We have just set up overlandsphere, and were wondering if you would mind us using your feed for our site, have a look and let us know.

Martin & Nicole

I don’t need to dream about Africa any more than I already am

Have fun!
-Dan

http://behold-jeep.lefora.com/

Let me know oif you get down this way to NM. Any luck selling your TJ yet?

Robert

Also, Can you flesh out the details on your rig? And also, been banned on all the sites so started my own forum and would you like to post there also? A lot of the dissenters on the standard forums have began to flock there? Lastly, I am a field Archaeologist-Artist for NASA and have been in 123 of the Earth’s 195 countries–I mention this in that have you been out here to southern NM? And do you plan or need funding to go on any expeditions down south. I am trying to put together a team that has rigs that can make it, finally, through the Darien Gap, successfully, without rescue help.

Thanks in advance and love your site here totally–fabulous.

Robert

Love your whole site and blog. Wonderful and your Jeep also. Thought I’d mention that Terra Del Fuego is about 100 miles north of the furthest point on the southern continent. The furthest south is of course, Cape Horn.

http://www.victory-cruises.com/maps.html

Been down there on the Argentine side and it is certainly the “Roaring 40s”. Had to be buttoned up and wear parkas and the wind………oh the wind………brutal place.

Robert

So, you’re gone from one end of the Western Hemisphere to the other. Now that you’re on the Island of Fire… where will you go next?

I’ve enjoyed following your travels; nicely done! Have you considered writing a book about it some day?

I will be leaving friday to Miami to pick up the Rubi at the dealer and begin preparing it. I will be back in Brazil by the end of March. Let me know if you dedice to keep going and enters Brasil!

Happy trails and godspeed.

Renato

We are working on our DVD production and book called “Back To The Wild: The Photographs and Writings of Christopher McCandless”. It will provide people interested in Chris’s story a glimpse into his world first-hand through his own photographs and writings to friends and people he met on his adventures! You can find out more by checking out our page on Facebook under Back To The Wild or checking out my blog here:
http://heatherhortonartwork.blogspot.com/2010/08/back-to-wild-photographs-and-writings.html

Have a wonderful day and happy travels!

Heather

Well, just wanted to check; no posts for a month!

Good Luck.

Hope you made it

You’re a beacon to us all. Just finished running the eastern portion of the TAT and was thinking hard about doing Central and South America, but thought I didn’t have enough Jeep until I read about you…Mine is a stock ’01 TJ with unmolested 4L gas motor. I haven’t read about any modifications you may have made, is your Jeep stock?

As to points of interests, long ago and far away there was a book called the “South American Handbook”. It was loaded with useful information on places to see, where to stay and things to do.

John

I have just spent a few very pleasant hours reading through all pages and sections of this web site being particularly taken with your ‘Magic Bus’ encounter (July 12 2009) so much so I have put in a request to our local library to find me a copy of the ‘Into the Wild’.
Having spent 50+ years travelling in some of the most remote places on the planet for months on end your re-reflections and comments by others on the apparent suicide of Chris McCadless are most surprising. Anyone having survived the first six months on a journey such as yours or Chris’s and is pressing on with a more fervent attitude is not likely to commit suicide unless one experiences a dramatic trauma. My experience is that long remote Isolation can do strange things to people but personal isolation in a crowd is traumatic. I have found it is not the place that causes the trauma it’s the people.

Latter you expressed the need to rest up for a few months perhaps in Peru or Bolivia. Pop into one of the South American Explorers Club offices / hostels http://www.saexplorers.org/club/home they provide very low price accomadation and advice on local employment for ex-pats together with the latest on what’s happing all targeted at the pack-packer or low budget traveller. Failing that, try one of the world class ski resorts in the Argentina / Chilean Lake District and Glacier parks.
Just keep on keeping on.
Old Tom

Please just go and wonder at the Nazca lines in the Nazca Desert of Peru. How old are those?? Don’t drive off the road or your tracks will stay forever.

A little North and East of Santiago on R60 toward Uspallata (Important to find secure hotel here) as you go over the mountain ‘Eva Peron’ there are a set of wonderful switch back – hair pin bends from around 200 to 3,800 meters with the must visit Cave of Hands. I understand the road has been widened to take two lanes in most places except the worst bends. Oh yes and the bandits have for the most part been put out of business. Now it’s just the tax men.

Also Trips to Valley of the Moon staying in the village of San Pedro de Atucma.

But then there is so much to see and with the much better roads today – go on – take the time, feel the wind. (You will when you get a bit further south. It blows and I mean blows at 90’ to the main southern highway.

If Bridget is looking for a green option get her to take a look at Dave Bars (Ride the wind) site. He is a Vietnam vet who lost both legs above the knee and did this on a 50 year old harly or Lois Price a teenager who also did the Pan Am on a 125 dirt bike.

Sorry to be so long winded but on the question of punctures have you seen the Goodyear Dura Seal tyres capable of taking multi 5 – 6 mm bolts / nails

It’s a bit late now I know but you have missed a load off the front end of your tip from Nova Scotia across Canada via Hudson bay before you when up to Prudo bay to start the way down south.

Bridget is looking for an all terrain truck get her to look at http://www.unicatamericas.com/ for the very top end then down to http://www.maximog.com/ middle of the road trucks but for good value try http://www.sportsmobile.com/ultimate.html this way you get great trucks with worldwide network of service agents and great warrantees.

Will be following you closely from now on. Have a great time and don’t rush it. Stop more often for 2 nights at a time to take a breath and fell the air.

I am intrigue with your good fortune at border crossing. You must have a touch of the Irish in you.

I actually have no idea if and when I will be anywhere in the world. A friend suggested I should move to Spain to finish off my Spanish learning and I thought that sounded like a great idea. Will it actually happen? I change my mind every day.
I hope you do great living in London, and I will get there sooner or later and we’ll catch up for sure.
All the best,
-Dan

Im Sharna. Aaron’s ex girlfriend. Azz told me i should get in contact with you at some stage. I love your webpage, your travels sound amazing, I have always had a soft spot for South America and will one day get there

Im heading over to London in late August and I hear you might be hanging in Spain around that time? I am moving to the UK with intentions to live in London to begin with then onto France/Italy/Ireland with stops in all your ususal and hopefully some unusal European suspects..

Wanting to make as many contacts over there as possible as will be there for next few years.. Would you mind If I looked you up when I get over there? Ive never met you but Azz tells me your a good guy and you sound like you have plenty to chat about!

Hopefully talk OS

Sharna

If you ever come to europe in your travels pop by a small island called Malta would be great to meet up.

Tc mate
Jaymz

Where do you live when you are not on the move, if that ever happens? I only ask because I definitely agree with your philosophy that you can do anything you dream of…my life is like that too! I love painting full-time and appreciate each day doing what I love. I recently came back from Turkey where I participated in a show hosted by the Canadian Embassy and am flying to Vancouver and Whitehorse to do photoshoots for more paintings as well as hike and explore. Down to Yosemite in July to hike and then up again to Alaska to hike in Denali and revisit the bus…then to France and the French Alps for work and to explore in September! So despite being far away we are similarly inclined I believe! Keep up the inspirational work Dan!

As for Chris’s journal, he kept a rather minimal journal, especially in Alaska. Thus we are using what we can and do have of correspondence and his other writings to help supplement narrative. It is VERY exciting and the book will be published hopefully by the end of this year! I would love to keep you apprised of any developments, especially because I think that people who are passionate about your projects/who you are are probably similarly curious about Chris and his life and adventures too…thus if you could help pass on the information about the book as it becomes available, I would appreciate it SO MUCH!! You can reach me via the email address provided or I can write back on this template..whatever is easiest.

Take care and speak with you soon perhaps! Safe travels and like Thoreau says “Life near the bone is sweetest”. I’m sure you would agree…

Heather

I stumbled upon your blog when I was posting my latest blog post about Christopher McCandless. I too hiked out to the bus and then flew out via helicopter the following week in 2008. Here’s my account of my journey in:
http://www.heatherhorton.blogspot.com/2008/09/journey-to-bus-142.html

I am writing a book with Chris’s parents…a book of my paintings and his photographs from his journey. You can see a painting study that I did of a section of his belt here:

http://heatherhortonartwork.blogspot.com/2010/03/diary-of-supertramp-study.html

I would love to chat with you about your experiences at the bus sometime when you are in one place! If you are interested, or perhaps people who follow your perambulations are interested in the book about Chris I would be happy to tell you some details as they become known to me. It is very exciting!

Happy travels and perhaps speak with you at some point! Share some happiness…..

Heather

Dude, what an epic adventure this is! Truly inspirational! Its been a long time since I last saw you at Uni, and had always wondered what you have been up to since our RA days. Best of luck with your travels – I wish I was there to film it all, and make a documentary out it! Maybe we should get you on TV to tell your story once you’re back to Oz.

Cheers,
Amrish

An alpaca might just be the little something I’ve been looking for.
Maybe I could train him to stand on the hood in a proud stance like a hood ornament?
Might make a good alarm system too.

Good luck buddy, I plan on writing about your list and my achievements on it soon.
-Dan

Thanks for the offer of the spare seat in the Jeep (and congratulations on the publication!). You have no idea how badly I’d like to join you. Wait, actually, you probably have a pretty good idea since you are the one living it. I still get pretty amped just thinking about what you’re doing. I may take you up on that some day…….but first, I have to get where your trip started, Alaska!

Mike

All the best for your trip!

If you ever want to come down and meet me somewhere, the Jeep has two seats
Take care Mike,
-Dan

I could have sworn I replied to this a few days ago – but sometimes my absent-mindedness or make-believe activities prevail.

First, I wanted to remind you that the Spanish you’re going to want to know is this:

Mis padres no me aman. No van a pagar el rescate.

That’s sure to get you out of a jam or two. What I should have known, or rather, I should have had the sense to say since I knew it is “No mis dedos.”

As you’re going to notice many of these challenges involve alpacas. I think it’s safe to assume that if you attempt or complete any of the challenges below it is enhanced by the accompaniment of said animal.

Good luck and have fun. Keep living the life.
————————————————

Not necessary to complete in this order….

Bathe in the Amazon (but do not get a parasite)
Have a fresh cup of Colombian coffee
Go to Carnival in Rio
Go to a soccer game in Brazil (but do not die in a riot)
Visit the ancient ruins of the Incan city Machu Picchu
Stand on the equator
Find penguins at the southern tip of Argentina
Ride an alpaca
Shear an alpaca
Eat chili in Chile
Learn five new swear words and say them to people
Spelunking
Go to a beach in Argentina
Helicopter tour of the Nazca Lines
Go to Lake Titicaca
Visit the Galapagos Islands (swim with iguanas)
Visit Iguaçu Falls, if possible kayak or barrel roll down them
Visit the Patagonia glaciers
Meet a gaucho
Eat a guinea pig (Jess Baran highly disapproves of this)
Eat world’s hottest pepper from Chile

I’ve been returning from time to time to follow you on your adventure……I’m on pins and needles waiting to read about how you cross the gap. I want to hear who you have to bribe. What illegal materials ride along with you to SA. Where they drop you off and how much paperwork you have to fill out.

That’s a bummer about the computer, but at least you managed to fix her up in a pretty timely manner. Have you picked up much Spanish since you’ve been south of the border??

I was thinking I would send along my friend’s High School classes list of South American challenges for you to give a go while you’re there, but I’ve momentarily lost them. I remember “eat chili in Chile” and “Swim in the Amazon without getting a parasite.” Those both seem rather doable.

Mike (AKA – the guy with the small finger that doesn’t work)

Just got all caught up on your trip, you were about 3 weeks ahead of me, but I just tell myself we were at the same place just different times Officially a Mrs now and loving every bit of it. Had such a blast at Coba, Cozumel and everywhere in between, we rented a Jeep at in Cozumel and I told myself I needed to take a picture for you but we totally lost track of time, next time!

We got your post card right before we left so thanks for that! Send me one when your ready to head home.

-Cheers
Melissa

Dinah

I talked to you on Isla Mujeres at the Pocna Hostel. Keep it up man! Good luck! Where are you off to next?

Still thinking of you and still reading. Your making good tracks with that jeep and it’s still holding up! Good for TJ and you too We got some awesome snow out here and heading out to golden this weekend, I’ll have a good run for ya!

Take care and since I won’t see you in Jan well see you another time!

Cheers
Melissa

from john.