Del Albright

  Avoid Burnout by Finding Your Threshold of Volunteerism By Del Albright, Sustainable Motorized Recreation Advocate Saying “yes” to a cause you care about is easy—maybe too easy. Before you know it, your calendar is overflowing, your inbox is bursting, your patience is thinning, and burnout is just around the corner. The irony? Once burnout hits, you're not just sidelined—you might even harm the cause you set out to help. The Power of Knowing Your Threshold The word threshold is ancient, tracing back over a thousand years. Historically, it referred to the literal first step into a building. Today, it also describes a critical limit—the tipping point that, once crossed, triggers a significant reaction. In our context, it’s the line between passionate engagement and total burnout. Whether you're involved in clubs, boards, trail cleanups, or land use advocacy, learning where your volunteer threshold lies—and staying just this side of it—is key to long-term effectiveness and...

NOW IS THE TIME: LET OUR VOICES BE HEARD LIKE NEVER BEFORE! By Del Albright Right now — before the summer chaos hits, while clubs and groups are gearing up for events, fundraisers, and land use battles — is the time to ACT . Our trails are on the table. Some are threatened. Some are already locked up. Others are barely hanging on. Some have been reopened! But together , we can help the new Administration and supportive elected officials keep the rubber on the dirt and the access in our hands. The key? More voices. More hands. More of YOU. LET’S MAKE IT HAPPEN: 🔹 Join a land use organization : Whether it's national, regional, statewide, or your local club — we need numbers and muscle. 🔹 Get on a committee : Policy is shaped by those who show up. 🔹 Volunteer for trail maintenance : Sweat equity matters. 🔹 Donate or fundraise : Advocacy isn't free — but a locked gate costs way more in the long run. 🔹 Speak up on social : Be loud. Be visible. Be positive. Your voice influ...

  🌼 RATTLESNAKES & RESPECT: SPRINGTIME WILDFLOWER WATCHING THE RIGHT WAY By Del Albright Spring in the West is one of nature’s greatest shows. Rolling hills and high deserts burst with color, wildflowers light up the land, and critters of all shapes and sizes stir from their winter hideouts. For folks like Stacie and me, it’s a favorite time to roam — cameras and phones ready, eyes scanning for blooms, birds, and beauty. But with this beauty comes responsibility. If you’re heading out to hunt wildflowers, soak in springtime, or just enjoy a quiet ride through the blooming backcountry, here are a few common-sense tips to keep you and the land safe. ✅ Smart Spring Etiquette for Outdoor Explorers 🚗 Park Like a Pro Don’t block the road. Don’t straddle a trail. Find a pullout or wide spot that lets others pass safely. And please — don’t park in tall grass where your hot muffler might ignite a wildfire. 🐍 Respect Snake Country With warming temps, rattlesnakes become more a...

EARTH DAY April 22nd - THE THREE A'S OF STEWARDSHIP IN MOTORIZED RECREATION Action, Awareness, and Appreciation By Del Albright 🌎 Earth Day: The 3 A’s of Stewardship – A Roadmap to Keeping Public Lands Open Every year, Earth Day gives us a chance to celebrate the incredible beauty and value of the natural world. But for those of us who live and breathe outdoor adventure—whether it’s exploring backcountry trails, camping under the stars, or kicking up sand in the dunes—Earth Day is more than just a date on the calendar. It’s a reminder that access to these wild places isn’t guaranteed. It’s something we earn —through our actions, our awareness, and our appreciation. That’s why I live by what I call The 3 A’s of Stewardship —a simple but powerful approach to responsible recreation and trail advocacy. 🔧 ACTION – Get in the Game Stewardship starts with doing, not just talking. That means stepping up: Pack out more than you pack in. Join clean-up runs and trail days. Atten...

  SHOOTING GROUND SQUIRRELS, HELPING RANCHERS IN MODOC COUNTY, CA The Belding's Ground Squirrel is a well-established, very much disliked pest in northern CA areas like Modoc County. Sometimes mistakenly called a prairie dog, Beldings live in communities and can destroy a pasture in no time. They love alfalfa. Modoc County, up near the borders of Oregon and Nevada, is loaded with fields torn up by these "squeakers," a name they earned by the whistling, squeaking sound they make.  Native to the northwestern United States, the Belding's ground squirrel range covers northeastern Oregon and part of Washington, north California, southwestern Idaho, north and central Nevada, and northwestern Utah .  These animals are most abundant at higher altitudes, occurring in alpine and subalpine meadows.   They also inhabit sagebrush flats, brush/grass habitats, and cultivated areas at lower elevations. Ground squirrels are largely restricted to open areas with enough fresh vegetatio...

NATURE PHOTOGRAPHY WITH RESPECT; CAPTURING MT. WHITNEY THE RIGHT WAY  By Del Albright If you've ever pointed your lens toward Mt. Whitney at sunrise, you know it's a spiritual moment. The light dances on those granite spires like gold dust. It’s no wonder this spot draws photographers from all walks of life. But with great beauty comes great responsibility. As nature photographers—whether amateur shutterbugs or seasoned pros—we carry more than a camera. We carry the reputation of our craft. So here are a few time-tested, common-sense protocols that’ll help keep our landscapes wild, our roads accessible, and our community respected. 📸 1. Don’t Park in the Middle of the Road I know it’s tempting. The light is perfect, the shot is calling your name—but blocking a narrow access road, scenic turnout, or trailhead to "grab the shot" is not cool. Pull off safely, completely, and think ahead. 🧍 2. Don’t Hog the Scene That golden hour glow over Whitney isn’t just ...

USING TIRES TO BEEF UP OLD IRON FENCE WITH FRONTIER INGENUITY By Del Albright  If you explore the remote desert long enough—whether overlanding, off-roading, or just wandering—you’ll witness ingenuity that borders on genius. Survivors and settlers in harsh conditions had to adapt fast and waste nothing. What might look like junk to some becomes treasure out here. Take this fence, for example: built from rusted metal rails and reinforced with old, discarded tires. It’s rugged, resourceful, and pure desert frontier creativity. I've come across all kinds of desert recycling methods: Railroad ties used as structural beams or walls Pine pitch for sealing cabins and siding Tires repurposed for fencing, water retention, insulation, and even furniture Scrap lumber made into barns, corrals, or windbreaks Flattened tin and kerosene cans turned into siding for old miner shacks This is how people made do. Nothing went to waste. And every item tells a story—of survival, gri...

  🎣 Be Patient: The Secret Ingredient to Fishing Joy There’s more to fishing than catching fish. It’s the quiet moments before sunrise as the lake slowly wakes up. It’s the feel of the cool morning air on your face. It’s watching a blue heron stalk the shoreline or sharing a laugh with your kid as you wait for a bite. It's in the way the water gently laps the side of the boat and the way time seems to slow down just enough to remind you — this is living. Fishing teaches us patience — real, soul-deep patience. You can’t rush a fish to bite. You can’t force nature to hurry. The beauty of it all is that you don’t need to. The little things — the sounds, the views, the company — they become the big things. So take a breath. Enjoy the sunrise. Be still. Be present. Be patient . Because in the end, those moments are the catch of the day. More on spring bass fishing here:  https://delalbright.blogspot.com/2022/11/spring-fishing-on-my-mind.html MORE  HELPFUL LINKS: DEL'S BO...

  The Gift of Time: Why Volunteering Is the Heart of Trail Stewardship By Del Albright //delalbright.com When it comes to preserving access to public lands and keeping trails open, one resource is more precious than all the rest: your time . Sure, monetary donations to land use groups and off-road organizations are important. Joining these groups as a member strengthens our collective voice. But nothing compares to the boots-on-the-ground commitment of volunteering — giving your time, your sweat, and your energy to causes you truly believe in. This photo captures a powerful moment. It's not just dirt and rocks. It's passion. It's teamwork. It's people from all walks of life coming together to rebuild a trail, protect an access route, and ensure that future generations can enjoy the same freedoms we do today. Time is a limited resource. We can always make more money. But we can't make more time. So, when you spend a day or a weekend helping with trail res...

  SUNRISE SIZZLE: OVERLAND COOKING WITH A VIEW By Del Albright | delalbright.com When the morning sun kisses the mountains and the chill still hangs in the desert air, there’s nothing more satisfying than the sound of breakfast sizzling in a cast-iron skillet. For overlanders, this isn’t just a meal — it’s a ritual, a reward, and a reminder of why we chase trails and sleep under stars. And yes, I realize we don't all have room or weight options for cast iron, but if you do, there's nothing like it. The Joy of Trail Cooking Overlanding isn’t just about where you drive; it’s about how you live out there. That includes food — good, hearty, soul-warming food. Meals that start with the smell of camp coffee and finish with a sunrise grin from your trail buddies. This shot — corned beef hash, golden eggs, and a steaming pot of camp coffee — was the product of planning, preparation, and having the right gear at hand. It might look effortless, but trust me, a meal like this doesn’t happ...

  GIANTS OF THE DESERT: OVERLANDING TO FIND THE SAGUARO CACTUS Magical Mysteries on the Arizona Strip By Del Albright While overlanding across the rugged and remote trails of the Arizona Strip , I had the unforgettable chance to come face-to-face with some of the desert's most iconic residents—the Saguaro Cactus ( Carnegiea gigantea ). These towering green giants are not just plants—they’re legends. The Saguaro is native to the Sonoran Desert and is found mostly in southern Arizona and parts of California and Mexico. But in the vast, open, and beautifully barren landscape of the Arizona Strip—especially near routes like the Camino del Diablo —you’ll find these cacti standing like silent sentinels of the desert. A Closer Look: Strange Shapes and Long Lives One of the highlights of my journey was spotting a particularly twisted Saguaro —its arms looping and curling like desert sculpture. Every arm tells a story. Did you know it can take up to 75 years for a Saguaro to grow...

WELCOME TO THE (UNNECESSARY) MEGA-FIRE GENERATION Living with Wildfire  By Del Albright, Retired Fire Chief (NOTE: originally published in 2020, but the situation has gotten worse instead of better. I offer this up again so we can all be part of a better and safer future). 25-30 years ago, a 10,000 – 15,000-acre fire was a huge conflagration. Now, we regularly experience 100,000 - 400,000-acre fires.   I would like to offer an explanation based on over 30 years of government service, including 26 years with the fire service, and on my beginning my fire career with a Master’s Degree founded in Prescribed Burning.   NO!  It is not just global warming (climate change). NO!  It is not understaffed or ill-trained firefighters. NO!  It is not Mamma Nature getting even with our urban sprawl. NO!  It is not careless campers or hunters. NO!   It is not kids with matches.   YES! It is a combination of many things, but mo...

RUGGED, JAGGED, FUNERAL MOUNTAINS OF DEATH VALLEY  By Del Albright 🧭 Discover the Funeral Mountains in Death Valley National Park — a rugged, remote range rich with history and haunting beauty. From towering limestone ridges to eerie old mining roads, this lesser-known range offers breathtaking views and deep pioneer lore. Don’t miss Daylight Pass, Hell's Gate, and the stark solitude of Funeral Peak. 🌄🌵 The Funeral Mountains form a rugged and dramatic eastern boundary of Death Valley National Park , rising sharply from the floor of the valley near Furnace Creek and stretching southeast into Nevada. Though not as well-known as other Death Valley ranges like the Panamints, the Funeral Mountains offer unique geology, stark beauty, and a rich human history. 🌄 Funeral Mountains Highlights 🔹 Location & Landscape Stretch from Daylight Pass (near Beatty, NV) down toward Ash Meadows and Amargosa Valley Form part of the Amargosa Range , separating Death Valley from Ne...