Catholic Camper

“Put him out of his misery” was a phrase used long ago to end someone’s terminal illness and suffering. The debate about suffering and life has always been viral news, but can human euthanasia be justified?   Today, people are living longer with the aid of medical breakthroughs and holistic treatments.  As a result, life expectancy is longer for most people than in years past. But there is still suffering and pain.  Advocates of euthanasia are mostly driven by negative feelings toward tragedies of the human condition such as chronic pain, terminal illness, and age complications. Human suffering is something most people steer away from because it's just too physically and mentally painful. These feelings sometimes dictate a certain "attitude" which derives from a moral philosophical theory called, boo-hurrah theory . Consider one man's struggle with Lou Gehrig’s disease, also known as ALS. Petta is 78 years old and is in the advanced stages of the disease. Quickly digr

Vehicle-dependant camping or "Exploration" is tough sometimes. Especially for spouses who may support you but not so much the adventure.  But there lies an opportunity. Reset, with bathroom, hot water, and clean bed sheets. This may sound insignificant but is vital to keep people traveling with you happy and engaged.  Do you want to hear more? Click on my Podcast below. Podcast  

There is a road that climbs up a dense forest mountain. It is everything medieval but without the hustle and bustle of people. Or so I thought.  We were driving on a forest road in the middle of Lincoln National Forest, scouting for another campsite. We had been exploring these parts for about a week and felt the need to set up basecamp. With internet service lost, using Gaia  Maps to traverse was our only option. Meeting the adventure head-on and being ready for the risk is what exploring means. As we ascended to 8000 feet, we passed a deserted car off the trail. It appeared to have slid into a ditch. I wondered how a vehicle like that made it up the mountain. "This is a strange place to see a car like that," I said to my wife, for the trail was rugged, narrow, and dark. In a two-wheel drive, no faster than I could walk, we made our way up the mountain, passing melting snow drifts. But in the distance, a figure emerged from the forest. It was hard to see, but the silhouette

Overlanding can be both exhilarating and exhausting. From the thrill of exploring new places to the stress of navigating unfamiliar off-road trails, the rigors of travel can often take a toll on the body, mind, and spirit. In this article, I'll explain why overlanding can be so exhausting, and why it's essential to include a break.  So if you're a seasoned explorer or just starting on your first journey, consider the following:   1. Packing and unpacking the rig for base camp is sometimes redundant.  And no matter how often I practice, the setup still takes time and physical energy – which can be especially taxing after a long day of driving. Let's not forget outdoor meal prep is tuckering as well.  As much as I love big overlanding trips, it’s important to take breaks during long-term adventures to fully recharge and rest up. 2. Planning for a long stretch of highway that only leads to an offroad trail takes mental stamina. I generally consider how I'm getting ther

"So how did ya'll stay married so long?"  We get funny looks and comments about being married 36 years when people learn we started as high school sweethearts. But there's no secret about the longevity of our marriage, it's pretty simple really, and extremely intentional.  My wife and I are Catholic and believe that marriage is a gift  rooted in authentic love. Love's full expression is experienced through the  teachings and practices of the Church.  Now, don't get me wrong, we don't just follow the rules. That would be moralism, meaning, our marriage is about doing good things because we want to "get to heaven". On the contrary, we live a very fluid life with misadventures.   How do we remain in these teachings and practices?  First, understand that we have a purpose union in which love is the core.  A purpose union can be defined in four ways:  Marriage unites a couple in faithful and mutual love. Marriage opens a couple to give li

Near Custer, South Dakota there is a road that winds left, sharp right, and goes up and down into tunnels.  Nominal risks, vehicle dependant, and preparedness provide a road trip experience known as, Driving the Needles. The Needles of the Black Hills of South Dakota are a region of eroded granite pillars, towers, and spires within Custer State Park. Popular with rock climbers and tourists alike, the Needles are accessed from the Needles Highway, which is a part of Sylvan Lake Road (SD 87/89). The Cathedral Spires and Limber Pine Natural Area, a 637-acre portion of the Needles containing six ridges of pillars and a disjunct stand of limber pine, was designated a National Natural Landmark in 1976. The Needles were the original site proposed for the Mount Rushmore carvings. The sculptor Gutzon Borglum rejected the location because of the granite's poor quality and the fact that they were too thin to support the sculptures.  I heard that The Needles attract approximately 300,000 peopl