The Backcountry Brief

Welcome to this week's Backcountry Brief. Your weekly roundup of what happened, what's ahead, and stories from America's Backcountry.

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📰 Country Report: Last Week & What's Ahead

🤔 Of Interest (to me): The Mint 400 Just Got Its Greatest Underdog Story

🗺️ Trail Guide: Death Valley Superbloom — A Once-in-a-Decade Family Adventure

🗨️ Forum Watch: The Week's Top Discussions

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

A coalition of veterans' groups and the Commonwealth of Virginia have filed suit against the VA, arguing the agency is shortchanging approximately 1.2 million veterans on GI Bill education benefits. The Supreme Court ruled last year that vets who qualify for both the Montgomery and Post-9/11 GI Bill should get all 48 months they earned. The VA is ignoring it. These men and women served. They earned every single month. Full story at Newsweek: https://www.newsweek.com/veterans-legal-action-va-benefits-rule-11651352

A federal judge has ordered the BLM to close up to 2,200 miles of OHV routes in the Mojave Desert. Routes in the Rand Mountains, Red Mountain, Cuddeback Lake, Kramer Hills, and north of Barstow could be shut down as soon as late March. These routes went through years of NEPA review and public input. This isn't conservation. It's a land grab. Read the full breakdown from the Blue Ribbon Coalition: https://blueribboncoalition.org/minimization-criteria-overreach-and-the-closure-of-2200-miles-of-routes-in-the-mojave-desert-wemo-plan/

The assault on the Second Amendment continues in the states. Rhode Island's H8073 would turn previously lawful gun owners into felons if they don't surrender their firearms by year's end. On the other side, Michigan is pushing to become the 30th Constitutional Carry state, and a National Constitutional Carry Act is moving through the House. Stay informed, stay active, and know your rights. NRA-ILA's full rundown here: https://www.nraila.org/articles/20260309/the-incremental-assault-on-the-second-amendment-continues-in-the-states

Overland Expo SoCal rolls into the OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa this Saturday and Sunday, March 14-15. Over 400 exhibitors, 100+ hours of classes, and custom rigs on display. Weekend passes are $40, day passes $22, kids 14 and under are free. Bring the family. Get your tickets here: https://www.overlandexpo.com/socal/

The Shamrock Shakedown hits Windrock Park in Tennessee, March 19-22. If you're on the East Coast and looking for a St. Patrick's Day weekend on the trail, this is it. Register here: https://www.theshamrockshakedown.com

Easter Jeep Safari is two weeks out. The 60th Annual runs March 28 through April 5 in Moab. Nine days of trail rides through some of the most stunning red rock terrain on the planet. If you haven't registered for trail rides yet, now's the time. Details at rr4w.com: https://www.rr4w.com/events

And some great news for families — Yosemite, Arches, and Glacier National Parks have all dropped their timed-entry reservation systems for 2026. Spontaneous trips are back on the table. Load up the kids and go. Full story at Forbes: https://www.forbes.com/sites/emesemaczko/2026/03/02/3-popular-us-national-parks-eliminated-summer-entry-reservations-for-2026/

Every March, the rumble of engines echoes across the Nevada desert before you even reach Primm. That's how you know the Mint 400 is back. And this year, it delivered one of the greatest underdog stories in off-road racing history.

Kyle Jergensen… driving a SPEC truck with roughly half the horsepower and half the top speed of the Unlimited rigs… won the 2026 BFGoodrich Tires Mint 400 outright.

Let that sink in.

For three of the four 100-mile laps through brutal desert, Jergensen trailed two-time defending champion Adam Householder. He was patient. Methodical. He made zero mistakes. When Householder's truck threw a tie rod on the final lap, Jergensen seized the moment and neve

"Our game plan was to let them make mistakes, and they all made mistakes," Jergensen said from the podium. "We made no mistakes… no flats, no nothing, the truck was perfect, the team was perfect. That's what won us the Mint today."

His finishing time of 6:47:23 across 400 miles of punishing desert tells you everything you need to know about preparation, patience, and heart.

And here's another one… seven-time NASCAR Cup champion Jimmie Johnson returned to the desert for the first time in over 30 years. Johnson teamed up with Troy Herbst as part of the legendary Terrible Herbst Motorsports stable and helped bring their truck home 12th overall. Not bad for a guy who's been turning left for three decades.

The Mint 400 had 550 total entries this year. The biggest field in recent memory. Off-road racing is alive and well.

Full results at themint400.com: https://themint400.com

Right now, one of the rarest natural events in North America is unfolding in the driest place on the continent. Death Valley… the same place that holds the record as the hottest spot on Earth… is alive with a once-in-a-decade wildflower superbloom.

Heavy winter rains have turned the valley floor into golden carpets of Desert Gold, purple waves of Phacelia, and delicate white Gravel Ghost. The blooms stretch for miles along Badwater Road and around the Furnace Creek area. This is the kind of thing you see once, maybe twice in a lifetime. Your kids should s

Where to Go:

Badwater Road (South of Furnace Creek): Among the first areas to bloom. Accessible for all vehicles. Pull over anywhere and walk on bare sand or rock to see Desert Gold, Sand Verbena, and Five-Spot right alongside the road.

Harmony Borax Works Area: A short, easy walk from the parking area puts you right in the middle of dense flower fields. Perfect for kids.

Highway 190 (Stovepipe Wells to Furnace Creek): A slow drive through the heart of the park with sweeping roadside color.

Zabriskie Point: One of the most iconic overlooks. Golden wildflowers glowing against the ochre badlands. Best a

Trail Info:

• Location: Death Valley National Park, CA

• Entry: $30 per vehicle

• Distance from LA: About 4.5 hours

• Difficulty: Easy — roadside viewing and short walks

• Best Time: Dawn or dusk. Spring mornings can be 55°F but afternoons climb to 90°F.

• Bring: At least a gallon of water per person per day. Sunscreen, hats, layers.

• How Long Will It Last? Lower elevation blooms through mid-to-late March. Higher elevations bloom through June.

Rock's tip: Camp at Furnace Creek or stay in nearby Panamint Springs. Bring a picnic, some binoculars for the kids, and a camera. Walk only on bare sand and rock — never step on the flowers. Teach your kids to leave it better than they found it. That's how we keep these wild places wild for the next generation. Check conditions at nps.gov/deva before you head out.

I keep tabs on a bunch of forums so you don't have to. Here's what caught my eye this week:

Over on Bronco6G, the 2026 Bronco order thread is buzzing. One member placed an order two weeks ago and already got a production date for the last week of March. Meanwhile, everyone's noticed that the HP/torque specs for the 3.0L are listed as "TBD" in the order guide. Could mean a power bump is coming. Ford is keeping us guessing. Check it out on Bronco6G: https://www.bronco6g.com/forum/threads/to-those-with-2026-bronco-on-order.12665

On the Modern Jeeper Forum, the Adventures & Events board is heating up with Easter Jeep Safari chatter. People are finalizing their trail registrations and debating which runs to sign up for. If you haven't been to Moab for Safari, put it on the bucket list. 60 years of tradition. Join the conversation: https://modernjeeperforum.com/index.php?forums%2Foff-road-adventures-events.46%2F

And over at JL Wrangler Forums, Trails Offroad just launched an official presence as a supporting sponsor. Trail tips, planning help, and sneak peeks at new trail data. If you're looking for your next spring trail, it's a solid resource. Welcome post here: https://www.jlwranglerforums.com/forum/threads/%F0%9F%91%8B-welcome-to-the-official-trails-offroad-forum-%E2%80%93-let%E2%80%99s-hit-the-trail-together.147

Until next week…

P.S. Got a story to share? Event for me to visit? A family adventure worth featuring? Leave a comment and let me know… I'm always looking for the next adventure.