Pack Out What You Pack In

Illegal dumping has been an issue for many generations. I hate it when I see dump sites in nature. It bugs me just as much to see someones McDonald cup tossed on the side of a trail or road. To me it's all the same, a big black garbage bag full of your crap or just a fast food wrapper.

Not only does it look nasty, but it is harmful to the environment, could cause health hazards for humans, and is costly to clean up. I could go on all day about the harm it can do to wildlife. For a little more info Check out this PDF from Green Sweep 

On the off road front, dumping trash of small or large amount can get trails and road closed down. As Off Roaders we have so many things to worry about to keep our trails open, but one of the easiest to avoid is littering.

The problem starts with one person thinking" It won't matter if I toss this one thing out the car window"  Then the next person comes along and thinks the same thing. Next thing you know you have 10 or 20 people thinking tossing only one item won't make a difference, but it does! You now have 20 pieces of trash where there was none.  Now this one spot on the trail looks more like a garbage dump than a beautiful trail in the mountains, desert, beach, mud or where ever you wheel. This goes for all off road activities boating, hiking, horseback riding, biking skiing ect.

Is it that hard to keep a trash bag or a roll of them in your rig? No I didn't think so. Is it that hard to stop and actually take it out and put your trash in it? No I didn't think so.  I'm proud to say I know many off-road enthusiast that pack out more than they brought in! I strive to be that type of person, but I'm not perfect. I don't always take out more than I bring, but I never leave anything behind!


Check out this video from The Vermont Jeepgirl. She found this dump site while out on a drive. It breaks my heart! She wanted to organize a trail clean up, but found out it had already been closed :-(

Check Vermont Jeepgirl out on Facebook by clicking here 

Don't let this happen to your favorite trail! 

4 Wheeling Mom

Drive Safe, Have Fun, and Tread Lightly!

Mom and Dad Have a Different Sort of Adventure

Cooking Pot

We went to dinner at the home of some good friends of our. They introduced us to a traditional winter dish from China. They called it Hot Pot.  This dish is an ongoing meal you eat as food is cooked adding different things along the way such as beef, fish, tofu, pot stickers, leafy veggies, mushrooms and other goodies. It last for a couple of hours. It made for a great way to gather around the table and have a great conversation with friends.

I did not  tell Dad what was for dinner until just before leaving. HAHA Dad has a  little picky eating issue and doesn't like to try new things.

When we walked in the dinner table was set and each spot had chopsticks. One look at Dad's face and they offered him a fork :-) In the 20 + years we have been together I don't think I have ever seen Dad use chopsticks, and last night was no different :-)  I admit it had been a while since I had used chopsticks but after a few fumbles and bits of dropped food I was proficient enough I was in no danger of starving :-)  Dad ended up enjoying the meats they had :-) See what happens when you try new foods :-) I still can't get him to eat his veggies!  HAHA

After we ate our fill we sipped on blooming tea while we finished our conversation. 

It was an awesome night, we stayed way longer than we planed LOL did you know the freeway is empty at 1:00 am ?

Mom and Dads first experience with Browns Camp

Adventures have been few and far between for Mom and Dad. Well, unless you count the approaching end of winter term in school. Dad in panicking about finals, Mom is in denial that they are coming up. So here I sit typing a blog instead of studying or doing house work.

If you have not noticed I have added a slide show at the top of the page. I'm going to try and change it out periodically.

I figured to fill in on my lack of adventures and interviews. ( I am waiting on several interviews to come in) I would share some of our adventures from last year with you guys and gals.


Our very first tip out  was to Browns camp but before we met any other  off roaders in person . One of the guys on Wranglerforum.com told us about the Powerline Trail at Browns camp. He told us it was a nice easy drive and a great place to have a picnic lunch. So we packed up our lunch and our SAR trained son and his girlfriend ( Mom was a bit worried about getting lost)  Both the boy and  his gal pal are proficient at reading maps and wilderness survival. Mom was afraid dad's skills at SAR and wilderness survival where a bit outdated and rusty. Shhhhhh Don't tell him that!

We knew nothing about sway bars and disconnecting them.  Ok we had read about them but where not confident enough to play with them the first time out with no one else with us.  YES, yes shame on Mom and Dad for going out in one vehicle alone. I had no idea just how much difference there was in  being disconnected in ride quality and flex. I disconnect and air down now just on gravels roads LOL oh the ride is so much nicers!  And yes I did learn first hand why we reconnect before hitting the freeway at high speeds LOL can you say body rollllllllll

Baby Dolls first photo off road. AWW how young  she looks there.

This is where I learned what I missed most about the F-250 I traded in for Baby Doll. THE TAIL GATE!   We have had trucks for so many years I took for granted I had a built in table for picnics
We now have a small roll up table we carry with us or we use the hood.

Mom panicked and made Dad leave before it got completely dark. Now  we hardly ever get out of there before dark. Oh how quickly things change when you have fun LOL
I did make the kids double check each others mapping though. They did as I asked even if they did roll their eyes at me every time I asked! Dad just ignored me after 20 years he is use to it :-)




We all have to start somewhere!
Play Safe and Tread Lightly
Mom