Outside L-I-V-I-N
I created this page because becoming a knowledgable outdoorsman/woman is an accumulation of knowledge over many years and involves a lot of trial and error and what feels like stupid questions. There are a lot of great resources out there, but not all in the same place and there are some things you just have to learn the hard way! I hope by visiting this site you can learn from my mistakes and experiences. I’m no expert, but hopefully I can help you on your journey and make the great outdoors a little more accessible for everyone to enjoy! It’s a blast out there and a little mountain air does the body and mind good.
I have created custom maps for many of my own outings using CalTopo (free), an online map making tool. I thought others would find them useful so feel free to download mine at the end of each blog or make your own! To use the maps, you will need to download Avenza Maps (free) to your phone. Once in the app, simply click the “+” icon at the top right and select the QR code icon in the top right of the following screen. Simply snap a pic of the QR code at the end of my blogs. Avenza Maps will allow you to use your phone's GPS, even in airplane mode or without service, in conjunction with the PDF map to keep you safe and on the trail. Welcome to the future!
-Taylor Dunlap
Backpacking
Here you will find all my catalogued backpacking trips. I hope these will help you navigate the great outdoors. Impress folks with prepared maps and minimize the uncertainty!
Car Camping
Sometimes you just need to get away from people and our fast-paced lives. Developed campgrounds aren’t really my vibe, so I generally stick to dispersed camping. When I first started trying to find good dispersed camping there were very few resources I could find. There are no books or guides you can buy. “Experts” I asked took a real “locals only” tone with me and were reluctant to share good spots. That’s not chill! So for all my car camping getaways I have created some good maps to outline what roads you can camp on and some short descriptions of the areas I find. I hope you enjoy!
Fly Fishing
I have always loved fishing ever since my dad first took me. I am very new to fly fishing, but I’m having a GREAT time rippin’ lips and hookin’ hogs! This page will feature cool tips and tutorials I learn with my friend Nic. Nic has spent weeks maybe even months of his life on the dark web and YouTube to learn everything he can about fly fishing. He has put in the hours and if he’s not catching anything it’s because there are no fish in there.