miles out to the Lagarita Wilderness edge, at the Wheeler Geological Area. Not too many stay the night way out here. An awesome loop hike through and around the rock formations is awesome.

05/03/2025

A Life Well Lived........

Those are the true words, that begin to share the heartbreaking news. Our outdoor compadre', adventurer, historian, friend to thousands of followers he never met..... Andrew Cross......aka "Desert Drifter", passed away today.
Thousands know, and maybe many don't, that on his way home from an adventure in late January, "desert drifting" out in Bears Ears NM, as he neared home a tragic car accident occured. Sitting at a red light, he was struck from behind with increadible force by a drunk driver, leaving him critically injured and in a coma. Hopes were strong he would come through. But despite the heroics of medical teams, the universe had other plans and Andrew passed today.
If you've followed his outdoor channel, you will know those words above are ever so true. He will surely leave a void in thousands of lives. I for one totally feel heartache and loss, for a fellow outdoor adventurer I never got to meet. I always felt one day we would run into each other out there, since we wandered many of the same remote back country landscapes in the four corners region.
I know from this point on, I will hear his voice, and probably speak to him, whenever I wander those remote desert landscapes and visit & discover remote ruins of the ancient ones.
Peace to you Andrew in the great beyond. You are the epitome of.......A Life Well Lived..........

~~ I encourage anyone who is unfamiliar with Andrew, to visit his youtube channel "Desert Drifter" and watch his videos. He was one of the most ethical adventuring back country stewards, with amazing discoveries, information, and lessons for all. ~~

https://www.youtube.com/.Drifter