Recent content by ZombieCat

Spring/summer trips are booked, kicking it off with a non-camping visit to Arizona. Here’s hoping all the bad mojo from 2024 - the killer storms, injuries, wildfires and excessive heat - are in the rear view mirror. Hoorah!

A new bear spray holster! Purchased from Marsupial Gear, Phoenix, AZ. Molle compatible, lightweight and durable. Bring on the grizzly bears! (Not really, lol…)

“Off grid” in the southeast U.S. may be tricky. We have nowhere near the amount of public lands that the western states enjoy. You have only 3-5 days, so don’t spend all of it driving. Choose one location and spend the entire trip there. Less chaos, more relaxation. It appears your wife is not...

Great build! For increased durability of the wood finish, you could use a marine polyurethane like Minwax Helmsman. Also, you mentioned adding stabilizers. I’m not sure of the brand, but check out the ones used on Anti Shanty trailers. I know someone who owns one of their rigs and those...

Divide Creek is a great suggestion! If they’re full, Heart of Glacier is next door and also a good place to stay. Because you’ll be entering from the east side, you won’t need a vehicle reservation to drive the GTTSR (assuming it has opened for the season). Just don’t go past the Apgar...

I have a console safe from Lock’er Down, which has sadly closed up shop. I love that it’s hidden and reasonably secure. An alternative is Console Vault. I can’t personally speak to their capabilities, but it seems to be the closest alternative. https://www.consolevault.com

That’s pretty much the route I found. You’ll likely see some amazing scenery in Alaska, but if you have the time, the Icefields Parkway (Hwy 93 in Alberta) might be worth the detour. I was only able to visit the area south of Saskatchewan Crossing last year due to the fires in Jasper (my...

As @K12 asked, what is your planned route/style of travel? Will you meander your way to Prudhoe Bay, using secondary and/or unpaved roads? Or is the goal to get there as quickly as possible? I ran a route query through Google Maps using Omaha as a starting point in June. It’s approximately 3750...

Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. -Helen Keller

Hi Matt, You didn’t say how long your trip will last, but if the North Rim opens a bit late, you can find plenty to do along your route to keep you busy: Capitol Reef National Park, Grand Staircase-Escalante and Vermillion Cliffs National Monuments, Dixie National Forest, Zion and Bryce National...

Adventure is on the horizon! Three short trips are planned - Arizona, North Carolina and Kentucky - followed by a two month summer meander thru my beloved western mountains!

FYI, Bass Pro sells a nice padded bag to carry/protect your Camo Chef stove for $20. It keeps mine from getting beat up.

MSR and GSI Outdoors both have nice sets of stainless nested pots/pans. Your Jetboil is fine for most things, especially heating water, or you could get a Pocket Rocket or similar stove. My plates and bowls for travel are all the cheap plastic stuff you can buy at Walmart/Target. They work fine...

Oh, I agree! The numbers are best case scenarios. And don’t forget that those “cool” overlanding accessories - steel bumpers, winch, swing gate, rocksliders, aftermarket roof rack, etc. - all eat away at your already meager payload rating. You really have to be frugal in both outfitting your rig...