EP 2 - Outdoor Detour Teaches How To Travel All The Time

Transcript auto-generated with Google Speech-to-Text diarization and lightly cleaned for speaker names. Speaker labels use first names only.

Tayson: So here's the big question, how do we live a life? full of adventures travel and memories on our terms without being millionaires without previous experience? And without unlimited amounts of time, that's the big question and this podcast will give you the answers. I'm your co-host Tayson and

Dave: I'm Dave and you're listening to the Live Ultralight podcast powered by Outdoor Vitals. All right, on today's episode we have Randy Johnson AKA outdoor detour. Very excited to have him today. He is, I think the epitome of this podcast and living ultra light and what we're looking to get out of our guests and this podcast. So Randy without further Ado, if you want to just toss a little bit about yourself and take it from there.

Randy: Yeah. Hey thanks for having me on. Yeah, my name is Randy and I live in Denver Colorado. I've been doing outdoor photography for probably close to 10 years, something like that. And you know, I moved to Colorado seven or eight years ago and just chasing the mountains. I grew up in Cleveland was a big skier. And So right after college I moved to Denver. And I had actually never slept in a tent before I'd never got a camping, wasn't much of a hiker, you know, I grew up in the midwest is not really mountains or anything like that. And went to college in Philly. So, you know, I was In the doing the city life. And So, yeah, I came out chasing the mountains and got into camping and hiking. And now it's pretty much all I do. I

Dave: don't know if you know this tasting but me and Randy went to the same school together. Like we didn't know each other there, but when he came off with influencer, and we found that I was like, wow, it's

Randy: like, oh my God, I totally forgot about that is wild.

Tayson: That's, that's way cool. I think that you're gonna fit perfect on this, that's really interesting. I didn't know that you didn't, you know, grow up backpacking or in the outdoors. So, that's even more interesting, little background. You know, we, we got to know you through your Instagram account outdoor detour. You just have amazing photography. You actually started taking some photography of our stuff and we're like, man, who is this guy? He keeps posting this amazing stuff and we kind of started that conversation there So we can definitely attest to your skills with the camera but also as we followed you, if we've just kind of realized that we feel like you're really unique because You kind of have a corporate background or like, your day job. From what I understand is very corporate, but yet you travel and you get out there more than almost anyone that we know.

Randy: Yeah, but it manager, I worked typical Monday through Friday, you know, 8 to 4 8 to 5. And then the weekends come and I'm trying to get out there as much as possible.

Tayson: Yeah, it's super awesome. So, I mean, let's just Dive Right into that. I mean, working in corporate lifestyle, you know, very structured, things like that, with how much you get out? What are you looking at? As far as like, when you go to take a trip, how are you, how are you planning that, how are you establishing that, are they following your lap? Or are you part of, like, friends that are all doing this together?

Randy: Here, you know, most of my trips are quick weekend trips, neither gone for the for just Saturday and Sunday, or I'm just taking one day off and taking, you know, a three-day weekend. And, you know, it kind of started. I take a lot more trips now solo than I ever have. And that kind of started with skiing because I, you know, I wanted to go out and have breakfast and then still catch first chair at 8:30 and none of my friends wanted to do that. And I said, you know what, fine, I'll go out and do it myself and it kind of worked the same way with my hiking and camping trips. You know, like I wanted to be out the door early, I wanted to be somewhere for Sunrise. And didn't have a lot of friends that would do that with me. So, I started going up by myself. It's a lot of the trips. I take our our actually based around photography. Maybe there's, you know, a waterfall. I've been wanting to go shoot and it's in Telluride, which is six hours away. And So, I'll just take off Friday right after work and go out and do that. So a lot of the trips are definitely photography driven Or, you know, it's a backpacking Loop that I want to do or a hike that I want to do. So, you know what, if it's within driving distance, I'm looking at Doing it and seeing. Something that I've never seen before or, you know, doing a hike that I've always wanted to do. So that's kind of and I'm just trying to knock out all national parks too. So it's that's kind of what drives all my, all my trip planning.

Tayson: I think that's super interesting. What you mentioned, if it's in car distance. What is

Dave: Cardiff?

Randy: That's the great question. I would say, within a 10, 11 hours So like, you know, I've met you guys, all right. I met Dave rather out in Zion and that's about a 10-hour drive for me. And So while while it might take 10 hours to get there it ends up being like a 30 hour loop drive that I do. So, I I guess really There's No Limit how far I'll drive.

Dave: I would say that that's West Coast Western car distance. Someone was like, Hey, I want to drive two hours to the city or something. You'd like that you're out of your mind. But when To Utah and something like, yeah, let's drive four hours to Salt Lake. It was really not that big of a deal at all.

Randy: So yeah. No you make a great point because no one out in the midwest they don't drive anywhere. It's kind of crazy. And then once I moved to Colorado and I'm skiing 40 days a season, you know, just to get into the mountains is at least an hour and a half, that you're driving just to get out there. So we're talking three hours, round trip and you just kind of get used to that. And, you know, oh, I want to see more Colorado in the Rockies. So now all of a sudden you're driving that much further and you really do just get used to that.

Tayson: I would say too driving East Coast and West Coast driving on the west coast like in the west side of the United States, it's just more pretty. There's more to see. And like I enjoy, that's

Dave: stressful too. You know, the speed limits faster for one but there's just it's not traffic e and things like that. So that that's one. Definitely not positive on Note the West Coast but to that on those quicker, quicker trips. What type of planning goes into that. I know me myself, out of my group of friends on Deathly, the planner stuff, I want to get something done it it comes on me to, you know, book The stays and in the permits and things like that. And I know from knowing you personally, you're definitely a good permit planner for these backpacking trips and things like that. And Know, there's a lot of work that goes into that. So if you could talk about, you know, renting cars gear permits, just kind of mapping out your trips, and, and things like that.

Randy: Yeah, sure. And honestly, it doesn't really make a difference for me whether it's a short trip or a long trip. I basically need to all I'm thinking about is where am I going to sleep each night that I'm gone. And where am I going to be for Sunrise? And where am I going to be for Sunset? Because again, a lot of this, a lot of my trips kind of, I'm looking to do photography while I'm out. So that's really. Those are like, the main things. I look at Is where am I sleep in? And where am I going to be sunrise? Sunset, and then everything in between is just filler. It's all right. How much can I see? Or what Heights can I do while the sun's out? So, you know, right now in the winter we got short days. So, you know, I just got back from me a 70 and it's not a whole lot of time in between Sunrise and sunset. So You know, that was more photography than hiking, you know, you mentioned, rental car and gears. I don't usually do rental cars around Colorado. Unless like, I really don't want to put mileage on my truck, but that, like, almost never happens. You know, around here you'll need all-wheel drive anyway to get around the mountains. So it's usually not worth it to get a rental and for rental gear. Like I just rented, cross-country skis. When I was out in Yosemite two weeks ago, and that was the first time I've ever done that, I would normally bring my skis with me, but I just really didn't feel like doing it. And I wanted to do cross-country skis, this trip. So,

Tayson: So yeah that's I think it's super interesting So you typically not renting a car, have you rented a car like because let's say you're on the east coast and you want to get out here. Have you done that type of thing is it much of a hassle or do you typically just like try to shuttle or I mean what do you do?

Randy: Well for any trip like if I'm going East Coast West Coast then I will rent a car. Yeah. But anything around Colorado you know. I'm not renting a car but yes. So typically let's just take this Cemetery trip. I just took I ran it a car and then I almost always fly south west. If I'm playing, I'm backpacking because you get three bags for free. You get two check bags. And carry on and a personal. And So that's actually basically four bags that I can bring for free and then, you know, I'll rent a car. I ran a Jeep this past trip and that's because typically everywhere I want to go is Is no Ubers out there by the national parks, you know, So yeah, if I'm going out of state like that, I will rent a car. Just So I have the freedom to go wherever I want to go.

Dave: To take my advice about the bed in the back of your truck yet.

Randy: I haven't built anything out yet, dude, but I still haven't decided if I want to do it on my current truck or if I want to wait till I get a new truck, but Believe me it's going to happen eventually because I sleep in my truck a lot. So yeah. And the setup. You have is exactly what I'm looking for.

Dave: The Southwest flying. Southwest that, that's really good.

Randy: Nice,

Tayson: I've done

Randy: it.

Dave: Definitely great

Randy: and you know living in Denver it's it's honestly So cheap to fly everywhere. I spent 49 each way to San Fran on this recent trip. And that's with bags and everything, So it's 98, dollars out the door to get there, you know. I think that's super good point that, I mean for that price, plus you're in this case you had to Jeep and I mean you went on this one solo, right? Yep.

Tayson: Yes. I mean, if you had a few buddies or different things renting or splitting the cost of that jeep, I mean it is super affordable and I think that's something that we're seeing just with travel in general. But I wanted to kind of go back to this because I mean you you travel constantly you're I mean literally every weekend you're out somewhere which is just just amazing but you have to incur some costs traveling like that and So that's one thing that we do want like to touch on with this podcast is how can we make it more affordable, more practical for people to spend a ton of time Outdoors? So going back to that, let's say you're just, you're driving, you're going closer range a little bit more affordable. Let's say, is there any other tips or tricks or things like that that you do to help bring down costs on the frequency? These trips, I bring all my own food. Every meal, I bring I bring eggs bacon, throw everything sandwiches for East right food, I bring into the back country So definitely bring all your own food. I don't pay for campgrounds. I don't like staying campgrounds in my experience. They just packing in too close together.

Randy: Too noisy, almost every Campground of slept in. I've woken up to kids yelling or Screaming or a generator or you know, whatever it is. So I do free dispersed camping with, you know, zero amenities, you know, that's you get used to that for

Tayson: sure. So going on that really quick, you know, you went from never camping to Camping solo to Camping solo. Clear out the middle of nowhere. Yeah. What was that like was that hard for you? I've heard for some people that's hard. I kind of grew up in the outdoors and So camping solo, you know, for me was never an issue, but Talk a little bit about just that transition and what that was like or if that was ever struggle for you

Randy: it was definitely. A slow transition at first, you know, you started out you moved to Colorado and then you're like, oh, maybe I shouldn't take in jeans anymore. It's hiking pants. And, you know, you just it's a slow accumulation of outdoor gear. You know, my first tent was a little Coleman tent that I probably paid 40 dollars for and then you go and you start getting you're like oh I want to Get in the backpacking and it's just a slow progression and accumulation of outdoor gear. But but going out by yourself, I there was one February where I blew my Neo skiing ACL MCL meniscus and So I spent I had surgery in March and then you know, all summer, you know, I couldn't play volleyball, I couldn't play softball, I couldn't hike. and So when I finally in sports on top of all your travels just a little bit, just recreationally, So yeah, not being not able to do that all summer, what I ended up starting to do was go out camping. And most of those trips were by myself and that summer that I blew, my Neo I had gone. I ended up going camping for 15 weeks straight at least one night and a lot of those were by myself and that was kind of my my rehab. And that's what I did to kind of deal with not being able to be as active, as I wanted to be. So that's that is absolutely, when I really got into camping and after that, I really wanted to get into backpacking after, you know, after my knee healed. I know, I like that because there's a progression. There you started. You

Tayson: started camping sort of solo camping but he started solo camping out of your car. Correct, which tradition? Yeah like if you've got four walls around you just in a car you have that sense of security and then also it's like a things go bad. I can start the car and warm up or drive away somewhere.

Randy: Yeah.

Tayson: And then and then you progress to backpacking.

Randy: Yeah and when you say out of out of my car I was still all those 15 weeks. I was sleeping in a tent but I was quote, unquote car camping where, you know, you drive up to the campsite and instead of your tent but yeah, you still have the card there if you are not feeling safe and and yeah, you know, in Colorado, I'd never really worried about animals. I know, that's a big one for people. Not and not just animals, but, you know, other people that, you know, make you feel uneasy in the backcountry. I know that's people. Don't feel safe. Sometimes out there. Yeah. But you know, bring whatever you need to, to make you, to give you that peace of mind, bear, spray air, horns, firearm, you know, whatever, whatever it may be, but you really just got to go out and do it a few times. Let's spend some time out there by yourself. Clear your mind, try not to think of anything, you know, at night throw ear plugs in. So you're not hearing you know, the Little Critters sniffing around your tent because it's gonna happen, you know, you just gotta find a way to deal with it and, you know, I think everyone should sleep with earplugs on and even put some music or wait. No, he's on your phone, you know, like sleep but you never gonna do it unless you just get up. You know, you suck it up and you get out there and do it.

Dave: Yeah, I think earplugs are definitely a good one for me. Like I don't leave I'm a light sleeper and that trip that you're on with us. I remember there was a deer just running around Camp all night and I kind of flicking flicking the wall of the tent to try and scare him away. But the thing kept me up all night.

Randy: Yeah.

Tayson: Whether I'll go ahead.

Randy: Yeah. That your plugs are a new one. For me, I just got some on a flight that I was on and I was like, you know what? I'm gonna throw these in my pack, they don't weigh anything. So I I'm normally a music on the phone guy when I'm by myself at night, but yeah, that your plugs are a new one. I'm trying out.

Tayson: yeah, I I have to laugh when people say that just because I'm like sleeping solo because probably the most scared I've ever been is actually when I was sleeping in my car, about three in the morning, I'm sleeping in the back of my Foreigner at the time. This is years and years ago and Middle the night, my whole car starts shaking. I mean just rocking back and forth and I wake up thinking there's a bear or something just slamming on my window or I don't know what was going on. Finally I like, get up kind of see what's going on. I get a flashlight and look out there and there's some cow. Just rubbing their head.

Randy: Like,

Tayson: I was So mad at that cow. I gotta chase it out of Camp. Oh man, and then and then I go back in. Go back to sleep and two hours later. My car just started shaking again. Oh my

Randy: God. That's hilarious.

Tayson: So yeah, you never know what's gonna happen out there. It's funny.

Dave: I have a question for you with the new YouTube. I see that's a new thing for you. So how did you transition from, you know, still photography? into tube and, and talk about your most recent Video that the seven national parks in 80 82 hours, and it's kind of the planning that went into that. I know you stopped by here and Outdoor Vitals and said hello, but what goes into something like that? And another question would you, would you do it again? Is it, is it enjoyable to do that like that?

Randy: Uh, to answer your first question. Yeah, I did start this YouTube channel and making videos, which is my first foray in the video editing that started because I didn't like writing. I, I started doing the blog posts and, you know, I'm no Penman, you know, I it's it's more work for me to type out the whole trip then to just, you know, talk about it as we're doing it. And Filming. It also helps you, you know, recount the things as they happen. So you're not waiting however many days, you know, to go home and then try and recount everything that happens. So, So, yeah, that's, that's totally new. I've got a few videos up. The latest one, you're referring to is the, yeah, we did a seven national parks and 82 hours about three and a half days. Up, I had a buddy from Cleveland, his mom was having a major back surgery or something, and he knew he was gonna have to take care of her for a few months. And So he he was like, I'm coming out just trying to get away before you know, I gotta take care of my mom and So he wanted to backpack for a couple nights in Colorado and and this is in November. So I was like, if you better bring snow shoes and all your form is here because it's, it's regularly around zero in the mountains at night. And then I was like, you know, have you ever been to Moab? And he was like, no we can, we can go there. You know, it's drivable like oh yeah, it's piece of cake. In fact, I can I can show you all Utah and you know, three, four days. So you know, Southern Utah and Yeah, he's kind of he's he's my buddies getting to the point where he's he's down for all the crazy trips that I normally take. And So yeah we just started I started playing it out because You know, I've done the southern Utah Loop. I guess, two times before this Excuse me. So So yeah, we we planned Moab day one, we woke up at in our cars at the trailhead for delicate arch did that hike for Sunrise came down. Then went to Canyonlands, did a couple things there, then all the way up to Capitol Reef camped there. And just continued on all the way down and ended up doing all all five national parks in Utah. We made a detour down to Grand Canyon to North Rim. Grand. Canyon that one we hadn't planned, but that was a, that was an audible mid-trip and then did Great Sand Dunes National Park in Colorado say and yeah, the whole thing got planned the same way. I said earlier, you know, you figure out Where you want to sleep, what makes sense with that kind of driving, you know, with such a long road that you're trying to do. You figure out where you're going to sleep, where you're going to be for sunrise and sunset and then how much he can fit in between. So, yeah, that's really is how I plan all my trips. Yeah, that was a it was an absolute crazy one. It was great to stop by your guys' spot. I miss tasting again on that trip but yeah, you got me geared up again and you helped keep us warm for the The cold night and Grand Canyon. That's for sure.

Dave: Yeah. When you told me you're going up there, I was like, oh, I hope you're ready for it. How was it has a pretty cold up there? Is that one of the cold? Yeah,

Randy: it was. Yeah, that was It was 20 basically all night. We kept turning the car on every once in a while to check the temperature. But yeah, it was 20 all night. So we actually didn't even sleep that night. We pulled an all-nighter because we were just taking pictures having fun with around the fire and yeah, it was just a crazy trip. Yeah. So aside from the aside from the national parks we also did Horseshoe Bend While we were driving actually two Grand Canyon. My buddy looked up towards for Antelope Canyon and booked one while we were driving So we did we did horseshoe band that went we had like 10 minutes at Horseshoe Bend. And then have to go straight to lower Antelope Canyon. And then did a tour there.

Tayson: So, I gotta asking all of this obviously. You've seen most of these places before you're coming back and revisiting them. But for your friend, you know, did he enjoy this type of a trip? Or was it like too much? Does he just want to come back now? Like what if you were to do it all over again? What he want to do that same trip again or would you want to go to, like less places? Spend more time. He would definitely want to go to list places and spend more time,

Randy: you know, he lives in Cleveland, So it's it was definitely one of those. You know how many chances are you gonna get to come out here? And it's harder for everyone out east to travel out here because it's that much more expensive, you know? And So, you know, I gave him the option. I was like we could just do a week in Moab, but, you know, he wants, he said, you know, screw it. Let's, let's see as much as we possibly can and I have no problem with that because I'm While I'm still showing him everything. I'm still putting in little pieces little attractions or that I haven't done before. Or oh I want to I want to be a delicate arch for Sunrise which I've never done before, you know, things like that. So I'm I'm still trying to work in a little photo spots for me to be at certain places at different times than I ever have been. But yeah, I would say he enjoyed it. We were both completely dead by the end of it, but yeah,

Tayson: I didn't make it easier on yourself. Staying up all night.

Randy: Oh no, no, it was So rough.

Dave: I totally understand my friends come out from from the east coast and you trying to just packing everything, you know, you going Candyman, Valley Zion price, and you just trying to do as much as you can and sometimes I look back on it and I'm like, I don't know if that was like the best experience or you know, but that's interesting that you have that same kind of point of view and that's the same issues that you have one. When your friends come out you just trying to do is as much as possible but and that's what I

Randy: do by myself. When I go to a new area like What was it just a month prior to that. I went to Washington and I had never done any of the parks up there. And So I did all three national parks and three days up there. And that's actually what I like to do. I I'll pack in as much as humanly possible, So that only because I know I'm gonna be going out there. Probably multiple times later on. So I like to see where everything is get a feel for it and then I'll know where I want to spend more time in the future or where I can or where I want to spend less time and say, you know, I don't need to be spend too much time there in the future, So that's I'm going back to

Dave: Olympic in July. I know we kind of talked about this in the past just kind of go in the first time and seeing all the, the touristy type of things and yeah, what you want to do and, you know, go plan to go back and do a little multi-day. Backpacking. Trip back there.

Randy: Yeah, for sure.

Tayson: So you mentioned this a few times but I want to, I don't know, bring light to it. You mention that you plan a lot of your trips based around photography and getting up at light and getting these shots and things like that. I really love that. I've kind of grown up with, with different things here in Utah, you know. Maybe it's, you know, you want to get up in the morning to go fish, are you gonna go fish? This lake or you want to Just see different things. Like, I've also kind of got that motivated to get out and I don't get out of the bag earlier and go accomplish something with photography. Like, it's same thing. You're trying to capture something at a specific time and light and obviously trying to capture multiple things, you know, as many things as you can. If you were to look back on this and say, if you weren't passionate about photography, like you aren't you really care about photography, you? Just like, The outdoors. But there wasn't anything like Specific. You're trying to capture accomplished like there wasn't that goal? Do you think that you would get out nearly as much?

Randy: Yeah, I do. I would I would just be hiking and backpacking a lot more. I because even when I blew my knee out I was still taking pictures back then but not I wasn't anywhere near the I don't know, the volume of pictures that I'm taking now and I wasn't nearly as good at post processing those those photos. It was it was still very much just like a light hobby back then. So now that I'm getting more into photography, I'm definitely taking more day trips out, just to go, photograph, certain things. I I know I would still be doing the same types of trips and as often I would just be I think hiking and backpacking a lot more. Gotcha. Now, I find that interesting because just a last year, I was

Tayson: Is actually down in Mexico. We drove into Mexico and went to a beach down there and we're kind of staying and we were out going to breakfast. And this person that I was in the car with they wanted to go get a geocache. And I was like, what? Like another thing from like 10 or 20 years ago, I did too.

Randy: Is that still a thing?

Dave: Yeah, yeah.

Tayson: Well, like she was like obsessed at this and I thought it was super weird at first but like we went and she did this. And then she started talking about all this other stuff and it was something that got her out the door and and whatnot like she'd been to all these places in Moab, she'd been in these places around here. All these day hikes to get these geocaches and it's kind of a fun game to her. Yeah. Maybe not So fun. Maybe she was like super serious. She was like an elite level but I thought it was cool. At the end of the day, I was like, you know, that's actually cool because it's just something that she can kind of set a goal with and she can work on and I guarantee that that gets her out of the house more often. So I was just kind of seeing if it was the same with photography because I don't know if you can set a goal. I mean if you're hiking the at the PCT, you know, that's the goal and maybe use that as a driver, but sometimes I feel like if you can find something like that, something you're passionate about capturing with the camera or with your Shield cash app or whatever it is. It can sometimes fuel you a little bit more to get out more frequently.

Randy: You know anything to get you outside, you know? uh, and you know, I didn't mention this but in my 20s having grown up in the Midwest and then going Gynecology in the East and then moving out west, What I was doing during my 20s was trying to get to every Major League ballpark. I'm a baseball nut. And So that that gave me an excuse to at least start visiting all these different cities. As I was trying to go to a game and at every Ballpark. And So, I think I finished that one, I was like, 28. And then by then I moved to Colorado, I started, you know, really learning about national parks and how amazing these protected lands were and almost immediately all my time and resources and money just went into starting to get to every National Park. So even that was was very much, a natural progression of things and an easy transition. Because it was like, oh I'm done with all the ballparks. What do I do now? And then it's like, oh, how about national parks? Totally. Yeah.

Dave: Game inside the game.

Randy: Oh yeah.

Tayson: Yeah, I can understand that I took a random class in college geology of national parks, and now that's kind of been on my bucket list too is to kind of set a goal and hit as many national parks. I mean I don't know. I think those things just can be can be motivating, but that's pretty cool. You've been to that many baseball stadiums. I'm more

Randy: mad that even after college, I hadn't I didn't really didn't know anything about our national parks. It really

Tayson: does like angers me that

Randy: all throughout my childhood and education that I knew nothing about esmee like 10 years ago when I was 23. If you was said the word you assembly or Yellowstone to me like no picture, would have popped in my head. Like I had no concept of really what those were and I just think they need to educate everyone on national parks and more.

Dave: I also think that the demographic of where you grew up, you know, for sure I was the same way like I don't even know Pennsylvania with the closest Five Virginia somewhere down. There would be the first, the closest National Park. But when you come out west, especially for me living in Utah, and having five of them, you really kind of educate yourself. And, you know, Command and things like that. And just people off on the East Coast, just for the most part or just unaware of the beauty, I guess.

Randy: Yeah. Where are you from Jason?

Tayson: I grew up in Utah and we were I feel like more educated. Yeah, national parks. Thank you for granted out here, we all try to keep it hush hush and not let the East Coast. Know what they're missing. Oh, never moved to Utah terrible. Place to live because

Randy: seriously

Tayson: but but I can I can relate to that. Like, I mean, I call the Yosemite Yosemite for a long time. Even just had no idea. People would be talking about Yosemite and I thought it was a different place. You know what I mean? Just really, I mean just crazy stuff. But yeah, there there's So much opportunity. And I hope with this podcast, we can, we can help educate people and getting them out there and letting him know how practical it is to go see these places and just how amazing it is. I mean, I've I've done a fair amount of travel around the world and things and and if you there's there's certain spots in the United States, where you can see, So many different Geographic areas within So many clothes miles that. I don't know if there's any place like it anywhere in the world. So yeah, I mean especially if you're in the US, you really ought to be taking advantage of that.

Dave: And that was another thing when I used to lead trips and it would be a lot of your Europeans and our vividly. Remember this guy from Germany and we're somewhere watching a waterfall and he's just like I don't understand why anyone would want to leave the United States like you because we did a tour all from the east coast to West Coast and you have everything you could possibly want. You know, geographically seen weekly things like that here. And I feel people just aren't taking advantage of that inside of the United States,

Randy: right?

Tayson: Totally. So I've got some one last question here. Well, there's a couple but What I mean for someone like you I mean you just So you're just this model outdoor guy, right? You know, and And and you're making, you're making some things happen with with outdoor detour and some YouTube things. And maybe that's kind of your end game as to, maybe eventually get out of it. But at the same time, like you're years and years in and you're still doing this. So what do you think it is that holds people back from from adventuring, like, you do, like, what what keeps them from from doing the things that you do?

Randy: Oh, you know, there's a there's a few big ones. Thick family and maybe a significant other is one. You know, I'm lucky enough to I mean, for a while in Colorado I was single and So I just go out and do my own thing but I've been with a gal now for three years and you know she's luckily she's willing to go out with me to Yellowstone for a week and Camp every night or Glacier was our last one So that was great. But you know, if you have kids you know that's it's tough, I get it. Not only is it tough but it's expensive money. I think is the other big one especially if you're in East Coast or it's not cheap to fly out west, and then you deal with room and board, and lodging, and food, and all that. So that's definitely the other one time. That's another one. But I'm proof that you don't need to take off even two days of work to get out somewhere for a quick weekend trip. I don't care where you are, you can. There are places within driving distance that you can go to just for the weekend to get away and camper hike or whatever you want to do outdoors. And I think the last big one is probably just fear. Fear of going out and traveling alone. Fear of missing out on something back home. That's I mean, There's such a fear of commitment to doing anything these days. I feel like and, you know, I've got a calendar, it's got all my trips on it right now. I'm looking at Two possible weekends in March to go to the Tetons. And once I pick a weekend, like I'm sticking to it. I don't care who asked me to do or you know, if someone has something going on, they invite me. Sorry. I'm going to the Two Times by myself and camping out like that's I think there's definitely a fear committing to going anywhere and you know, I think those are definitely the biggest ones

Dave: that's how I like. For me. I have to put on the calendar and

Tayson: it's just sat me down the other day and was like, I'm doing this in July, is that gonna be okay? And I'm just like, Dave, like, yes, it's gonna be, okay. I don't even know what's happening.

Randy: So

Dave: he's I feel like that's the only way you're gonna do it if you're like I this is what I'm free. This is this is how it's gonna be and whoever wants to call them. They're more than welcome to come but I love it.

Randy: That's me right there. My calendar is mapped out for the year. Almost.

Dave: Yes,

Tayson: and I like that. So, just last question follow-up here. Just for our listeners, and then I'll give you a little bit of time to Talk about where people can find you as well. But So you mentioned we kind of highlight with this podcast, you know, that there's there's three main things that people Keep from going out and that's time money and experience and you pretty much nailed all three of those. But if you were to speak to one piece of advice to help our listeners overcome one of those, what would you say to that?

Randy: be prepared, for whatever you are looking to go out and do for the first time, you know, cross your t's that your eyes, make sure you have all the gear you need to To be safe to feel safe, you know, tell make sure you're telling someone or multiple people, where you're, what your plans are, where you're going, you know what to do. If they don't hear back from you by certain time, You know. You can't get better at something without going out and doing it. So, you know, Well, what's Warren Miller safe. Warren Miller says, if you don't do it this year, it'll just be one year later when you finally do do it. So You know. Get out there and and go try something new, push your limits, you know, that's what it's all about. That's that's why we do this and get Outdoors.

Tayson: I really like that. I think, I think yeah, a lot of people just need to go do it. I think I think we live in a day and age where there's So much information, sometimes people get stuck in the kind of analysis paralysis, where they'll just, maybe they'll watch YouTube or different things. They'll go on all these trips and and then ever go make it happen for themselves but there's definitely a difference between watching it and experiencing it.

Randy: So yeah, it'll find a go find an excuse to go out there and do it, you know. Get

Dave: a calendar.

Randy: Yeah, exactly. It is. Plenty of excuses to not do something, go find an excuse to actually go out and do it.

Tayson: Yeah. And and yeah, with just the way that you talked about planting it, we live in a time where you can, no matter what the weather is, I mean, obviously you travel year round and and you can find the gear, you can find, you know, whatever it is to make yourself comfortable in the back country. So

Randy: Yeah. I mean, preparation is key. You know, it's a lot of people this time of year. They want to go winter camp for the first time ever. As long as you're prepared. You know what? There's nothing to be afraid of.

Dave: Yeah, there's So much information on the internet and stuff now, too, and a trip planners and weather conditions and things like that. I know what was it? Used all trails that you're a big compelling of that.

Randy: Yep. All

Dave: that, you know, apps there's all kinds of stuff nowadays that you can use to make yourself feel more comfortable or maybe if you are an experienced and you know, Feel safe

Randy: for sure.

Tayson: Well right, I think you're you're a model of what we want to see happen with, with our followers here. If just, just living that Ultra Lite, lifestyle traveling obviously, we believe that everything's better, ultra light, the lighter, your gear, the lighter, Your pack and what not, whether you're getting on a plane or or packing it on your back, it's going to be easier to take with you and hold it performs better as well once you get there. But we really appreciate you coming on the podcast. I just want to give, you know, another minute for you to just tell people where to follow you, obviously me and Dave would strongly suggest that our followers go watch your YouTube channel of, you know what, it's like to hit seven national parks in 82 hours. That's a great one. And you can find that on YouTube just by searching outdoor detour. And then obviously, you've got a big Instagram following which is all So outdoor detours that correct? That's correct. Yep. Okay, well, anywhere else you want people to come find you, or follow you or any last words that you want to mention?

Randy: It's funny because you keep saying your motto Live Ultralight which I love it but you're gonna faint. When you see the next video I put up and how heavy my pack was

Dave: Due to film your, your somebody trip.

Randy: Yeah, I did. Yeah,

Dave: yeah, winter. Backpacking is always

Randy: the heaviest

Dave: Live Ultralight challenge

Randy: heaviest pack I've ever had hands down. But yeah, that video I'm working on it now. I don't know. That'll be up within probably a couple weeks. Yeah, you can find me on YouTube, just search outdoor detour. And then on Instagram, it's just outdoor detour. I do have outdoor detour.com. The The Limited number of blog posts, I I have are up there in this list of all my other pages on there. So if all else fails just go to outdoor detour.com and you'll find links to everywhere, and you have some

Dave: trip trip planners and stuff like that on there some descriptions of some different trips. You took and things like that. Yeah

Randy: yeah. There's a couple there's a few itineraries up there. That is. What thing I'm gonna start doing is posting the actual some of my actual itineraries and you'll see just how much planning I put it some of these crazy trips.

Tayson: I think that's great but we really appreciate you coming on the podcast. I am gonna definitely hassle you when I see how heavy your pack is. I I'm kind of the proponent of like I never want to check a bag on an airline regardless of what I'm doing. So when you're saying Fly Southwest and checking bags. I'm like oh man. Randy already right there. Yeah, but no, we appreciate coming on. I I'm sure we we have plenty to talk about to hopefully one day we can get you back on here and go over some more stuff but here

Dave: come out for another trip too.

Randy: Yeah sure man. Yeah. Keep me posted. Thanks So much for having me on. It was fun.

Tayson: Yeah no we really appreciate it. We'll catch on the next one.

Dave: See ya.