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Home/Podcast Episodes/Episode 50: Scott Jones and the Unexpected Joy of Travel Quests

Episode 50: Scott Jones and the Unexpected Joy of Travel Quests

On this episode: quests, balls of twine, and windowless Chinese restaurants in Phoenix. We’re talking with Scott Jones, one of the few people to visit all National Park units, public lands conservationist, and fervent advocate for travel quests.


Show Notes

  • 00:35 – Who is Scott Jones?
  • 04:20 – How a giant ball of twine led to Scott’s first quest
  • 06:45 – Eating at all the “windowless Chinese restaurants in downtown Phoenix”
  • 08:20 – His quest to visit all ten Japanese internment camps
  • 11:50 – Visiting all the National Park units… the most remote, favorites, and more
  • 21:50 – What National Park units surprised you?  
  • 25:45 – How many National Park units are there?
  • 27:00 – What are good ways to track your progress on a quest?
  • 29:25 – How long did Scott’s National Park unit quest take?
  • 30:45 – What is the most (or least) amount of time you spent in a unit?
  • 34:55 – How many simultaneous quests does Scott have going at any one time?
  • 39:50 – ROA: Return on Adventure
  • 43:30 – Have you ever aborted a quest?
  • 47:30 – The “weirdest” quest
  • 50:00 – Scott’s primary outdoor activities
  • 52:40 – Tools that Scott uses to help track and plan his quests

Mentioned in this Show

  • Notion – a free database Scott uses to plan his travels

Connect with Scott online

  • rscottjones.com
  • goquesting.com
  • returnonadventure.net

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Our Co-hosts

  • Jason Fitzpatrick – IG: @themuirproject
  • Saveria Tilden – IG: @adventuruswomen  web: AdventurUsWomen.com
  • Jeff Hester – IG: @thesocalhiker  web: SoCalHiker.net

Theme song by Opus Orange. Courtesy of Emoto Music. 

The Almost There Adventure Podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

Bonus Material

Written by:
Jeff Hester
Published on:
November 9, 2021

Categories: Podcast EpisodesTags: adventure, questing, travel

Reader Interactions

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  1. Episode 89: Josh McNair on Capturing California and More Through His Lens says:
    August 1, 2023 at 3:41 pm

    […] Episode 50 – Scott Jones and the Unexpected Joys of Travel Quests […]

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The Almost There Adventure podcast is a celebration of outdoor activities both local and epic. Discussing the big topics and talking to adventurers, artists, legends and activists within the outdoor community.

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