Equipt
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Equipt's Alaska Solo Trek
Well....it's time. We have been chatting up this crazy plan on our preparation thread for the the last 3-4 months, and it is time to get going. This first post is pretty close to the same as on the preparation page. We have made a few itinerary changes, but the general plan remains in tact. As the name says, it is a solo endeavor. Well, at least for the first rather long half of the adventure. I will add a couple similar posts to the prep thread, to get everyone up to speed quickly. It's been a great while since Equipt has journeyed out on an iconic trek. The last one was in early 2012, and our Mundo Maya travels to mainland Mexico and Central America. As I said, it's time.
Here is the link to our preparation and planning. Top of the World! Equipt's Alaska Solo Trek
This adventure has been on my list for decades now, and it's time Equipt hit the road again. Completing the northern section of the Al-Can highway will fill in my life long goal of experiencing the length of the Trans-America highway. It will fill in that northern most point. Then I can look south again. Equipt has been a sponsor of Expedition Overland's Season 2 Alaska/Yukon video series, and their tales of adventure have spurred me to finally commit to this goal. But it is not just a check box to me. I want to see it, an experience it, and be a part of it, even if it is for only a little while. The other side of this adventure is that for roughly a month and a half I will be for the most part, solo. I am going by myself intentionally. There is a section in the middle of the trek that my better half will join me, but all in all it is a single pursuit. The solace in solo adventure travel is something intriguing to me. I of course have traveled some distance by myself before, but not like this. I am curious as to how this will play out. Introspection in the wide open of Alaska.
The trek will be planned in 3 stages.
Stage 1: AZ to Dead Horse
Though far from concrete, the plan is to take approximately 14 days to reach Dead Horse AK from Prescott AZ. The route I am planning is to travel through a list of who's who in National Parks. Grand Canyon, Zions, Bryce, Capital Reef, Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier. I have spent a great deal of time in these parks over the years, and it will be nice to see them again, but I won't be staying long anywhere. Bannf to Prince George, Whitehorse, Dawson, and into Fairbanks. From there, I will head north for the Dead Horse and return to Fairbanks for a long awaited reunion. This is where the solo trek portion of the trip ends.
Stage 2: Alaska
I will meet my favorite co-pirate and wife Heather in Fairbanks in late June. Our plan is to explore Denali, then the Denali highway. We will make our way to Haynes, and south to Juneau. Her stay will be a little over a week, and jammed with everything we can do. We're excited to explore the state together. I love the open road, and she loves the open skies. So meeting me there is great for both of us. We hear that July 4th in Juneau is something to behold. We'll see. She flies home from Juneau, and I head south. The new twist to this plan is the arrival of a new co-pilot. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes after Heather takes off, Troy Bignell of Overland International touches down in Juneau. Troy is on loan from HEMA maps of Australia, interning with Overland International for a while and doing his best to see as much of North America as he can. We've traveled together before, and managed not to kill each other. So we worked out a plan for Troy to double the size of the team for the trip home.
Stage 3: Pacific North West
Our plans for the Pacific North West have diverted a bit from the original script. We are taking the long ferry ride from Juneau down to Bellingham WA. It's about double the length of the Prince Rupert stop, but has been the way I really wanted this to go. I am not sure where I picked up the "screw it, do it" attitude. Somewhere in my adolescence I think. But it has never failed me as far as memories go. So that is our new plan. We hit Washington running, through Seattle, Mt. Rainier, Columbia River Gorge, and a random path to Ouray CO for the FJ Cruiser Summit. The goal is to be back in late July to our base camp in Prescott.
As I said, the plans aren't concrete. It is more of a general heading than a route. Options and opportunities will arise, and I hope to take advantage of as many as I can. I haven't driven much north of Banff, actually. So I am excited to see new territory. Preparation takes on a new meaning too. The 4Runner is all ready for the adventure. That is part of it too, I guess. The fun of preparation.
I will put up a couple prep photos and timeline. All along the way I will put up images and random thoughts. I would love to hear what folks think of this crazed idea. Places I should try to see and insights on what to expect. Please share. It should be a hoot.
Thanks,
Well....it's time. We have been chatting up this crazy plan on our preparation thread for the the last 3-4 months, and it is time to get going. This first post is pretty close to the same as on the preparation page. We have made a few itinerary changes, but the general plan remains in tact. As the name says, it is a solo endeavor. Well, at least for the first rather long half of the adventure. I will add a couple similar posts to the prep thread, to get everyone up to speed quickly. It's been a great while since Equipt has journeyed out on an iconic trek. The last one was in early 2012, and our Mundo Maya travels to mainland Mexico and Central America. As I said, it's time.
Here is the link to our preparation and planning. Top of the World! Equipt's Alaska Solo Trek
This adventure has been on my list for decades now, and it's time Equipt hit the road again. Completing the northern section of the Al-Can highway will fill in my life long goal of experiencing the length of the Trans-America highway. It will fill in that northern most point. Then I can look south again. Equipt has been a sponsor of Expedition Overland's Season 2 Alaska/Yukon video series, and their tales of adventure have spurred me to finally commit to this goal. But it is not just a check box to me. I want to see it, an experience it, and be a part of it, even if it is for only a little while. The other side of this adventure is that for roughly a month and a half I will be for the most part, solo. I am going by myself intentionally. There is a section in the middle of the trek that my better half will join me, but all in all it is a single pursuit. The solace in solo adventure travel is something intriguing to me. I of course have traveled some distance by myself before, but not like this. I am curious as to how this will play out. Introspection in the wide open of Alaska.
The trek will be planned in 3 stages.
Stage 1: AZ to Dead Horse
Though far from concrete, the plan is to take approximately 14 days to reach Dead Horse AK from Prescott AZ. The route I am planning is to travel through a list of who's who in National Parks. Grand Canyon, Zions, Bryce, Capital Reef, Teton, Yellowstone, and Glacier. I have spent a great deal of time in these parks over the years, and it will be nice to see them again, but I won't be staying long anywhere. Bannf to Prince George, Whitehorse, Dawson, and into Fairbanks. From there, I will head north for the Dead Horse and return to Fairbanks for a long awaited reunion. This is where the solo trek portion of the trip ends.
Stage 2: Alaska
I will meet my favorite co-pirate and wife Heather in Fairbanks in late June. Our plan is to explore Denali, then the Denali highway. We will make our way to Haynes, and south to Juneau. Her stay will be a little over a week, and jammed with everything we can do. We're excited to explore the state together. I love the open road, and she loves the open skies. So meeting me there is great for both of us. We hear that July 4th in Juneau is something to behold. We'll see. She flies home from Juneau, and I head south. The new twist to this plan is the arrival of a new co-pilot. Approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes after Heather takes off, Troy Bignell of Overland International touches down in Juneau. Troy is on loan from HEMA maps of Australia, interning with Overland International for a while and doing his best to see as much of North America as he can. We've traveled together before, and managed not to kill each other. So we worked out a plan for Troy to double the size of the team for the trip home.
Stage 3: Pacific North West
Our plans for the Pacific North West have diverted a bit from the original script. We are taking the long ferry ride from Juneau down to Bellingham WA. It's about double the length of the Prince Rupert stop, but has been the way I really wanted this to go. I am not sure where I picked up the "screw it, do it" attitude. Somewhere in my adolescence I think. But it has never failed me as far as memories go. So that is our new plan. We hit Washington running, through Seattle, Mt. Rainier, Columbia River Gorge, and a random path to Ouray CO for the FJ Cruiser Summit. The goal is to be back in late July to our base camp in Prescott.
As I said, the plans aren't concrete. It is more of a general heading than a route. Options and opportunities will arise, and I hope to take advantage of as many as I can. I haven't driven much north of Banff, actually. So I am excited to see new territory. Preparation takes on a new meaning too. The 4Runner is all ready for the adventure. That is part of it too, I guess. The fun of preparation.
I will put up a couple prep photos and timeline. All along the way I will put up images and random thoughts. I would love to hear what folks think of this crazed idea. Places I should try to see and insights on what to expect. Please share. It should be a hoot.
Thanks,
