Episode 65: John Soares on Boondocking and Hiking Guidebooks

On this episode: guidebooks, boondocking, breakfast burritos, and the best hiking in Northern California. We’re talking with hiking guidebook author and boondocking aficionado John Soares.

Show Notes

00:35 – Introducing John Soares and how he grew to love the outdoors
03:30 – The Trinity Alps, Burney Falls, and social media
08:10 – Why skipping the campfire is a great idea
11:25 – Managing expectations and avoiding crowds?
18:00 – Why use a guidebook when there are so many online resources?
21:31 – How John became a guidebook author
28:10 – What John drives for boondocking and dispersed camping (no, you don’t need 4WD)
32:20 – Updating guidebooks
35:00 – What is dispersed camping, and how do you get started?
50:00 – Great hikes in the Shasta area (for the next time Jason drives up to Bend)

Mentioned in this Episode

Find details of John’s Northern California hiking guidebooks at NorthernCaliforniaHikingTrails.com.
Get info on John’s book Camp for Free: Dispersed Camping & Boondocking on America’s Public Lands along with a dispersed camping gear checklist and info on related apps and resources at DispersedCamping.net.
Interested in journaling your hiking and camping experiences? See the journals John has created for you to fill in at GetOutsidePress.com.
Find John’s Northern California Hiking Trails Facebook page here.
Seven Suns Coffee in Shasta (get a breakfast burrito)
The Fifth Season – great gear shop in Shasta
GetOutsidePress.com

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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.