camping - Whiskey 7 Backroads

camping public

"ChatGPT Told Me I Could Camp Here": The Mount Shasta AI Warning — and How to Actually Plan a Trip With AI

Brent Conklin

A guide to make sure you check all AI info with verified Human info

16 min read • Sep 13, 2026

starlink public

The Starlink Mini Era: How a 1.10 kg Dish Rewrote Off-Grid Connectivity for Overlanders, Campers, and Remote Workers

Brent Conklin

The Starlink Mini wasn't a smaller version of a satellite dish. It was the moment the internet became portable enough to be useful off-grid. How the 1.10 kg, USB-C PD-powered dish changed what overlanders, campers, hikers, remote workers, and families can do off-grid.

17 min read • Aug 14, 2026

pacific-northwest public

When an Oregon Fire Closure Hits Mid-Trip: A Couple’s Last-Minute Reroute

Brent Conklin

A Stage 1 fire restriction, a washed-out forest road, and unhealthy wildfire smoke can blow up a three-week Oregon trip in a single afternoon. Here is what the couple did instead.

15 min read • Jul 31, 2026

opinion public

Overlanding's $68 Billion Problem: Growth Eating Itself

Brent Conklin

28,500 people packed into one expo. $40B in 2026, headed to $68B by 2036. 14,000 acres outside Zion just closed. The industry is eating its own playground and most overlanders do not see it happening.

13 min read • Jun 19, 2026

camping public

7,163 Miles in a Subaru Crosstrek on the TransAmerica Trail

Brent Conklin

Andy and Mercedes Lilienthal drove a 2025 Subaru Crosstrek Wilderness 7,163 miles from the Atlantic to the Pacific on the TransAmerica Trail — 3,184 unpaved miles, 29 days, 39 reroutes, zero mechanical failures. A proof-of-concept for soft-roaders on the country's most demanding amateur overland rou

16 min read • Jun 12, 2026

camping public

An Adventure in Family History

Gary Matos

In the last four years, my wife and I have visited Echo Park twice. Located in the northeast corner of Utah, at the confluence of the Green and Yampa rivers, it has everything we enjoy in a park.

15 min read • Jan 21, 2025

camping public

Top Reasons to Use a Composting Toilet for Your Camper or RV

Brent Conklin

Composting toilet for a camper or RV: pros, cons, real-world costs, and the 3 mistakes that ruin them. How often you empty it, what to do with the waste, and whether it beats a cassette toilet on a 2-week trip.

9 min read • Sep 28, 2024

camping public

Campsite Sense — Driving Home in the Rain

Gary Matos

Our return trip home from Southern California started in darkness. We wanted to outrun the traffic of Los Angeles and the atmospheric river of rain that was threatening to slow us down.

10 min read • Jun 21, 2024

camping public

Exploring the Grand Staircase-Escalante: An Overlander's Guide

Brent Conklin

Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument overlanding guide: 1.87 million acres of slot canyons, slickrock, and dirt roads. Best routes (Hole-in-the-Rock, Burr Trail, Wolverine), when to go, and what to bring.

13 min read • Apr 21, 2024

camping public

Overlanding and AI: A Journey into the Future

Brent Conklin

Introduction Overlanding—the art of exploring remote and rugged terrain in a well-equipped vehicle—has captivated adventurers for decades. From traversing desolate deserts to conquering snow-capped mountain passes, Overlanding offers a unique blend of freedom, self-reliance, and awe-inspiring...

4 min read • Apr 12, 2024

camping public

Avoiding the Pitfalls: Tips for Uninformed Travelers When Overlanding

Howard Turner

Don't let a lack of knowledge hold you back. Learn how to navigate state parks and BLM land with confidence while Overlanding as an uninformed traveler.

12 min read • Nov 22, 2023

camping public

Superstition Mountains Overlanding: Weavers Needle & 4x4 Trails

Brent Conklin

Discover the thrill of overlanding and camping with the EarthCruiser in the Superstition Mountains - an adventure like no other!

6 min read • Nov 10, 2023