Rich i saw your thread a couple of days ago and ALMOST responded, read through it, figured it was just inflammatory and clickbait, and moved on. My initial impression though is obviously not correct. It seems you're legitimately frustrated, and trying to break into a new community and new activity for spending family time. Dude, I TOTALLY get it. Here are my thoughts.
I started my interest in offroading and what is now called overlanding about 3 years ago, when my wife and I were living in Alabama. I spent a lot of time researching, couldn't find any info on any trails or places to go other than a podunk offroad park that really sucked. I was pissed that I ended up with a bunch of pinstriping on my newish truck.
Now, i've got a different vehicle, we live in Texas, my family and I get out more in 3 months than we did the previous 3 years, and I'm slowly realizing a few things:
1) Its not about the destination, its about the journey. I know that's a cliche thing to say, but its true! We just decided this year we were just going SOMEWHERE. So we literally picked the nearest state park, and spent a night out there. It was nothing fancy. We really enjoyed the time, learned some things, and got to test some new equipment, and I realized I didn't know as much about camping as I thought, even though I'm an Eagle scout and grew up in Boy Scouts. I'm SO GLAD i chose to stop worrying about finding the perfect place to go, or even finding something off pavement.
2) Learning a new hobby takes time: As we've done a few more of these trips, I've gotten a little bolder, spent some more time talking to some more local OB members in my area, and we've found some cooler trips to go on! And the thing is, I am NOT TALKING about cool offroad, offcamber, #overlanding trips. There was honestly very little instagramable content on any of these trips. These trips, by the online community's standards, were not cool. But our family got outside, and we learned stuff, and i see us progressing in a direction of learning more and having some great family time. The PROGRESSION has been a huge encouragement and blessing.
3) Getting investment from a community takes time, people tend to invest when they see you invested: Other people already said this. You don't get to walk into a new group of people and say "hey, i'm interested. invest in me". That's just not how people work. I've posted on tons of forums, reached out to friends, acquaintences, people who I KNOW get out every weekend to hunt, expressed interest in offroading and getting out more, and I've NEVER had someone invite me somewhere, or really give me much info on where to go. They give me tidbits. Honestly I'm sort of glad that's how it happened, its forced me to take my time and learn my family's own interests and desires along the way. But the people who didn't offer me anything didn't do anything i see as wrong, they weren't doing those activities so that they could help me with my newfound interest. They were doing those things for THEIR family, close friends, or themselves. I don't get to be part of someone else's inner circle just because I say "hey, we like the same thing".
My point in all of this? Dude, chill out, get some patience, and maybe a little humility. Your post at the beginning WAS inflammatory. Your last comment, that i quoted, towards Michael is SUPER passive aggressive and plays you as a bit of a victim. But do you see people jumping all over you? If this were ih8mud or some other random, larger forum, you would have been roasted in true online hater/troll style. That's not right, but it's how people often react towards comments like that. But go back and read the posts of everybody else posting here. People aren't hating. For the most part, everybody here has been in your boat at some point in their lives, and I hear a lot of empathy and people attempting to offer encouragement and wisdom. Honestly, i'm still sort of there with you. You just can't make your own lack of knowledge someone else's problem, and expect a random online community to fix it for you. In one sense, I'm actually super glad your post encourages more discussion focused on the "noob" or the newcomer, because that person often falls through the cracks. And I can tell you, a lot of the people here are actually interested in the community, geezers, newcomers, and everybody in between. Not the online community, but the real community that's made up of people. If you're not sure, just look at how many members use their real name as their username. What other online community exists where that happens? That's an oddity in today's technology-based relationships.
My recommendation for your questions? If i were anywhere near you and had any knowledge of the trails you're looking at, i'd throw it all at you and love it. Since I'm nowhere near you and have never heard of the trail you're hitting, I'll tell you my general approach to a new trip or route I don't know. Do some research, ask around. Then just go. Try it, and if you find the terrain is pushing you or your equipment or skill beyond safe limits, turn around and accept that as part of the adventure! When you get back, take some notes on what you learned, and try again next time! That's not a failure, there's learning to be had from that experience. Most importantly, maybe approach the community with a little less passive aggressiveness. I promise you, you're never going to grow good relationships with your local community by guilting them into helping you more than they already did. Also, dude, major props for prioritizing getting your family out in nature. God created a gorgeous world out there, and it is a JOY to be in it. Don't give up! Try some stuff and learn some stuff and keep on going. Really hope your trip goes well, and REALLY hope you can hear this community's desire to encourage and help you, not push you aside.
One more note: I may be off, but it sounds like you may not have much experience outdoors, or at least offroading. If you're legitimately concerned about the dangers of being stuck out in the woods with your kids, and no way out, you might seriously consider starting a bit milder, or even taking a trip or two to an offroad park to sharpen your skills a bit, shakedown and check out your equipment and ensure you are prepared to take care of your family on a backwoods adventure. Being backwoods and off the grid is so rewarding, but can be dangerous. If you're unsure, don't rely on random people you don't know to just give you some more reassurances! Maybe build your own ability to be self sufficient off the grid, before venturing ALL the way out. Just a thought. Because I obviously have lots of them
