WEBVTT 00:00:00.000 --> 00:00:03.680 Welcome to Botches Off -Road Solo Edition. This 00:00:03.680 --> 00:00:07.620 is your host, Gavin. I'm going solo today. We 00:00:07.620 --> 00:00:11.220 had an episode, and long story short, I guess 00:00:11.220 --> 00:00:14.500 we've been really lucky to have made it this 00:00:14.500 --> 00:00:17.800 far without any issues, and we've been kind of 00:00:17.800 --> 00:00:21.320 coming across issues. I accidentally recorded 00:00:21.320 --> 00:00:25.390 in a higher bitrate. on the last episode and 00:00:25.390 --> 00:00:28.670 our tempos were off. So actually impossible to 00:00:28.670 --> 00:00:32.109 get all of our tracks to sync while in edit mode. 00:00:32.270 --> 00:00:36.670 So I am going to do an episode on back to kind 00:00:36.670 --> 00:00:40.189 of the basics. There are a lot of different styles 00:00:40.189 --> 00:00:44.369 and a lot of different ways to plan for overlanding. 00:00:44.369 --> 00:00:48.270 And I just kind of want to go through my version 00:00:48.270 --> 00:00:52.329 because, I mean... Alex's version might be very 00:00:52.329 --> 00:00:54.789 different for me. I'm a big planner. I like to 00:00:54.789 --> 00:00:56.710 plan, I like to have a plan, and I like to be 00:00:56.710 --> 00:01:01.189 in control of said plan. So I'm going to deal 00:01:01.189 --> 00:01:03.009 with something a little different. I'm going 00:01:03.009 --> 00:01:07.870 to use ChatGPT to help me plan this. So obviously 00:01:07.870 --> 00:01:09.870 the first thing that you want to do when you're 00:01:09.870 --> 00:01:11.950 planning a trip is to know where you're going 00:01:11.950 --> 00:01:17.500 to go. So for instance... I will use the UP again 00:01:17.500 --> 00:01:20.379 because that's the easiest place. I know it. 00:01:21.620 --> 00:01:23.459 One, you want to know where you want to go. So 00:01:23.459 --> 00:01:26.180 I want to go to the UP. What section do I want 00:01:26.180 --> 00:01:30.620 to go? So I'm going to check out Google Maps, 00:01:30.879 --> 00:01:34.239 look at attractions, and I'll go to Google Maps 00:01:34.239 --> 00:01:35.819 and then I'll look at the attractions around 00:01:35.819 --> 00:01:38.519 the area. I'll pick something within my time 00:01:38.519 --> 00:01:42.700 frame. within my days off. So let's say I have 00:01:42.700 --> 00:01:45.000 three days off. I'm probably going to stay to 00:01:45.000 --> 00:01:47.819 the east side of UP. That way it gives me plenty 00:01:47.819 --> 00:01:50.340 of time to see those couple of things and still 00:01:50.340 --> 00:01:53.579 enjoy. If I'm going to have closer to a week 00:01:53.579 --> 00:01:56.079 off and I really want to check some things off 00:01:56.079 --> 00:02:01.219 the list, maybe I will extend that area and go 00:02:01.219 --> 00:02:04.400 west a little bit. So when I'm planning that, 00:02:04.439 --> 00:02:07.060 I really want to know where I want to go. How 00:02:07.060 --> 00:02:09.419 many days I'm going to be gone? And then we'll 00:02:09.419 --> 00:02:12.439 start from there, right? So are we going to be 00:02:12.439 --> 00:02:15.300 remote? Are we going to try and do scenic routes? 00:02:15.479 --> 00:02:18.020 Are we going to do technical off -road areas? 00:02:19.060 --> 00:02:21.840 So that's important to know. And you can kind 00:02:21.840 --> 00:02:24.960 of check that out when you lock down those key 00:02:24.960 --> 00:02:28.000 places that you know you want to go. So for instance, 00:02:28.139 --> 00:02:31.360 let's say I want to go up and I want to see Whitefish 00:02:31.360 --> 00:02:34.300 Point in the UP. I want to see the Soo Locks. 00:02:34.300 --> 00:02:39.939 I want to see... Graham Marias, Taquamanon Falls, 00:02:40.340 --> 00:02:43.539 Chris Point, and Two Hearted. Those are just 00:02:43.539 --> 00:02:45.879 kind of the ones on the top of my head. So if 00:02:45.879 --> 00:02:48.639 I wanted to do that and I knew I was going to 00:02:48.639 --> 00:02:51.960 have four days to do it, if I left on Thursday, 00:02:52.199 --> 00:02:55.460 I have Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, and Sunday 00:02:55.460 --> 00:03:00.580 would be my way back. So this is kind of my trip 00:03:00.580 --> 00:03:02.599 planning process, but I'm going to try and use 00:03:02.599 --> 00:03:05.189 ChatGBT to help me. And I'm going to talk it 00:03:05.189 --> 00:03:07.229 through with you guys to see if any of this really 00:03:07.229 --> 00:03:11.729 aligns with how I plan. And maybe is ChatGPT 00:03:11.729 --> 00:03:15.689 a good tool to help you kind of get to a spot 00:03:15.689 --> 00:03:18.090 to where you can do it on your own. Or maybe 00:03:18.090 --> 00:03:21.710 you can use it in the future to help you narrow 00:03:21.710 --> 00:03:23.430 things down or think of things that you didn't 00:03:23.430 --> 00:03:28.560 know of. So the first one. is, you know, define 00:03:28.560 --> 00:03:30.539 your purpose and scope, which I just kind of 00:03:30.539 --> 00:03:33.960 talked about. And, of course, the third point 00:03:33.960 --> 00:03:37.199 on that one is to check season and weather. So, 00:03:37.259 --> 00:03:39.479 yeah, I mean, if you're going to go in the UP 00:03:39.479 --> 00:03:41.879 in the middle of winter, a lot of those trails 00:03:41.879 --> 00:03:44.620 are going to be non -doable for any vehicle, 00:03:44.659 --> 00:03:47.159 really, except a snowmobile. They're also going 00:03:47.159 --> 00:03:51.340 to be closed because of snowmobile trails. So 00:03:51.340 --> 00:03:53.560 a lot of the times in the winter, trails become 00:03:53.560 --> 00:03:55.740 snowmobile trails and you're not allowed to drive 00:03:55.740 --> 00:03:58.620 on them because they're groomed. It's a danger 00:03:58.620 --> 00:04:01.939 for those guys. So you really want to check in 00:04:01.939 --> 00:04:05.740 the season. You know, bugs and heat, they all 00:04:05.740 --> 00:04:09.280 play a time too. So there are certain times in 00:04:09.280 --> 00:04:11.240 the year where the bugs are really heavy. There's 00:04:11.240 --> 00:04:12.819 a certain time of year, obviously, where the 00:04:12.819 --> 00:04:16.769 heat is really hot. I like to go into the UP 00:04:16.769 --> 00:04:20.290 in the beginning of summer and in the fall -ish, 00:04:20.370 --> 00:04:24.209 August, you know, July, August, around that, 00:04:24.290 --> 00:04:26.870 just because it's kind of cooling down a little 00:04:26.870 --> 00:04:30.430 bit. It's not smoldering hot. In the UP, it's 00:04:30.430 --> 00:04:32.829 never super smoldering hot. You're usually by 00:04:32.829 --> 00:04:35.930 a lake, like Superior or something like that, 00:04:36.009 --> 00:04:38.110 so you always have a good breeze, but it can 00:04:38.110 --> 00:04:40.459 get pretty warm. And you just want to be ready 00:04:40.459 --> 00:04:42.220 for that. So you want to be ready for storms. 00:04:42.560 --> 00:04:44.459 You want to be ready for any kind of inclement 00:04:44.459 --> 00:04:46.819 weather. And of course, any kind of issues that 00:04:46.819 --> 00:04:49.180 may happen while you're up there because self 00:04:49.180 --> 00:04:51.360 -service is such a premium in some of these areas. 00:04:51.740 --> 00:04:54.660 So we'll start with choose your route. So you 00:04:54.660 --> 00:04:56.939 want to research your trails. Once you have your 00:04:56.939 --> 00:05:00.300 places, you know, tracked down, let's say Two 00:05:00.300 --> 00:05:02.399 Hearted. Two Hearted's got a lot of trails to 00:05:02.399 --> 00:05:04.459 get to it. So you want to kind of plan those 00:05:04.459 --> 00:05:06.839 out. Don't use Google Drive or I'm sorry, Google 00:05:06.839 --> 00:05:11.600 Maps. for any of the trail side of it i like 00:05:11.600 --> 00:05:15.000 to use a mix between google maps and onyx some 00:05:15.000 --> 00:05:18.319 people like gaia um i use that if i really need 00:05:18.319 --> 00:05:21.379 a backup but i like you onyx it's really user 00:05:21.379 --> 00:05:24.040 friendly i can do all my routes from there so 00:05:24.040 --> 00:05:27.459 i like to use google maps to get to the area 00:05:27.459 --> 00:05:31.199 and then i like to use onyx to navigate that 00:05:31.199 --> 00:05:36.589 certain trail area so i already have the area 00:05:36.589 --> 00:05:38.230 I want planned out, which is the Two -Hearted 00:05:38.230 --> 00:05:41.709 area. And I know that I'm not going to have cell 00:05:41.709 --> 00:05:44.610 service. So I'm actually going to download every 00:05:44.610 --> 00:05:48.870 trail in that area. So with Onyx, you can actually 00:05:48.870 --> 00:05:52.910 download the trails to use offline so that while 00:05:52.910 --> 00:05:56.629 you're off, you have a detailed trail picture 00:05:56.629 --> 00:05:58.730 of where you're at or where you're supposed to 00:05:58.730 --> 00:06:01.649 be. And that's going to be very useful for you. 00:06:02.059 --> 00:06:04.259 Obviously, paper maps help too, but Onyx, you 00:06:04.259 --> 00:06:06.959 can always kind of tell where you're at. So that's 00:06:06.959 --> 00:06:09.199 super useful. And then you're going to want to 00:06:09.199 --> 00:06:11.839 look at the terrain. Onyx can also help with 00:06:11.839 --> 00:06:15.279 this a little bit. Obviously, some research like 00:06:15.279 --> 00:06:17.939 Facebook groups asking how the terrain was last 00:06:17.939 --> 00:06:21.079 month. But I have been up there before, so I 00:06:21.079 --> 00:06:22.959 kind of know the terrain. It's usually just kind 00:06:22.959 --> 00:06:26.319 of sandy in that area. So I know it's going to 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:29.120 be like that thicker beach sand, couple inches 00:06:29.120 --> 00:06:32.899 thick. um maybe some washboard some dusty dirt 00:06:32.899 --> 00:06:36.660 nothing too crazy nothing too hard so i know 00:06:36.660 --> 00:06:39.519 that i'm going to need to air down um i know 00:06:39.519 --> 00:06:41.399 that there's going to be some dirt roads there's 00:06:41.399 --> 00:06:43.339 not going to be any rocky passes there might 00:06:43.339 --> 00:06:46.560 be some water crossing but not severe enough 00:06:46.560 --> 00:06:49.519 um in the area that i'm going now there is a 00:06:49.519 --> 00:06:51.819 trail to whitefish point that used to be really 00:06:51.819 --> 00:06:54.180 bad for a water crossing but i think since then 00:06:54.180 --> 00:06:58.100 they actually uh like dozed it and cleared that 00:06:58.100 --> 00:07:02.750 up so We're good there. So once you have your 00:07:02.750 --> 00:07:05.810 area and the trail that you want to do, I always 00:07:05.810 --> 00:07:08.449 like to plan at least one alternative route too. 00:07:09.129 --> 00:07:12.089 So you have your one trail that you think is 00:07:12.089 --> 00:07:14.029 going to work. If you haven't ever been up there 00:07:14.029 --> 00:07:16.230 or you don't know the area very well, you have 00:07:16.230 --> 00:07:18.430 your one ideal trail that you want to use that's 00:07:18.430 --> 00:07:21.389 going to get you to point A to point B. And then 00:07:21.389 --> 00:07:24.370 I always like to have an alternative trail in 00:07:24.370 --> 00:07:26.970 case there's a blockage or there's something 00:07:26.970 --> 00:07:31.519 that goes wrong. what trails are where i want 00:07:31.519 --> 00:07:34.399 to know if i have to if this trail is inaccessible 00:07:34.399 --> 00:07:36.879 or i come across something i just cannot get 00:07:36.879 --> 00:07:40.279 across or past then i have another trail as a 00:07:40.279 --> 00:07:43.040 backup okay and then you want to mark out fuel 00:07:43.040 --> 00:07:48.000 points so in onyx i cross reference with google 00:07:48.000 --> 00:07:52.220 maps find the fuel points on google maps tag 00:07:52.220 --> 00:07:55.779 the location using the coordinates and then i 00:07:55.779 --> 00:07:58.910 take those coordinates move them to onyx and 00:07:58.910 --> 00:08:03.350 then tag the fuel stops on onyx with a fuel indicator 00:08:03.350 --> 00:08:07.170 um the little icon so that way i know while i'm 00:08:07.170 --> 00:08:09.670 driving if i zoom out a little bit i could tell 00:08:09.670 --> 00:08:12.089 where each fuel stop is around me and that is 00:08:12.089 --> 00:08:15.550 very useful if you're out there for a day or 00:08:15.550 --> 00:08:17.209 two and you're just trailing and you're getting 00:08:17.209 --> 00:08:19.490 close to the end you're like man am i going to 00:08:19.490 --> 00:08:21.209 be able to make it to this next fuel stop you 00:08:21.209 --> 00:08:24.350 can actually zoom out check okay yep i got one 00:08:24.350 --> 00:08:27.839 and 14 some miles we're good Because they do 00:08:27.839 --> 00:08:30.480 get pretty scarce out there. Third, you're going 00:08:30.480 --> 00:08:33.139 to want to go and look at vehicle prep. You want 00:08:33.139 --> 00:08:35.139 to make sure your maintenance, your tires, recovery 00:08:35.139 --> 00:08:39.039 gear, and weight management is all good. So maintenance, 00:08:39.220 --> 00:08:43.080 obviously, your oils need to be topped off, changed, 00:08:43.179 --> 00:08:46.580 and checked. Your fluids need to be topped, like 00:08:46.580 --> 00:08:50.019 your antifreeze, window cleaning fluid, power 00:08:50.019 --> 00:08:53.320 steering, transmission. Obviously, you don't 00:08:53.320 --> 00:08:55.559 top off some of these, but you want to make sure 00:08:55.559 --> 00:08:58.620 that they're okay. If you can and you have the 00:08:58.620 --> 00:09:01.700 time and you haven't checked in a while, check 00:09:01.700 --> 00:09:05.000 your def fluid or diff fluid. Def too, I guess, 00:09:05.059 --> 00:09:07.720 if you're running diesel. Check your tires. Make 00:09:07.720 --> 00:09:10.799 sure that you have good tread. There's no holes 00:09:10.799 --> 00:09:16.279 or any kind of cracking on it. Make sure that 00:09:16.279 --> 00:09:19.899 they are properly aired up for the long highway 00:09:19.899 --> 00:09:23.080 drive. I actually have a small leak in, I think, 00:09:23.080 --> 00:09:27.450 a valve stem or my rim. one of the seals so i 00:09:27.450 --> 00:09:30.269 always check my psi to make sure that all tires 00:09:30.269 --> 00:09:32.690 are at the same psi because i did one time do 00:09:32.690 --> 00:09:36.070 a road trip didn't check and my one tire by the 00:09:36.070 --> 00:09:38.289 time i got to where i was going was at like 20 00:09:38.289 --> 00:09:42.769 15 20 psi so that can affect a few things um 00:09:42.769 --> 00:09:45.649 how your truck sits how it affects the tread 00:09:45.649 --> 00:09:49.450 um and i'm assuming it affects your fuel mileage 00:09:49.450 --> 00:09:53.289 too so make sure you have all your recovery gear 00:09:53.289 --> 00:09:56.190 that you need Do pre -checks before you leave. 00:09:56.230 --> 00:09:59.269 That's very, very important. I make a list, and 00:09:59.269 --> 00:10:01.830 this is something that you can help with, CHAP 00:10:01.830 --> 00:10:05.009 GPT can help you with. Ask them to make a list 00:10:05.009 --> 00:10:07.250 of pre -checks that you can do for your vehicle 00:10:07.250 --> 00:10:09.789 before you overland. So I'm going to go to CHAP 00:10:09.789 --> 00:10:12.429 GPT now, and let's just see what it tells me. 00:10:12.470 --> 00:10:19.929 So I'm going to ask, make a pre -trip checklist. 00:10:22.919 --> 00:10:28.059 for my overland trip okay so vehicle prep yep 00:10:28.059 --> 00:10:30.700 fluids engine oil coolant brake fluid transmission 00:10:30.700 --> 00:10:33.620 fluid power steering fluid windshield and washer 00:10:33.620 --> 00:10:36.480 fluid then it wants you to check belts and hoses 00:10:36.480 --> 00:10:38.480 check for wearing and cracking that's perfect 00:10:38.480 --> 00:10:40.940 battery check your terminals your charge level 00:10:40.940 --> 00:10:43.580 and check your spare battery if you have one 00:10:43.580 --> 00:10:46.669 like the house battery perfect Tires, pressure, 00:10:46.970 --> 00:10:49.590 exactly, including the spare. That's a good point. 00:10:49.769 --> 00:10:52.450 My spare is actually flat. If I didn't have a 00:10:52.450 --> 00:10:54.590 compressor, I would want to make sure that was 00:10:54.590 --> 00:10:58.330 aired up before I left. So that's nice. Tread 00:10:58.330 --> 00:11:01.029 depth and no visible damage. Make sure you have 00:11:01.029 --> 00:11:03.909 your tools with you, your jack, your lug wrench, 00:11:04.110 --> 00:11:07.429 tire repair kits, and air compressor. So making 00:11:07.429 --> 00:11:09.509 sure you have sidewall repair kits. I actually 00:11:09.509 --> 00:11:11.830 don't have one right now, so I'm kind of the 00:11:11.830 --> 00:11:16.789 evil guy on this one. I want to get one. I have 00:11:16.789 --> 00:11:20.190 regular tire repair kit. I just don't have sidewall 00:11:20.190 --> 00:11:22.549 repair kits. Make sure you have your recovery 00:11:22.549 --> 00:11:25.269 gear. Check your recovery gear too. So check 00:11:25.269 --> 00:11:27.370 your tow straps, your shackles, traction boards, 00:11:27.669 --> 00:11:30.690 shovel, winch. Check your winch cable. Make sure 00:11:30.690 --> 00:11:33.669 your winch cable isn't fused together. Unleash 00:11:33.669 --> 00:11:36.009 some of that rope off of there, like loosen the 00:11:36.009 --> 00:11:39.250 winch, pull the line in. Make sure everything 00:11:39.250 --> 00:11:42.490 is still working before you go out there. If 00:11:42.490 --> 00:11:44.149 you go out there, you get in a situation where 00:11:44.149 --> 00:11:45.929 you're stuck and you're like, well, I have a 00:11:45.929 --> 00:11:48.269 winch, no big deal. You go to start your winch, 00:11:48.269 --> 00:11:51.009 your winch controller's dead, or your cable is 00:11:51.009 --> 00:11:53.509 so frayed and dry rotted that it's broke because 00:11:53.509 --> 00:11:55.450 you're not maintaining it, then that's going 00:11:55.450 --> 00:11:58.710 to cause you issues down the road. So make sure 00:11:58.710 --> 00:12:00.669 you're checking all this before you actually 00:12:00.669 --> 00:12:04.029 go to avoid any kind of issues because that's 00:12:04.029 --> 00:12:07.559 easily avoidable. It takes five minutes, and 00:12:07.559 --> 00:12:10.200 you really should be using your winch here and 00:12:10.200 --> 00:12:12.259 there anyway just to make sure that everything's 00:12:12.259 --> 00:12:15.120 working, keep yourself familiar with it, etc. 00:12:15.399 --> 00:12:17.419 You want to check your lights. Make sure headlights, 00:12:17.679 --> 00:12:20.120 taillights, turn signals, and auxiliary lights 00:12:20.120 --> 00:12:23.679 work. I've actually had to where one of my auxiliary 00:12:23.679 --> 00:12:26.980 lights stopped working, and I had to fix it on 00:12:26.980 --> 00:12:29.820 the trail. It wasn't a big issue, but if I would 00:12:29.820 --> 00:12:31.639 have addressed that the day before when I do 00:12:31.639 --> 00:12:33.990 pre -checks. I could have had that done, and 00:12:33.990 --> 00:12:37.470 it would have took time out of my relaxing. It 00:12:37.470 --> 00:12:39.649 would have gave me more of that relaxing time. 00:12:39.809 --> 00:12:43.169 So instead, I used it to fix the light. Yep, 00:12:43.230 --> 00:12:45.830 check your skid plates for loose bolts or leaks. 00:12:47.610 --> 00:12:50.049 Always check for loose bolts. Rattle anything 00:12:50.049 --> 00:12:53.590 that typically shouldn't rattle. Your wheels, 00:12:53.730 --> 00:12:56.490 check your wheels. Make your skid plates are 00:12:56.490 --> 00:12:58.809 tightened. Make sure all your pulleys are tight. 00:12:58.970 --> 00:13:00.889 Things that should be bolted down and tight. 00:13:01.049 --> 00:13:03.490 Just try to move everything. Try to rattle it. 00:13:03.850 --> 00:13:06.309 I actually, Alex had an issue with this where 00:13:06.309 --> 00:13:09.470 he was doing, I think, third gen weekend. And 00:13:09.470 --> 00:13:13.230 he had some stuff rattle off. So it's definitely 00:13:13.230 --> 00:13:14.710 something that you're going to want to check. 00:13:14.909 --> 00:13:16.669 So then you go into your tools and spare parts. 00:13:16.909 --> 00:13:18.669 You want to make sure you have your basic hand 00:13:18.669 --> 00:13:21.769 tools. You want wrenches, sockets, screwdrivers, 00:13:21.870 --> 00:13:25.419 pliers. You're going to want spare fuses, bulbs, 00:13:25.740 --> 00:13:28.940 belts, hoses, and any kind of parts that frequently 00:13:28.940 --> 00:13:32.220 break on your vehicle. You can use ChatGPT to 00:13:32.220 --> 00:13:34.960 figure that out. You can also look in forums 00:13:34.960 --> 00:13:38.500 to see what are regularly damaged parts. For 00:13:38.500 --> 00:13:42.539 anything running a CV axle, CV axles are always 00:13:42.539 --> 00:13:47.580 useful to have. Maybe some spare brake line in 00:13:47.580 --> 00:13:51.429 a flare kit, stuff like that. Um, make sure you 00:13:51.429 --> 00:13:54.029 have some extra fluids on you, some extra oil, 00:13:54.110 --> 00:13:57.110 coolant, brake fluid, power steering fluid. Um, 00:13:57.330 --> 00:13:59.909 and if you're like me, power steering fluid and 00:13:59.909 --> 00:14:02.450 transmission fluid are the same thing, uh, for 00:14:02.450 --> 00:14:06.070 my vehicle. So that'll be fine for me. Uh, make 00:14:06.070 --> 00:14:08.690 sure you have the basics, uh, duct tape, zip 00:14:08.690 --> 00:14:11.549 ties and electrical tape. Everybody needs those. 00:14:11.669 --> 00:14:13.370 I've used those multiple times on the trail, 00:14:13.509 --> 00:14:16.850 uh, multimeter for electrical issues. Very good 00:14:16.850 --> 00:14:20.549 for, uh, diagnostics to see what's, working and 00:14:20.549 --> 00:14:23.529 what's not if you don't know how to use one of 00:14:23.529 --> 00:14:27.309 those pick up a cheap one on amazon watch a youtube 00:14:27.309 --> 00:14:31.450 video get a feel for it and it's pretty easy 00:14:31.450 --> 00:14:33.690 after that and then you want to check and make 00:14:33.690 --> 00:14:35.710 sure you have camping gear make sure you have 00:14:35.710 --> 00:14:39.220 your tent It can be whatever kind you want to 00:14:39.220 --> 00:14:41.320 do, a tent, an awning, or a rooftop tent kind 00:14:41.320 --> 00:14:43.179 of deal. Just make sure you have something to 00:14:43.179 --> 00:14:45.600 sleep in, whether it's your truck or a tent or 00:14:45.600 --> 00:14:48.059 a hammock. Make sure you have a sleeping pad, 00:14:48.279 --> 00:14:51.240 sleeping bag, something like that. Make sure 00:14:51.240 --> 00:14:53.480 you have a pillow. A pillow is like the thing 00:14:53.480 --> 00:14:56.700 I forget the most. Now I take my house pillows. 00:14:56.960 --> 00:14:59.539 I'm looking to eventually change that to something 00:14:59.539 --> 00:15:02.460 more compact, but I really like having a house 00:15:02.460 --> 00:15:05.509 pillow, like a big pillow. Make sure you have 00:15:05.509 --> 00:15:08.669 your camp chairs and a table if you want a table. 00:15:08.809 --> 00:15:11.629 Camp chairs are really nice to have. Make sure 00:15:11.629 --> 00:15:13.929 you have your camp stove and always, always, 00:15:14.029 --> 00:15:17.169 always check your fuel before you go. I've been 00:15:17.169 --> 00:15:18.830 on a couple trips where other people have ran 00:15:18.830 --> 00:15:21.129 out of fuel during the camp trip. Thankfully, 00:15:21.230 --> 00:15:24.129 everybody else is there, but it would be a pain 00:15:24.129 --> 00:15:27.269 to run out of fuel while you're cooking like 00:15:27.269 --> 00:15:30.419 they did on the last trip. And thankfully someone 00:15:30.419 --> 00:15:32.120 had a propane tank, but otherwise then you'd 00:15:32.120 --> 00:15:33.980 have to start a fire. Then you'd have to move 00:15:33.980 --> 00:15:35.820 everything to a fire. And sometimes people's 00:15:35.820 --> 00:15:38.419 pans aren't really made for over the fire cooking. 00:15:38.620 --> 00:15:41.259 I mean, they can be used for it, but you know, 00:15:41.259 --> 00:15:43.240 sometimes it's just not what they're made for. 00:15:43.320 --> 00:15:47.120 So check your cooking stove and fuel cookware. 00:15:47.220 --> 00:15:50.860 Make sure I always keep my cookware in my truck 00:15:50.860 --> 00:15:52.759 until a week before I leave. And then I bring 00:15:52.759 --> 00:15:55.779 it all inside. I wash it, dry it, and then bring 00:15:55.779 --> 00:15:57.799 it right back out and store it back in the truck. 00:15:57.919 --> 00:15:59.779 I just want to make sure I get a good clean on 00:15:59.779 --> 00:16:01.740 them before I go back. Same thing with like your 00:16:01.740 --> 00:16:05.720 plates, cups, cutlery. I always check my fridge. 00:16:05.759 --> 00:16:10.120 So I empty my fridge out after I come back. I 00:16:10.120 --> 00:16:12.580 wipe it down, get all the condensation out of 00:16:12.580 --> 00:16:15.440 it. And then again, a week before, because I 00:16:15.440 --> 00:16:18.200 do this in... stages so a week before a couple 00:16:18.200 --> 00:16:21.860 days before i take bleach spray clorox wipe spray 00:16:21.860 --> 00:16:24.879 spray the hole inside of it soak it open the 00:16:24.879 --> 00:16:26.960 drink plug on the bottom of the fridge just to 00:16:26.960 --> 00:16:29.870 get any kind of smell Any kind of bacteria that 00:16:29.870 --> 00:16:31.669 might have been from a leaky chicken I might 00:16:31.669 --> 00:16:35.129 have had to a can of pop that might have exploded. 00:16:35.309 --> 00:16:36.509 You know, just want to make sure everything's 00:16:36.509 --> 00:16:38.429 cleaned out of there for the next time I put 00:16:38.429 --> 00:16:41.629 food in. Because sometimes I do put like a banana 00:16:41.629 --> 00:16:44.210 or an apple in there and I don't have like a 00:16:44.210 --> 00:16:45.990 plastic bag over it. So I just want to make sure 00:16:45.990 --> 00:16:49.929 the surface is clean. I also do that with the 00:16:49.929 --> 00:16:52.710 cutting board in my truck as well. Make sure 00:16:52.710 --> 00:16:56.080 you have trash bags. We use trash bags not only 00:16:56.080 --> 00:17:00.379 for trash, but for waste, soil waste, poop. So 00:17:00.379 --> 00:17:04.779 just making sure you have those. And to add on 00:17:04.779 --> 00:17:07.039 to that, make sure they're not like menthol flavored. 00:17:07.180 --> 00:17:10.079 I know that seems funny, but Alex recently had 00:17:10.079 --> 00:17:12.980 an issue to where he bought trash bags that were 00:17:12.980 --> 00:17:16.240 mint scented. And while he was pooping, it felt 00:17:16.240 --> 00:17:19.220 like he had Icy Hot on his butthole. So yeah, 00:17:19.319 --> 00:17:22.599 fun fact. I guess he didn't like that. I really 00:17:22.599 --> 00:17:25.000 think that would have been very refreshing, like 00:17:25.000 --> 00:17:28.240 a boo day in the woods, but apparently not refreshing. 00:17:28.420 --> 00:17:30.859 So make sure that you get something that isn't 00:17:30.859 --> 00:17:33.880 scented like mint. We try to use some kind of 00:17:33.880 --> 00:17:35.720 scented because it kind of helps keep some of 00:17:35.720 --> 00:17:37.779 the smell down. And then make sure you have your 00:17:37.779 --> 00:17:39.940 food and water. You know, judging by how long 00:17:39.940 --> 00:17:42.140 you're going to be out, your water consumption 00:17:42.140 --> 00:17:45.880 also is dictated by the season. But I usually 00:17:45.880 --> 00:17:49.559 start with 30 gallons of water. And the way that 00:17:49.559 --> 00:17:52.200 I do it is I don't have another water tank. I 00:17:52.200 --> 00:17:54.039 am actually going to get one. It's another three 00:17:54.039 --> 00:17:56.779 gallon tank. But if you're going to be out for 00:17:56.779 --> 00:17:59.859 six days, three gallons shouldn't last you that 00:17:59.859 --> 00:18:02.599 long. It should it should take you. I go through 00:18:02.599 --> 00:18:06.220 about three. gallons a day and that's i'm sorry 00:18:06.220 --> 00:18:08.180 three gallons a day three gallons in three days 00:18:08.180 --> 00:18:10.539 and that's probably less than you really should 00:18:10.539 --> 00:18:13.259 i don't use it to wash dishes all the time i 00:18:13.259 --> 00:18:16.339 use it to refill our water bottles only and to 00:18:16.339 --> 00:18:18.799 drink from or to put a little bit on the pan 00:18:18.799 --> 00:18:21.559 to help clean it uh but if you use it a lot like 00:18:21.559 --> 00:18:23.839 to wash dishes or you want to try to shower you 00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:26.180 need to make sure that you carry plenty of water 00:18:26.180 --> 00:18:28.940 and try to stay away from like disposable water 00:18:28.940 --> 00:18:31.539 bottles because that's like just a fucking waste 00:18:31.539 --> 00:18:35.289 so Make sure you have some non -perishable foods. 00:18:35.369 --> 00:18:37.950 Always really good. Tips and tricks for cheap 00:18:37.950 --> 00:18:41.309 non -perishable camp foods. They make like super 00:18:41.309 --> 00:18:45.769 easy dried rice in a bag. They make $1 potatoes 00:18:45.769 --> 00:18:50.869 in a bag. They make $1 mac and cheese. Just things 00:18:50.869 --> 00:18:53.549 that if you're more on a budget like ramen, mac 00:18:53.549 --> 00:18:58.549 and cheese, canned vegetables, they tend to help 00:18:58.549 --> 00:19:01.450 you out. You're getting some sides with your 00:19:01.450 --> 00:19:03.890 main dish. that aren't going to cost you an arm 00:19:03.890 --> 00:19:05.890 and a leg. Now, if you have the money to grab 00:19:05.890 --> 00:19:08.289 fresh potatoes and fresh green beans and all 00:19:08.289 --> 00:19:10.210 that, and you have the time to cook it, sweet. 00:19:10.509 --> 00:19:13.069 But sometimes we don't really have the time to 00:19:13.069 --> 00:19:15.329 do an extravagant dinner. And when my son's hungry, 00:19:15.529 --> 00:19:19.349 he's hungry. So I try to make things go as quick 00:19:19.349 --> 00:19:21.750 as possible. So make sure you have your non -perishable 00:19:21.750 --> 00:19:24.789 food. Make sure you have the fresh food and try 00:19:24.789 --> 00:19:27.349 to use that within the first couple days, unless 00:19:27.349 --> 00:19:30.579 you have a way to keep it cool. throughout. Make 00:19:30.579 --> 00:19:33.220 sure you have your full coffee and tea set up. 00:19:33.500 --> 00:19:36.559 I keep my French press out there. I bring my 00:19:36.559 --> 00:19:38.579 coffee beans inside and put them in the freezer 00:19:38.579 --> 00:19:41.180 when I'm done, when I'm done with them. And then 00:19:41.180 --> 00:19:43.039 when I come back out, they go back into the fridge 00:19:43.039 --> 00:19:45.720 for camping so that I can freshly grind them. 00:19:46.259 --> 00:19:50.539 And they always stay fresh. Seasonings, get your 00:19:50.539 --> 00:19:52.480 seasonings out there, cooking oil, condiments. 00:19:52.700 --> 00:19:55.640 The only thing that actually comes inside is 00:19:55.640 --> 00:20:00.400 the condiments. I don't have space to keep them 00:20:00.400 --> 00:20:02.480 and I don't have the fridge. I'm just going to 00:20:02.480 --> 00:20:04.400 keep the fridge on to keep them cold. They'll 00:20:04.400 --> 00:20:06.279 go back into the door and then I'm ready for 00:20:06.279 --> 00:20:09.859 them. I usually grab a grocery bag and throw 00:20:09.859 --> 00:20:13.819 all of my condiments, butter, coffee, and the 00:20:13.819 --> 00:20:16.000 fresh food that I'm going to take and bring it 00:20:16.000 --> 00:20:19.839 out to the fridge and store it. So moving away 00:20:19.839 --> 00:20:22.019 from that, we're going to go to navigation, communication. 00:20:22.339 --> 00:20:25.900 So we're going to move past communication really 00:20:25.900 --> 00:20:28.039 because we're going to... practice this as a 00:20:28.039 --> 00:20:32.339 solo you want paper maps for the area a lot of 00:20:32.339 --> 00:20:34.680 like visitor centers have some paper maps of 00:20:34.680 --> 00:20:36.940 each area that you'll be in make sure you have 00:20:36.940 --> 00:20:38.940 one of those it's always really good to have 00:20:38.940 --> 00:20:42.700 an atlas and then make sure you have your gps 00:20:42.700 --> 00:20:46.319 or a garmin not like an inreach an inreach would 00:20:46.319 --> 00:20:49.500 be nice too if you're solo but like you're the 00:20:49.500 --> 00:20:54.740 garmin satellite tracking navigation That kind 00:20:54.740 --> 00:20:59.440 of thing. I use my phone. I use Onyx. I have 00:20:59.440 --> 00:21:01.859 a subscription through there, and I save the 00:21:01.859 --> 00:21:04.519 maps and download them and use that and cross 00:21:04.519 --> 00:21:08.400 -reference with Gaia and Maps, depending on where 00:21:08.400 --> 00:21:11.140 I'm at. So make sure that you have your trip 00:21:11.140 --> 00:21:14.700 itinerary or your trip plan shared with someone 00:21:14.700 --> 00:21:18.359 that you know who is going to care enough to 00:21:18.359 --> 00:21:21.519 check in on you if you don't make a peep in a 00:21:21.519 --> 00:21:25.519 few days. We share our trip plans with our dad. 00:21:26.000 --> 00:21:29.319 And if anything happens and he doesn't hear from 00:21:29.319 --> 00:21:31.539 us, he doesn't get a text every so now and then, 00:21:31.599 --> 00:21:34.019 he'll ask if we're okay. And if not, he can give 00:21:34.019 --> 00:21:37.079 that trip itinerary to someone who can go and 00:21:37.079 --> 00:21:41.079 track us and make sure we're okay. So moving 00:21:41.079 --> 00:21:43.779 on from that, we have safety and first aid. You 00:21:43.779 --> 00:21:47.170 want a first aid kit always. At the very least, 00:21:47.190 --> 00:21:49.849 a first aid kit, it doesn't matter. You want 00:21:49.849 --> 00:21:52.930 something that's Band -Aids, disinfectant, wraps, 00:21:53.250 --> 00:21:57.390 gauze, depending on who you're talking to, splints, 00:21:57.430 --> 00:22:01.569 tourniquets, IFAC, stuff like that. That's very 00:22:01.569 --> 00:22:03.430 important. And if you don't know how to use it, 00:22:03.490 --> 00:22:05.470 you need to watch videos and you need to practice 00:22:05.470 --> 00:22:08.690 using it before you go. You need a basic understanding 00:22:08.690 --> 00:22:11.549 of how to stop someone's bleeding. where to apply 00:22:11.549 --> 00:22:13.789 the tourniquet, how hard to apply the tourniquet, 00:22:13.789 --> 00:22:16.890 when to pack a wound, and when not to pack a 00:22:16.890 --> 00:22:21.410 wound. I know the basics. I took some first aid 00:22:21.410 --> 00:22:24.329 when I was a volunteer firefighter. I've also 00:22:24.329 --> 00:22:26.829 done a lot of research on YouTube to try to learn 00:22:26.829 --> 00:22:29.250 how to do this, but I'm going to be taking classes 00:22:29.250 --> 00:22:35.089 soon to get re -CPR certified, child CPR certified, 00:22:35.089 --> 00:22:38.339 and... I'm going to try to get first aid, go 00:22:38.339 --> 00:22:40.480 through a first aid class to be able to handle 00:22:40.480 --> 00:22:43.180 trauma first aid, something like that. That's 00:22:43.180 --> 00:22:47.400 on my list. You never want to be solo and not 00:22:47.400 --> 00:22:50.460 be able to get a handle on a situation. This 00:22:50.460 --> 00:22:52.720 is a pride thing, but as a man, I want to make 00:22:52.720 --> 00:22:55.279 sure that if my family gets hurt or put in danger, 00:22:55.440 --> 00:22:57.720 I want to make sure that it's handled, and I 00:22:57.720 --> 00:23:00.930 want to make sure that I handle it. If something 00:23:00.930 --> 00:23:03.549 happens to where my wife gets hurt or my son 00:23:03.549 --> 00:23:05.869 gets hurt, I want to make sure that I have the 00:23:05.869 --> 00:23:09.890 training to keep them safe or to keep them from 00:23:09.890 --> 00:23:15.410 dying. It's kind of like dark, but it happens. 00:23:15.809 --> 00:23:18.490 Accidents happen. Unfortunately, we just had 00:23:18.490 --> 00:23:22.029 a horrible loss with Toyota World Runners who 00:23:22.029 --> 00:23:25.289 just tragically passed away. They were my age. 00:23:26.460 --> 00:23:29.519 It was an accident that happened, and honestly, 00:23:29.700 --> 00:23:31.740 there probably wasn't much that they could have 00:23:31.740 --> 00:23:35.119 done on that one. But if I was to ever come across 00:23:35.119 --> 00:23:40.700 a similar situation to where, let's say, I just 00:23:40.700 --> 00:23:42.700 lost control driving down a trail and we hit 00:23:42.700 --> 00:23:45.079 a tree or something. If something like that happened, 00:23:45.200 --> 00:23:48.920 my wife had uncontrollable bleeding in her leg, 00:23:49.160 --> 00:23:52.000 I need to know how to apply that tourniquet because 00:23:52.000 --> 00:23:54.079 that makes the difference between whether she 00:23:54.079 --> 00:23:57.039 might live or she might die. And that's up to 00:23:57.039 --> 00:24:00.299 me. That's my responsibility. So making sure 00:24:00.299 --> 00:24:01.779 that you're trained and you know how to use that 00:24:01.779 --> 00:24:06.220 first aid because it really can become a life 00:24:06.220 --> 00:24:09.099 and death thing. And then to kind of pair with 00:24:09.099 --> 00:24:11.380 the first aid, if you know the area that you're 00:24:11.380 --> 00:24:14.660 going into, make sure you know the dangers of 00:24:14.660 --> 00:24:17.480 the natural area around you. So that doesn't 00:24:17.480 --> 00:24:19.480 just mean animals. That actually means plants. 00:24:19.640 --> 00:24:22.059 Make sure you know what the berries are. Make 00:24:22.059 --> 00:24:24.740 sure you know what plants are poisonous. Of course, 00:24:24.740 --> 00:24:27.440 make sure you know what animals travel the area. 00:24:27.700 --> 00:24:30.640 Are there bears? What kind of bears? Black bears 00:24:30.640 --> 00:24:33.519 and brown bears act differently. So black bears 00:24:33.519 --> 00:24:36.059 are kind of scared of you, to be honest. So they're 00:24:36.059 --> 00:24:39.319 not super big of a worry. Whereas brown bears 00:24:39.319 --> 00:24:42.000 are a little bit more territorial and they have 00:24:42.000 --> 00:24:45.079 been known to be a little bit more aggressive 00:24:45.079 --> 00:24:48.049 towards humans. And then you have like snakes, 00:24:48.109 --> 00:24:50.329 of course. Make sure you know snakes. Michigan 00:24:50.329 --> 00:24:52.470 has them as soccer rattler. They're typically 00:24:52.470 --> 00:24:56.150 in swampland areas. You want to make sure that 00:24:56.150 --> 00:24:58.529 you know what's there. You want to know how to 00:24:58.529 --> 00:25:00.230 spot it. You want to make sure you know what 00:25:00.230 --> 00:25:02.630 it looks like. That way you can describe it when 00:25:02.630 --> 00:25:08.529 you're bit. Same thing with spiders. Like the 00:25:08.529 --> 00:25:10.849 only ones we have in Michigan natively are the 00:25:10.849 --> 00:25:14.859 brown recluse. And the black widow, the black 00:25:14.859 --> 00:25:19.180 widow is less dangerous. It's also known to dry 00:25:19.180 --> 00:25:22.700 bite. And it's not known to kill humans unless 00:25:22.700 --> 00:25:24.859 there's already something going on, typically. 00:25:25.039 --> 00:25:28.460 But the brown recluse actually, like, I don't 00:25:28.460 --> 00:25:30.480 know how to eat. The poison, like, eats at your 00:25:30.480 --> 00:25:32.799 skin. So it's something that you want to watch. 00:25:33.299 --> 00:25:36.259 Make sure you know what kind of, like, if you're 00:25:36.259 --> 00:25:38.359 allergic to bees, make sure you're paying attention 00:25:38.359 --> 00:25:41.940 to the bees in the area, obviously. Stuff like 00:25:41.940 --> 00:25:44.569 that. Moving on from safety and first aid, because 00:25:44.569 --> 00:25:46.210 this is just all stuff that you should know. 00:25:47.349 --> 00:25:49.450 You want personal gear, so you want to make sure 00:25:49.450 --> 00:25:52.089 you have weather appropriate clothing. Depending 00:25:52.089 --> 00:25:54.089 on the area that you're in, you want to make 00:25:54.089 --> 00:25:55.869 sure you're dressing for that area. If you know 00:25:55.869 --> 00:25:57.349 it's going to be cold, you need to make sure 00:25:57.349 --> 00:26:00.809 you layer so you don't over sweat. Make sure 00:26:00.809 --> 00:26:02.549 you carry the right amount of clothing and be 00:26:02.549 --> 00:26:05.210 honest about how much you're going to change. 00:26:05.430 --> 00:26:07.069 You know, at the end of the day, you're still 00:26:07.069 --> 00:26:10.779 camping. I was leaving for seven days and I brought 00:26:10.779 --> 00:26:13.960 14 pairs of clothing, like full pairs of clothing. 00:26:14.039 --> 00:26:16.579 I'd be lying to myself if I said that I was going 00:26:16.579 --> 00:26:18.660 to be changing twice a day. You know what I'm 00:26:18.660 --> 00:26:21.359 saying? I'd be lying to myself if I said I was 00:26:21.359 --> 00:26:23.220 going to be changing seven times a day if I was 00:26:23.220 --> 00:26:25.519 out for seven days. I'll change my underwear. 00:26:25.599 --> 00:26:28.019 I'll change my socks. But my pants are going 00:26:28.019 --> 00:26:31.920 to be for three days, if more. My shorts will 00:26:31.920 --> 00:26:34.440 be for three days, if more. Honestly, I'll wear 00:26:34.440 --> 00:26:38.099 my shorts until they're so dirty or smelly. That 00:26:38.099 --> 00:26:40.799 I can't wear them. And that's just the honest 00:26:40.799 --> 00:26:43.019 truth. Like you don't need a lot of clothes out 00:26:43.019 --> 00:26:46.059 there. You are camping. You are overlanding. 00:26:46.099 --> 00:26:47.420 Like if you want to go to a nice restaurant. 00:26:47.480 --> 00:26:48.880 Make sure you have a nice pair of clothes to 00:26:48.880 --> 00:26:50.839 go into. But make sure when you're out in camp. 00:26:51.039 --> 00:26:53.259 Like those are camp clothes. Like you're supposed 00:26:53.259 --> 00:26:54.720 to be out there in the middle of nowhere. No 00:26:54.720 --> 00:26:56.339 one cares what you look like when you're out 00:26:56.339 --> 00:26:59.579 there. That's kind of a beauty of it. So I typically 00:26:59.579 --> 00:27:01.619 in the summer I don't even have. I don't even 00:27:01.619 --> 00:27:03.940 like. I'll pack one pair of socks. Because I 00:27:03.940 --> 00:27:06.480 don't wear socks. And the only reason I pack 00:27:06.480 --> 00:27:09.440 the socks. is because if it gets cold, I just 00:27:09.440 --> 00:27:11.119 want an extra layer over my feet because I'm 00:27:11.119 --> 00:27:13.660 wearing sandals. So it's just kind of think about 00:27:13.660 --> 00:27:16.299 where you're at. Lake Superior is kind of fun 00:27:16.299 --> 00:27:18.740 and tricky in that way. I have a sweatshirt that 00:27:18.740 --> 00:27:24.099 I pack, and then I have tall pants, regular -sized 00:27:24.099 --> 00:27:27.339 pants, and then I have tall socks for the colder 00:27:27.339 --> 00:27:32.140 days. My wife, she has a couple of those because 00:27:32.140 --> 00:27:35.299 she tends to get colder more often. I only need 00:27:35.299 --> 00:27:40.309 one pair. Long pants, long sweatshirt, and long 00:27:40.309 --> 00:27:43.869 socks just to last through that. And that's all 00:27:43.869 --> 00:27:46.089 I need. The rest of it's summer clothing, right? 00:27:46.190 --> 00:27:49.069 So just make sure you do your research. And then, 00:27:49.109 --> 00:27:50.329 of course, if it's supposed to rain, make sure 00:27:50.329 --> 00:27:53.150 you have your rain jacket, this and that. Make 00:27:53.150 --> 00:27:55.990 sure you have sunglasses, extra contacts, stuff 00:27:55.990 --> 00:27:59.289 like that. Make sure you bring toiletries, toilet 00:27:59.289 --> 00:28:03.150 paper, the little toilet packs that you put in 00:28:03.150 --> 00:28:06.500 the bag. wet wipes we're actually going from 00:28:06.500 --> 00:28:10.200 um paper towel we're going to switch fully to 00:28:10.200 --> 00:28:12.380 the cheap walmart wet wipes because you can get 00:28:12.380 --> 00:28:14.599 way more for cheaper and they clean you better 00:28:14.599 --> 00:28:16.559 and you can use them to actually just clean your 00:28:16.559 --> 00:28:19.920 body instead uh doing little wipey baths as they 00:28:19.920 --> 00:28:22.599 say so we're going to actually switch from toilet 00:28:22.599 --> 00:28:24.599 paper too because also if toilet paper gets wet 00:28:24.599 --> 00:28:27.500 it's ruined if wet wipes get wet they're already 00:28:27.500 --> 00:28:29.930 wet so Not a big deal. Something you can keep 00:28:29.930 --> 00:28:31.930 in your little pop -up bathroom if it rains and 00:28:31.930 --> 00:28:33.670 they get wet. No big deal. They were there that 00:28:33.670 --> 00:28:38.309 way before. So personal documents, IDs, permits, 00:28:38.410 --> 00:28:40.190 insurance, obviously make sure you have all that 00:28:40.190 --> 00:28:43.690 on you. And then final checks before departure, 00:28:44.089 --> 00:28:47.950 fill fuel tank, extra jerry cans, load gear securely, 00:28:48.089 --> 00:28:51.549 evenly, and organized. So if you know that your 00:28:51.549 --> 00:28:52.990 first night you're going to be grabbing your 00:28:52.990 --> 00:28:54.829 tent, try to make sure that's at the top of the 00:28:54.829 --> 00:28:58.470 pile, not the bottom, right? Pack it away in 00:28:58.470 --> 00:29:00.190 the order that you're going to be taking it out 00:29:00.190 --> 00:29:02.890 first. So if you're not going to be touching 00:29:02.890 --> 00:29:04.970 your clothes till you get everything put away, 00:29:05.170 --> 00:29:07.089 maybe you put your clothes towards the bottom. 00:29:07.750 --> 00:29:10.109 If you know you're going to be doing your tent 00:29:10.109 --> 00:29:12.369 first when you get out, obviously. So you put 00:29:12.369 --> 00:29:15.089 your tent at the top, sleeping bags under that, 00:29:15.210 --> 00:29:19.029 pads along with it, and you have your air mattress 00:29:19.029 --> 00:29:21.490 blower or whatever that right there next to it. 00:29:21.650 --> 00:29:24.809 So all you have to do is throw all that out there 00:29:24.809 --> 00:29:27.759 and you're good to go. So check brakes, check 00:29:27.759 --> 00:29:30.920 your steering, check for weather and road conditions, 00:29:31.079 --> 00:29:33.259 like I said, notify someone over your route, 00:29:33.339 --> 00:29:36.079 like I said, and lock up your home and secure 00:29:36.079 --> 00:29:38.900 your valuables. And if you carry a firearm, make 00:29:38.900 --> 00:29:40.680 sure that's locked away and secured properly 00:29:40.680 --> 00:29:47.539 on your persons. So that was a pre -check trip 00:29:47.539 --> 00:29:54.849 checklist for an overland trip. And that was 00:29:54.849 --> 00:29:56.910 something that chat GPT actually just gave me. 00:29:56.950 --> 00:30:01.509 So that is, I mean, that's very, um, informative. 00:30:01.650 --> 00:30:03.410 That really fills in a lot of the holes that 00:30:03.410 --> 00:30:07.890 you might need. So, um, uh, you know, preparing 00:30:07.890 --> 00:30:11.049 for an overland trip to you go in here and you 00:30:11.049 --> 00:30:12.710 look, they want to make sure that you have a 00:30:12.710 --> 00:30:14.589 lot of the same thing like water filtration. 00:30:14.730 --> 00:30:16.710 That's something I didn't mention earlier, but 00:30:16.710 --> 00:30:19.670 water filtration is really nice when you don't 00:30:19.670 --> 00:30:23.170 have, um, a clean water source nearby, like a 00:30:23.170 --> 00:30:28.509 hose. Um, so what I do is I get potable water 00:30:28.509 --> 00:30:32.950 from state campgrounds. So when three days or 00:30:32.950 --> 00:30:35.170 so go up and I'm starting to get low on water, 00:30:35.289 --> 00:30:37.849 we'll take a quick trip to a state campground. 00:30:37.950 --> 00:30:40.930 Um, we'll get rid of garbage. We will use the 00:30:40.930 --> 00:30:43.769 restroom. If they have restroom facilities, we 00:30:43.769 --> 00:30:46.650 will refill all of our waters in all of our water 00:30:46.650 --> 00:30:50.339 bottles and our water tank. You know, we'll just 00:30:50.339 --> 00:30:52.380 get kind of refreshed for the next couple days 00:30:52.380 --> 00:30:54.980 and we'll go. If they have showers, we pay for 00:30:54.980 --> 00:30:57.859 a shower. Then, you know, you make sure that 00:30:57.859 --> 00:31:00.000 you have all that. Filtration is nice because 00:31:00.000 --> 00:31:03.720 you can use the stream water and you can filter 00:31:03.720 --> 00:31:05.720 that and make sure you have nice potable drinking 00:31:05.720 --> 00:31:09.759 water. So that is nice. Making sure you have 00:31:09.759 --> 00:31:12.660 headlamps, camp batteries, stuff like that. Check 00:31:12.660 --> 00:31:17.859 -in plans, permits. And doing a shakedown trip 00:31:17.859 --> 00:31:20.859 about a week before you go is nice too. It doesn't 00:31:20.859 --> 00:31:22.460 have to be a camping trip. Just drive it, take 00:31:22.460 --> 00:31:24.559 some trails, make sure everything's not rattly 00:31:24.559 --> 00:31:26.660 and everything's good to go. I do that a lot 00:31:26.660 --> 00:31:28.740 too. And then make sure you're flexible. Like 00:31:28.740 --> 00:31:31.319 it's always good to plan overlanding trips. And 00:31:31.319 --> 00:31:34.519 like I do, and I've talked about, I'm very thorough 00:31:34.519 --> 00:31:37.039 when I plan. My checklist is very large when 00:31:37.039 --> 00:31:40.480 I plan. I like to have everything. I do not like 00:31:40.480 --> 00:31:44.569 to go unprepared. But when you get up there, 00:31:44.670 --> 00:31:48.569 things happen. And I like to have a plan until 00:31:48.569 --> 00:31:51.690 I get up there, kind of. So I like to know where 00:31:51.690 --> 00:31:55.430 I want to go. But I'm also okay with not doing 00:31:55.430 --> 00:31:58.710 it, too. So if I wanted to, like I was saying 00:31:58.710 --> 00:32:01.730 earlier, I wanted to do Sulox, Whitefish Point, 00:32:02.029 --> 00:32:05.390 Two -Hearted, Crisp Point, and Grand Marias. 00:32:05.549 --> 00:32:07.450 If I wasn't going to be able to make it all the 00:32:07.450 --> 00:32:09.569 way over to Grand Marias, and I was only going 00:32:09.569 --> 00:32:12.009 to be able to do Two -Hearted, Whitefish Point, 00:32:12.640 --> 00:32:15.680 and crisp, then you just be okay with it. You 00:32:15.680 --> 00:32:17.299 have more trips that you can do in the future, 00:32:17.400 --> 00:32:20.039 and honestly, it's not that big of a deal. If 00:32:20.039 --> 00:32:21.880 you spend more time, that really means you are 00:32:21.880 --> 00:32:25.799 enjoying it more. So, you know, take that with 00:32:25.799 --> 00:32:28.180 what you will. Now, if you were to ask Alex on 00:32:28.180 --> 00:32:30.940 his trip planning, he might be very, very different 00:32:30.940 --> 00:32:33.559 on this, and Mark as well. But I do like to have 00:32:33.559 --> 00:32:35.779 a good plan. I like to be very in control of 00:32:35.779 --> 00:32:38.430 the situation. I hate being out of control. Um, 00:32:38.670 --> 00:32:40.630 but yeah, there is a time when I'm out there 00:32:40.630 --> 00:32:42.650 camping where I can let go a little bit and go, 00:32:42.750 --> 00:32:44.710 Hey, remember, we're supposed to be enjoying 00:32:44.710 --> 00:32:48.470 this. So here that's, that's a, a really quick, 00:32:48.549 --> 00:32:52.650 fast rundown on some of the stuff that you need 00:32:52.650 --> 00:32:54.930 when you're doing that. And if chat GPT can't 00:32:54.930 --> 00:32:57.410 help you. And honestly, there's not much here 00:32:57.410 --> 00:33:01.589 that I wouldn't, um, that I wouldn't recommend. 00:33:01.910 --> 00:33:05.910 So, um, use it, use it to help give you a basis 00:33:05.910 --> 00:33:10.369 of idea. copy and paste it onto a list, like 00:33:10.369 --> 00:33:12.730 a checklist, and then add whatever other stuff 00:33:12.730 --> 00:33:14.890 that you need to check. But this is really good. 00:33:14.990 --> 00:33:17.470 Both of them are really good. So overlanding, 00:33:17.470 --> 00:33:20.190 so the prompts that I actually put in were, how 00:33:20.190 --> 00:33:23.589 should I plan an overlanding trip? And then on 00:33:23.589 --> 00:33:26.009 the other thing is, what do I need to start overlanding? 00:33:26.009 --> 00:33:28.660 So a lot of those kind of coincide, but... Some 00:33:28.660 --> 00:33:30.279 of them are a little bit different, like the 00:33:30.279 --> 00:33:32.160 how do I start overlanding helps you with what 00:33:32.160 --> 00:33:35.480 vehicles are typically used, the tires typically 00:33:35.480 --> 00:33:37.259 used. You want to make sure you have good recovery 00:33:37.259 --> 00:33:40.839 points and basic maintenance done. So using ChatGPT 00:33:40.839 --> 00:33:45.160 absolutely can help you. I asked on another prompt 00:33:45.160 --> 00:33:48.579 to make a pre -trip checklist for my overlanding 00:33:48.579 --> 00:33:51.660 trip, and they gave me a massive checklist that 00:33:51.660 --> 00:33:55.799 was all sorted by area that I might actually 00:33:55.799 --> 00:33:59.420 use this in the future. Um, it's well organized. 00:33:59.779 --> 00:34:03.799 I can copy and paste this onto my checklist app, 00:34:04.000 --> 00:34:06.680 like notes app. And then I can add other things 00:34:06.680 --> 00:34:10.219 that I want for just my checklist prep. And then 00:34:10.219 --> 00:34:13.000 that is a checklist that you can reuse actually. 00:34:13.199 --> 00:34:16.159 So on my notes app, it's a checklist that I can 00:34:16.159 --> 00:34:18.780 check on and check off. So as I'm doing this 00:34:18.780 --> 00:34:21.139 as a pre -trip before I go, I could check all 00:34:21.139 --> 00:34:23.619 this off. And then the next time I go out, I 00:34:23.619 --> 00:34:26.960 can just redo the same thing. I think I'm done. 00:34:28.139 --> 00:34:32.019 I've been talking a lot. I've been trying to 00:34:32.019 --> 00:34:34.340 bust out an episode and just kind of help get 00:34:34.340 --> 00:34:39.059 one out. Thank you guys for listening. I hope 00:34:39.059 --> 00:34:43.119 you enjoyed this. AI, how to use AI to help with 00:34:43.119 --> 00:34:46.960 your overlanding. So, hey, thanks for listening.