The Backcountry Brief

Welcome to this week’s Backcountry Brief. Your weekly roundup of trail tales, gear reviews, and stories from America's Backcountry.

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Like this issue? Something else you would like to see? Let me know directly at rocklander@substack.com

In This Issue:

📰 Country Report: Weekly News Updates

🤔 Of Interest (to me): National Go For A Ride Day

📌 Tip of the Week: Take a Jacket

🗺️ Trail Guide: Wolf Den OHV Trail, North Carolina

🛠️ Rig Tips: How To Replace Your Jeep’s Cabin Filter

⚡ Gear Review: Outdoor Donkey Thru-Hiker AT trekking poles

🗨️ Forum Watch: The Week's Top Discussions

I’ve been keeping up with some news that matters. Here’s what stood out this week:

• Senator John Kennedy secured a win for veterans’ rights in the new government funding deal, protecting their Second Amendment rights. The measure bars VA bureaucrats from removing veterans’ gun rights without a court order.

• More than a million active-duty service members had been working without pay through the shutdown. Veterans voiced support for service, while many families face unpaid bills as Washington sorted things out.

• Across Colorado, 180 local officials signed a letter opposing the repeal of the BLM’s Public Lands Rule. The Trump administration says the rule locks up too much land for conservation, while supporters argue it keeps recreation and wildlife in balance.

This Saturday, November 22nd, is National Go For A Ride Day. It sounds simple, but it taps into something fundamental about who we are. This country was explored and settled by people who pushed into the unknown. That spirit didn’t end with the covered wagon. It found a new home in the automobile.

Our national love affair with the car truly took off when President Eisenhower authorized the Interstate Highway System in 1956. Think about that. We laid down 41,000 miles of asphalt, creating a network of freedom that connected every corner of this nation.

It wasn’t just about getting from A to B. It was about giving every American a ticket to anywhere. It fueled our economy, our culture, and our sense of boundless possibility.

For us, the highway is often just the start of the real adventure. But the impulse is the same. So this weekend, I’m celebrating. Find a back road you’ve never been down, roll the windows down, and just drive.

Take an hour to clear your head and remember the simple, powerful freedom that comes with four wheels and a full tank of gas.

During cold weather, be sure to have extra clothing, as well as a sleeping bag and a small tent, in your vehicle in case you get stranded in the backcountry.

Shelter and protection from hypothermia can mean the difference between life and death.

105 Off Road Tips - the latest collaboration by my friends Matson Breakey (Co-Founder of Metalcloak) and Off Road Legend Del Albright is now available on Kindle or you can pick up a Paperback copy to keep in your rig.

It also makes a great gift for the off-roader in your life.

Trail Info:

• Location: Uwharrie National Forest, North Carolina

• Distance: 1.9 miles

• Elevation Gain: 305 feet

• Type: Out & back

• Difficulty: Easy

• Vehicle Requirements: Stock 4x4 or all-wheel drive (AWD) with decent clearance

Wolf Den OHV Trail #89 runs just under two miles through the pine woods of Uwharrie. It’s a solid warm-up for new drivers or anyone testing a fresh setup before tackling the tougher routes nearby. The terrain mixes rocky patches, shallow ruts, and a few tight turns that keep things interesting without pushing limits.

Best visited from March through November. Good tires help when the trail turns slick after rain. Watch for deer at dawn and campers near Badin Lake.

Rock’s tip: Run this one with a buddy rig. Spotting those rock shelves is easier with a second set of eyes.

Here’s a simple upgrade that’ll make your passengers stop complaining about dusty air. Many Wrangler models come without a cabin filter, and I see too many owners running years without one.

That little filter is your air quality lifeline. It traps dust, pollen, and trail grime before it hits your lungs. Without one, you’re breathing everything your rig kicks up on those weekend runs.

The install takes maybe ten minutes if you’re moving slow. Pop your glove box, find the two retaining tabs behind it, and slide the new filter into the housing. The arrow points toward the cabin. Done.

Now here’s where it gets interesting with replacement timing. Factory recommendation says every 20,000 miles, but most mechanics suggest 12,000 to 15,000 miles for regular drivers. Hit dusty trails often? Drop that to 10,000 miles and thank me later.

Your HVAC system works overtime without proper filtration. Weak airflow and funky smells are dead giveaways that you’ve waited too long. Keep a spare in your toolbox because clean air beats trail dust every time.

Follow this guide for photos and step-by-step details: Complete cabin filter replacement walkthrough.

I always thought trekking poles were for serious hikers, not for guys who spend most of their time behind the wheel.

But a pair of the Outdoor Donkey Thru-Hiker AT trekking poles are a surprisingly useful tool to keep in the rig. At around $22, they offer a ton of utility without taking up much space.

Built from tough 7075 aluminum, the pair weighs just over a pound yet can handle real abuse. Simple flip-locks let you adjust them from 29 to 55 inches, even with muddy gloves on. They come with both carbide tips for digging into dirt and rubber tips for gripping rock, so you are covered for any surface.

Rock’s tip: Before you drive into a water crossing you’re unsure of, use one of these poles to check the depth and feel for hidden rocks or holes. Better to poke a pole than your bumper.

I am subscribed to dozens of forums for off-roading, overlanding, hunting, camping, and the outdoors… here are my favorite posts of the week.

• The great Jeep ducking debate fired up again on JLWranglerForums after a user spotted officially licensed ducks for sale at a 7-Eleven. Some think it’s harmless fun, others feel a corporate cash-in ruins the grassroots vibe. My take? When your inside joke is sold next to the Slurpees, it’s officially an outside joke.

• This AR15.com thread asks what everyone’s favorite MRE is, and the answers are a great mix of nostalgia and strong opinions. Chili Mac is the undisputed champion, but the old Ham Slice gets some love, too. The infamous veggie omelet, however, was called a “war crime” by one user. Can’t say I disagree.

• A user on Backpacking Light shared a look at the back-breaking work of trail building. The photos show volunteers “armoring” a trail with massive stones, and a pro who built part of the PCT in 1980 even chimes in. Makes you appreciate the sweat and leverage that goes into every foot of trail we get to enjoy.

Until next week…

P.S. Got a story to share? Event for me to visit? Leave a comment and let me know—I'm always looking for great trail tales from the community.