Grand Adventure

One of America's newest National Monuments, Bears Ears has been the subject of intense debate since it was first proposed. No matter your position, no one can argue that Bears Ears encompasses one of the largest collections of Ancient Puebloan, or Anasazi archaeological sites in the nation. It also entirely surrounds Natural Bridges, one of the nation's first National Monuments. So as we go camping in southeastern Utah, boondocking right within Bears Ears, we bring you along hiking to explore both:

Our big 100th episode of Grand Adventure was supposed to be about both Canyons of the Ancients AND Hovenweep National Monuments, but our RV had other ideas. While camping at Mancos State Park, and en route to another camp at Bears Ears National Monument in Utah, we visit the Canyons of the Ancients Visitor Center and Museum, tour the Lowry Pueblo ruins that date to the 10th Century, and hike to more ruins in the National Monument's Sand Canyon before our RV left us on the side of the road:

While camping in nearby Mancos State Park, we take a ride aboard this famed heritage coal-fired steam-powered railway that dates to 1882, and has been designated a National Historic Landmark and Historic Civil Engineering Landmark. This is one of the most sought-after attractions for travelers and RV'ers in all of Colorado.

Canyonlands encompasses over 337,000 acres of high Eastern Utah desert including colorful canyons, mesas, buttes, fins, arches, and spires. Water and gravity have been the primary architects of this land, sculpting layers of rock into the rugged landscape you see today. While boondocking on state land for free camping along Dalton Wells Road, we explore Gemini Bridges, travel Island in the Sky, descend the precipitous Shafer Trail, visit Thelma & Louise Point, check out the climbers along Wall Street, grab a burger at Milt's Stop 'n Eat, and preview the BLM campgrounds along the Colorado Riverway Recreation Area:

Moab is home to two of Utah's "Mighty 5" National Parks, and in this video we explore Arches National Park while camping for free by boondocking on state lands along Dalton Wells Road, a place with its own very unique history from World War II. We hike to both Delicate Arch and Landscape Arch, share the quirky story behind the mis-naming of both, visit Park Avenue and Balanced Rock, and check out both the Devil's Garden Campground within the park and the nearby Utah desert town of Moab:

Southern Idaho is a virtual playground in summer, with a surprisingly diverse geology and climate. It's also not as crowded for camping or as well known as it is in some other Western states. In this video we share 5 of our favorite campgrounds in Southern Idaho, ranging from a glacially-fed mountain lake to hot springs, from a summer lakefront paradise to sand dunes and even rock monoliths along the historic California Trail:

Nice!

I'm so glad it worked out for you as it did for us!

Appreciate it! I'm lazy and fades are easy.

Thank you! For some a percolator is fine. Not so for me, for it takes what is already coffee and re-brews it, making it rather acidic.

Appreciate it! I'm filming an episode right now about the weight benefits of filling RV tires with fairy farts.

I still have to try and be upside down method, especially as that will prevent some of the coffee from seeping through the filter while it steeps.

I have not seen that before. Pretty interesting, actually.

Thank you Mark!

Target still sells the AeroPress in store, at least it does here in Utah. It's a few bucks cheaper on Amazon, and Target didn't have the bundle with another 350 filters and a travel bag, which I wanted. It's sounds like your thoughts on cleaning a French press are in line with mine. However, apparently not everyone agrees. LOL!

Basically just repackaging stuff in an ammo can, but good solid products.

As far as I'm concerned there are several distinct advantages to the AeroPress over a French press: 1. You're truly using pressure to brew, much like an espresso machine - and not just physically squeezing the grounds like you do with a French press. The difference in the taste of the coffee is remarkable. 2. There's no wet sludge to clean up. A quick hit with a paper towel and you're good to go. 3. Brew time is only ~45 seconds.

Certainly a viable option. The thing about this AeroPress is that cleanup is much easier using less water, and honestly it's a better cup than a French press. Over got like three French presses sitting in the cabinet. 😁 Sorry, I didn't mean to offend with the posting. I just wanted to share the solution without spoiling the suspense, but I agree I should've described it better. I was running to work and was therefore pressed for time. As for the sig file photo, I've resized it down to like 480p but the forum software enlarges it for presentation. If anyone has a solution I'm all ears; otherwise I may just remove it.

I've done that. In my opinion it's more of a mess to clean up, and requires more water to do so. And honestly this makes much better coffee.

Less convenient and more to clean up, but definitely romantic!

We've been searching high and low for the best method to brew a perfect cup of camping coffee while boondocking, without using any electricity whatsoever, and we've finally found it! No generator, no battery/inverter use, and cleanup is a breeze using little to no water: