01) What draws you to explore places that most people overlook or avoid?
As a kid, my dad loved to travel. Every year we’d take at least one long family vacation, and by the time I was in junior high, I had been to all fifty states. I think getting to see so many historic sites, stoked my love of history.
When I was in the Army, I was stationed at Ft. Bragg, NC and during training one day we came across a Civil War Monument out in the middle of nowhere. it was for the Battle of Monroe’s Crossroads. I remember being amazed that this monument was out there, on a military base, where most people would never see it. It made me wonder what else was out there. I figured there had to be hidden history everywhere.
Looking around, there was. Amazing places that very few people knew about. So, I wanted to check them out for myself.
02) How do you research or discover these hidden or lesser-known locations before heading out?
A lot of it is just looking through Google Maps or old books and seeing what is there. Once I find something interesting, then I’ll start researching it. Old newspapers are invaluable for finding information that has been sort of forgotten by time.
03) Have you ever stumbled upon a location by pure accident that turned out to be unforgettable?
We didn’t end up there by accident, as I knew we’d be going through, but I had no idea how amazing Clayton, NM was before visiting.
We had planned on just stopping in the town for a little bit, but we ended up spending hours there and I am planning on heading back to spend even more time exploring the town and the area.
04) What inspired you to start “Sidetrack Adventures”, and what was the most challenging aspect when you started?
I never planned to start a YouTube channel. I really just wanted to buy a drone and wanted to do something with the footage. It turns out drone footage by itself can be pretty boring though. So I started filming more in depth videos about the places I was visiting and I ended up having fun doing it.
When starting out, I think the most challenging thing was coming up with a good work flow and getting the editing process down.
05) For someone wanting to start a YouTube channel focused on outdoor exploration, or a still small one like mine: what are the top 3 things you wish you knew when you started?
The number one thing I wish I knew when I started was how important a mic is. At first I was just using the mic in camera and the audio suffered for it, especially on windy days.
It’s also important to prepare as much as possible before you get out to a location. It’s easier to learn about something and not use that information in a video than to show up some place and not know what you are looking at. You can’t prepare for everything, but you want to be as prepared as possible.
I also wish I knew how incredible the community on YouTube is. I just figured I’d make a video, post it, and then move on to the next. But the community that has popped up around the videos has been amazing. I’ve learned so much from the comments and e-mails I get. I’d have started earlier if I knew how great it would be.
06) What has been the biggest challenge you’ve faced while filming in remote or rugged locations?
Luckily I haven’t had any real issues filming in remote locations yet, but the biggest challenge I’ve had is leaving things in the car.
For example, I was doing a series where I was visiting all the corners of California, and I planned on planting a California flag at each corner like Huell Howser did. At California’s NE corner, we had to hike over three miles cross country over volcanic terrain, and of course I left the flag in the car. It wasn’t the first time, or last I’ve left something behind.
07) What’s one moment where you thought, “This is why I do this!” – a reward that made it all worth it?
I’ve had people tell me that for whatever reason they can’t travel anymore and that get to see a place they always wanted to see thanks to my videos. I’m glad that I’m able help someone and in some small way bring something positive to their day.
08) Out of all the places you’ve explored, is there one that stands out as your absolute favorite? Why?
The northeast part of California. The landscape up there is amazing and unlike any other part of the state. Plus there are so few people, so much open space to explore, and so much history that has been largely forgotten. I would love to spend weeks up there.
Another place is Rome, Italy. It’s incredible to see all of the famous ruins, but when we were there we had a chance to ride bikes on the Appian Way, and we were virtually alone travelling a road that some of the most famous people in history once traveled.
09) Is there a dream destination or off-grid spot that’s been on your bucket list for a long time?
The Aleutian Islands. My grandfather fought in the Aleutians during World War 2 and it seems like that part of the war is little remembered today. From what I’ve seen of them, they probably haven’t changed much from his time there. Someday.
10) Are there any YouTube creators whose work has influenced your approach to storytelling or adventure content creation?”
When I was starting (and now) some of my favorite channels were California Through My Lens, Abroad in Japan, and Rare Earth. I think those three probably had the most influence on me visually and from a storytelling perspective, though I am nowhere close to their level.
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