For those that have seen my last few posts you might have noticed the name "East Coast Overland Adventures" in the copyright line of my photos. Although not very cryptic, I have been asked what is a few times. Well, to make a long story short, it's an overland adventure lifestyle blog from an east coast perspective (told you it wasn't very cryptic).
You're probably thinking, "Oh god, here's another one of those bloggers throwing their name out there hoping to become internet famous." While I can't deny the format is what it is, hopefully you'll see I'm trying to approach things a little differently than most of the other 'bloggers' out there. So, without further ado, let me formally introduce myself and what I'm trying to do with East Coast Overland Adventures.
First, a little back story.
Professionally I have over ten years experience in the outdoor education field and a few more at the higher ed level. I taught everything from environmental science (ecology, stream study, geology, etc) to adventure education (rock climbing, canoe/kayak, wilderness survival, etc) as well as facilitated things like team building and character building (low and high ropes courses, zip lines, alpine towers, etc). In that time I worked with groups ranging from K-12 school groups all the way up to executive leadership and management teams from Fortune500 companies. I've even done some government training and consulting with both military and civilian organizations.
On a personal level I've always loved the outdoors. I grew up in the Boy Scouts starting off as a wee little Tiger Cub and progressed all the way to being a Boy Scout. Sadly I never earned my Eagle mainly due to other commitments outside of scouting. However one of the highlights of my time as a scout was attending the National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in 1997, but that's a different story for a different time. Anyway, scouting is how I got my start in outdoor education when I started working my summers at camp (why pay to be a camper when you can get paid to be on staff. Am I right?). Through scouting I accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience as well as an outlook on life that still serves me well to this day. Organizational politics aside, I firmly believe scouting (both for boys and girls) is one of the best organizations for fosterer a love of the outdoors and instilling leadership qualities in our youth. With a lifelong passion for the outdoors (recreationally speaking) and spending time in the outdoor education field it was only natural that I would eventually own a 4x4.
Long before I knew what "overlanding" or "expeditions" were, my plan for my first Jeep was to use it as a mobile basecamp for all my outdoor activities both personally and professionally. For a while that's exactly what happened. At least till I got bit by the rock crawling bug. Through Jeeping I was able to get into trail guiding at events like Jeep's corporate event "Camp Jeep" as well as guiding at the local off-road park. Soon "Jeeping for the sake of Jeeping", coupled with a few health issues, started to overshadow my other outdoor activities. After a few years I started looking at my camping, hiking, and climbing gear and realizing it was collecting a little too much dust (more on that in a second).
Outside of the outdoor education field, I'm also a professional photographer. In 2008 I started 4Low Digital Labs which specializes in off-road events like rock crawling, off-road racing, trail rides, and 4x4 related shows. Over the years I got to cover some really neat events like Ultra4 "King of the Hammers" qualifier races, WERock (World Extreme Rock Crawling) championships, as well as local rock crawling and off-road racing series. My goal with 4Low Digital Labs was mostly to keep me out of the driver seat (cameras are cheaper than race cars), but also blend my love of photography with my love of off-roading.
Now, back to my outdoor gear collecting dust. Through no fault of my own my last academic job ended rather abruptly when the grant funding my position expired and was awarded to a different institution within the PA State System of Higher Education. Aside from feeling like I was throwing under the proverbial bus, I was left high and dry. I took a survey of my surroundings, which included my Jeep and a pile of dusty camping gear. That's where the "No Highways Tour" comes into play.
The "No Highways Tour" ~ A turn toward overlanding
For those that don't know, earlier this year I undertook a 28 day, 5,000 mile, overland trip down the east coast dubbed the "No Highways Tour." The premise was to travel from the Easternmost Point of the Continental 48 at Quoddy Head State Park in Maine all the way to the Southernmost Point at Key West in Florida. The goal for the trip would be to avoid all major highways and get off the beaten path, see the sights, and camp along the way.
Originally the NHT was going to be a way for me to celebrate finishing my Doctorate in Education. With the SNAFU caused the above mentioned professional snag all hope of finishing my doctorate began to evaporate. To be honest I was starting to fall into a really dark place. Then came a make-or-break moment I decided something had to be done.
With the plan for this trip floating in back of my head, my love of the outdoors, and my passion for photography, I decided it was time to throw off the shackles of what other people expected of me (both professionally and personally) and do something I was truly passionate about (more on that in a second). So, midway through the spring I put things into motion and the Wednesday after Memorial Day I left on my trip. On July 4th I was in Florida having completed one of the most memorable trips of my life.
While on the this trip I realized I was not only doing something I loved, which was traveling, but I also realized there was an opportunity for me to come full circle. I came to the realization there was serious potential in combining all the various aspects of my past into something unique for the future. Somewhere in the middle of West Virginia, or maybe somewhere in Virginia, I came up with the idea for "East Coast Overland Adventures."
"East Coast Overland Adventures" ~ A life comes full circle
Like a mad scientist I started laughing maniacally as I put together a recipe for what I hoped/hope would be a unique take on the overlanding adventure lifestyle. With my background in outdoor education, my love of photography, and my talents for teaching and storytelling I set a goal to do something that would not only be fun for me but also a way to give back to the 4x4 community. So, what does that look like?
First, one of my overarching goals with ECOA is to promote and advocate for a budget minded approach to the overlanding adventure lifestyle. I did my entire trip earlier this year in a near-stock eleven year old Jeep. I used a cheap (actually it was free) backpacking tent, and a host of old/used/abused/repurposed camping gear (none of which was made out of titanium). My wardrobe the entire time was fashionably un-tacticool and my Jeep lacked the popular expedition accessories like a snorkel, LED light bars, and imported awnings. Instead of dropping coin on things 12v fridges and fancy pre-built drawers I dusted off my vintage 1980's Colman cooler and built my own cargo box for the back of the Jeep. Although I have nothing against titanium sporks and African/Australian inspired expedition gear the reality is it's just not for me. Maybe I watched way too much MacGyver as a kid but I just enjoy living the "built not bought" lifestyle. I also think there are a lot more people like me out there who could use a little encouragement and inspiration for undertaking their own DIY projects. I also believe every dollar spent on gear means one less dollar spent on fuel. I'd rather eat cold oatmeal out of my old US Army mess kit with a Kabar 3-in-1 utensil set while on a 5,000 mile trip then have the flashiest teak and titanium campsite in the farm field.
Second, I want to emphasis the adventure side of the lifestyle as well. So many people focus on the journey and the means by which they travel that they lose sight of all the other things this lifestyle has to offer. I do not plan on ECOA being solely vehicle-centric. It might eat up a lot of conversations, but that only reflects that our 4x4's are a means to an end. I want to give as much attention to the adventure side as well. That's why I am making the "No Highways Tour" trip an annual thing on top of a lot of other smaller trips that focus on the sights, sounds, and tastes along the way. Just as I've done so far this year I plan to continue logging a lot of time hiking, biking, and boating, not just driving.
Lastly, which I kind of already hinted at, my goal with ECOA is to educate, encourage, and inspire other overlanders; in particular, the novice overlander (which is where the budget angle comes into play). One of the things that turned me off to the overland/expedition scene a few years ago was the attitudes and egos involved and how they looked down their nose at people new to the lifestyle. The emphasis seemed to be more about the right gear, the right clothes, and the right 4x4 than anything else. That was one of the things that drove me further into the rock-crawling side of the 4x4 world. That's not to say the rock-crawling world doesn't have the same problem, it was just easier to tolerate (at the time, and for a while at least).
My idea to educate/encourage/inspire is built on my vast wealth of knowledge and my experience as an outdoor educator. Given my passion for teaching, one part of the plan is to work as an instructor at events teaching and facilitating workshops sharing my knowledge and experience with others. In some respects that's the easy part. The other part of the plan is to tap into my passions for photography and writing and start authoring articles. This is the part that is a little harder to do, do effectively, do authentically, and do well.
Needing a way to (re)establish myself in the scene, come full circle, and combine the various aspects of my life (photographer, philosopher, adventurer, educator, etc) I started the ECOA <cough> blog <cough>. I figured it would, at the very least, give me a new platform (beyond 4LDL and the NHT pages) on which to collect and organize my thoughts as well as give people a place to visit if they liked/enjoyed/believed-in what I was attempting to do.
At any rate, you're probably thinking, "Why make the annocement now if you started all this months ago?"
Current State of Affairs
It might be hard to believe, especially after I've just occupied your time with the above wall of text full of bragging and self-promition, but I'm a relatively humble and somewhat shy person. I have, over the years, done a pretty good job of putting my foot (and at times both feet) in my mouth and burning bridges (some while I'm still standing on them). For a long time I carried a pretty sizable chip on my shoulder and my attitude drove away more people than it impressed. Overtime, and with a lot of introspection after life knocking me down a few rungs, I started to realize respect was earned rather than innate due to credentials and/or experience. Someone once beat me over the head with the mantra, "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." That's one of the reasons I've kept a pretty low profile on sites like this and don't fly a large flag when I'm at events. There's a subversive plan to (hopefully) let my reputation speak for itself. I know it's not a perfect flawless reputation, but I know I'm not a perfect flawless person so I'm okay with that. I also hold no delusions that my reputation is anything more than it is. That's one of the reasons I'm so hesitant to make a post such as this. That said, one of the hardest things I've had to do is not only come to terms with my mistakes (personally and professionally) but to own them as part of my life's journey. So, for better or worse, I've been feeling like this post was becoming overdue and decided to pull the trigger on it.
In the vein of full disclosure I'll admit I am currently making a go at living this lifestyle full-time. I don't expect, or plan, on to become rich and famous by doing so. I'm not in it for the glory or the fame; the money is few and far between; and I sure as hell can't be in it for the chicks (let's be honest, overland events are typically sausage-fests). My goal, to put it simply, is to give back to the overland community through sharing my knowledge and skills, writing articles, and teaching workshops. It certainly doesn't hurt that I'll have a little fun along the way which makes the sacrifices this lifestyle change entails tolerable.
By now you're probably feeling this is way more information than you've ever wanted to know about a <cough> "blogger" <cough> but hopefully you'll see that while there is an ECOA blog it's merely a medium of delivery for a much more comprehensive vision. If you look closely you'll also start seeing my name popup in a few bylines in print, as well as seeing it listed again on the instructor roster at upcoming overland events. That's not to say I won't continue to keep a relatively low profile, I will just because it's part of who I am, but hopefully if you like the cut of my jib you'll keep an out for me and tune in from time to time.
Lastly I'll finish with this statement:
American Adventurist has been, and still is, an awesome community to be a member of. Although I lurked for the first few years it was always nice to visit the site and get a refreshing look on the overland adventure scene in the US and what people have going on. A lot of what I'm trying to do through ECOA is a result of listening to some of the cries coming from this community. Hopefully I can, in a limited way at least, answer some of the cries for quality content free of commercial bias that has more meat to it than just "hey, watch me have fun with my toys and my friends." I can't say I'll hit the mark every time for every person. This is a broad community with a depth and breath of expectations that is impossible for one person to satisfy. What I can promise is that those cries aren't going unheard and there are some of us (I know I'm not alone) trying to not only talk-the-talk but walk-the-walk and give back to you (collectively) as a community that has given so much to its members such as myself. So, with a menu of bloggers, magazines, authors, photographers, and YouTubers growing longer by the day, hopefully I bring something to the American Adventurist table that is little different than what's already out there.
You're probably thinking, "Oh god, here's another one of those bloggers throwing their name out there hoping to become internet famous." While I can't deny the format is what it is, hopefully you'll see I'm trying to approach things a little differently than most of the other 'bloggers' out there. So, without further ado, let me formally introduce myself and what I'm trying to do with East Coast Overland Adventures.
First, a little back story.
Professionally I have over ten years experience in the outdoor education field and a few more at the higher ed level. I taught everything from environmental science (ecology, stream study, geology, etc) to adventure education (rock climbing, canoe/kayak, wilderness survival, etc) as well as facilitated things like team building and character building (low and high ropes courses, zip lines, alpine towers, etc). In that time I worked with groups ranging from K-12 school groups all the way up to executive leadership and management teams from Fortune500 companies. I've even done some government training and consulting with both military and civilian organizations.
On a personal level I've always loved the outdoors. I grew up in the Boy Scouts starting off as a wee little Tiger Cub and progressed all the way to being a Boy Scout. Sadly I never earned my Eagle mainly due to other commitments outside of scouting. However one of the highlights of my time as a scout was attending the National Jamboree at Fort A.P. Hill in 1997, but that's a different story for a different time. Anyway, scouting is how I got my start in outdoor education when I started working my summers at camp (why pay to be a camper when you can get paid to be on staff. Am I right?). Through scouting I accumulated a wealth of knowledge and experience as well as an outlook on life that still serves me well to this day. Organizational politics aside, I firmly believe scouting (both for boys and girls) is one of the best organizations for fosterer a love of the outdoors and instilling leadership qualities in our youth. With a lifelong passion for the outdoors (recreationally speaking) and spending time in the outdoor education field it was only natural that I would eventually own a 4x4.
Long before I knew what "overlanding" or "expeditions" were, my plan for my first Jeep was to use it as a mobile basecamp for all my outdoor activities both personally and professionally. For a while that's exactly what happened. At least till I got bit by the rock crawling bug. Through Jeeping I was able to get into trail guiding at events like Jeep's corporate event "Camp Jeep" as well as guiding at the local off-road park. Soon "Jeeping for the sake of Jeeping", coupled with a few health issues, started to overshadow my other outdoor activities. After a few years I started looking at my camping, hiking, and climbing gear and realizing it was collecting a little too much dust (more on that in a second).
Outside of the outdoor education field, I'm also a professional photographer. In 2008 I started 4Low Digital Labs which specializes in off-road events like rock crawling, off-road racing, trail rides, and 4x4 related shows. Over the years I got to cover some really neat events like Ultra4 "King of the Hammers" qualifier races, WERock (World Extreme Rock Crawling) championships, as well as local rock crawling and off-road racing series. My goal with 4Low Digital Labs was mostly to keep me out of the driver seat (cameras are cheaper than race cars), but also blend my love of photography with my love of off-roading.
Now, back to my outdoor gear collecting dust. Through no fault of my own my last academic job ended rather abruptly when the grant funding my position expired and was awarded to a different institution within the PA State System of Higher Education. Aside from feeling like I was throwing under the proverbial bus, I was left high and dry. I took a survey of my surroundings, which included my Jeep and a pile of dusty camping gear. That's where the "No Highways Tour" comes into play.
The "No Highways Tour" ~ A turn toward overlanding
For those that don't know, earlier this year I undertook a 28 day, 5,000 mile, overland trip down the east coast dubbed the "No Highways Tour." The premise was to travel from the Easternmost Point of the Continental 48 at Quoddy Head State Park in Maine all the way to the Southernmost Point at Key West in Florida. The goal for the trip would be to avoid all major highways and get off the beaten path, see the sights, and camp along the way.
Originally the NHT was going to be a way for me to celebrate finishing my Doctorate in Education. With the SNAFU caused the above mentioned professional snag all hope of finishing my doctorate began to evaporate. To be honest I was starting to fall into a really dark place. Then came a make-or-break moment I decided something had to be done.
With the plan for this trip floating in back of my head, my love of the outdoors, and my passion for photography, I decided it was time to throw off the shackles of what other people expected of me (both professionally and personally) and do something I was truly passionate about (more on that in a second). So, midway through the spring I put things into motion and the Wednesday after Memorial Day I left on my trip. On July 4th I was in Florida having completed one of the most memorable trips of my life.
While on the this trip I realized I was not only doing something I loved, which was traveling, but I also realized there was an opportunity for me to come full circle. I came to the realization there was serious potential in combining all the various aspects of my past into something unique for the future. Somewhere in the middle of West Virginia, or maybe somewhere in Virginia, I came up with the idea for "East Coast Overland Adventures."
"East Coast Overland Adventures" ~ A life comes full circle
Like a mad scientist I started laughing maniacally as I put together a recipe for what I hoped/hope would be a unique take on the overlanding adventure lifestyle. With my background in outdoor education, my love of photography, and my talents for teaching and storytelling I set a goal to do something that would not only be fun for me but also a way to give back to the 4x4 community. So, what does that look like?
First, one of my overarching goals with ECOA is to promote and advocate for a budget minded approach to the overlanding adventure lifestyle. I did my entire trip earlier this year in a near-stock eleven year old Jeep. I used a cheap (actually it was free) backpacking tent, and a host of old/used/abused/repurposed camping gear (none of which was made out of titanium). My wardrobe the entire time was fashionably un-tacticool and my Jeep lacked the popular expedition accessories like a snorkel, LED light bars, and imported awnings. Instead of dropping coin on things 12v fridges and fancy pre-built drawers I dusted off my vintage 1980's Colman cooler and built my own cargo box for the back of the Jeep. Although I have nothing against titanium sporks and African/Australian inspired expedition gear the reality is it's just not for me. Maybe I watched way too much MacGyver as a kid but I just enjoy living the "built not bought" lifestyle. I also think there are a lot more people like me out there who could use a little encouragement and inspiration for undertaking their own DIY projects. I also believe every dollar spent on gear means one less dollar spent on fuel. I'd rather eat cold oatmeal out of my old US Army mess kit with a Kabar 3-in-1 utensil set while on a 5,000 mile trip then have the flashiest teak and titanium campsite in the farm field.
Second, I want to emphasis the adventure side of the lifestyle as well. So many people focus on the journey and the means by which they travel that they lose sight of all the other things this lifestyle has to offer. I do not plan on ECOA being solely vehicle-centric. It might eat up a lot of conversations, but that only reflects that our 4x4's are a means to an end. I want to give as much attention to the adventure side as well. That's why I am making the "No Highways Tour" trip an annual thing on top of a lot of other smaller trips that focus on the sights, sounds, and tastes along the way. Just as I've done so far this year I plan to continue logging a lot of time hiking, biking, and boating, not just driving.
Lastly, which I kind of already hinted at, my goal with ECOA is to educate, encourage, and inspire other overlanders; in particular, the novice overlander (which is where the budget angle comes into play). One of the things that turned me off to the overland/expedition scene a few years ago was the attitudes and egos involved and how they looked down their nose at people new to the lifestyle. The emphasis seemed to be more about the right gear, the right clothes, and the right 4x4 than anything else. That was one of the things that drove me further into the rock-crawling side of the 4x4 world. That's not to say the rock-crawling world doesn't have the same problem, it was just easier to tolerate (at the time, and for a while at least).
My idea to educate/encourage/inspire is built on my vast wealth of knowledge and my experience as an outdoor educator. Given my passion for teaching, one part of the plan is to work as an instructor at events teaching and facilitating workshops sharing my knowledge and experience with others. In some respects that's the easy part. The other part of the plan is to tap into my passions for photography and writing and start authoring articles. This is the part that is a little harder to do, do effectively, do authentically, and do well.
Needing a way to (re)establish myself in the scene, come full circle, and combine the various aspects of my life (photographer, philosopher, adventurer, educator, etc) I started the ECOA <cough> blog <cough>. I figured it would, at the very least, give me a new platform (beyond 4LDL and the NHT pages) on which to collect and organize my thoughts as well as give people a place to visit if they liked/enjoyed/believed-in what I was attempting to do.
At any rate, you're probably thinking, "Why make the annocement now if you started all this months ago?"
Current State of Affairs
It might be hard to believe, especially after I've just occupied your time with the above wall of text full of bragging and self-promition, but I'm a relatively humble and somewhat shy person. I have, over the years, done a pretty good job of putting my foot (and at times both feet) in my mouth and burning bridges (some while I'm still standing on them). For a long time I carried a pretty sizable chip on my shoulder and my attitude drove away more people than it impressed. Overtime, and with a lot of introspection after life knocking me down a few rungs, I started to realize respect was earned rather than innate due to credentials and/or experience. Someone once beat me over the head with the mantra, "No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care." That's one of the reasons I've kept a pretty low profile on sites like this and don't fly a large flag when I'm at events. There's a subversive plan to (hopefully) let my reputation speak for itself. I know it's not a perfect flawless reputation, but I know I'm not a perfect flawless person so I'm okay with that. I also hold no delusions that my reputation is anything more than it is. That's one of the reasons I'm so hesitant to make a post such as this. That said, one of the hardest things I've had to do is not only come to terms with my mistakes (personally and professionally) but to own them as part of my life's journey. So, for better or worse, I've been feeling like this post was becoming overdue and decided to pull the trigger on it.
In the vein of full disclosure I'll admit I am currently making a go at living this lifestyle full-time. I don't expect, or plan, on to become rich and famous by doing so. I'm not in it for the glory or the fame; the money is few and far between; and I sure as hell can't be in it for the chicks (let's be honest, overland events are typically sausage-fests). My goal, to put it simply, is to give back to the overland community through sharing my knowledge and skills, writing articles, and teaching workshops. It certainly doesn't hurt that I'll have a little fun along the way which makes the sacrifices this lifestyle change entails tolerable.
By now you're probably feeling this is way more information than you've ever wanted to know about a <cough> "blogger" <cough> but hopefully you'll see that while there is an ECOA blog it's merely a medium of delivery for a much more comprehensive vision. If you look closely you'll also start seeing my name popup in a few bylines in print, as well as seeing it listed again on the instructor roster at upcoming overland events. That's not to say I won't continue to keep a relatively low profile, I will just because it's part of who I am, but hopefully if you like the cut of my jib you'll keep an out for me and tune in from time to time.
Lastly I'll finish with this statement:
American Adventurist has been, and still is, an awesome community to be a member of. Although I lurked for the first few years it was always nice to visit the site and get a refreshing look on the overland adventure scene in the US and what people have going on. A lot of what I'm trying to do through ECOA is a result of listening to some of the cries coming from this community. Hopefully I can, in a limited way at least, answer some of the cries for quality content free of commercial bias that has more meat to it than just "hey, watch me have fun with my toys and my friends." I can't say I'll hit the mark every time for every person. This is a broad community with a depth and breath of expectations that is impossible for one person to satisfy. What I can promise is that those cries aren't going unheard and there are some of us (I know I'm not alone) trying to not only talk-the-talk but walk-the-walk and give back to you (collectively) as a community that has given so much to its members such as myself. So, with a menu of bloggers, magazines, authors, photographers, and YouTubers growing longer by the day, hopefully I bring something to the American Adventurist table that is little different than what's already out there.
