In early September I will leave Seattle and begin a long drive east. The plan is straightforward. I finish a SCUBA certification course on the 3rd and 4th, drop Michele at the airport on the morning of the 5th, pick up a rental car, and head out on the northern route toward New York.
The destination that anchors the calendar is Podcast Movement on September 17 and 18. I have been to this conference every year since 2017 and it is one of the highlights on our calendar each year. Everything between Seattle and Manhattan is intentional time on the road. I will travel through Glacier National Park, continue across the northern plains and Midwest, stop in Minneapolis and Chicago, visit the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, pass through Pittsburgh, and arrive in the New York area in time for the conference. After the event I will drive to Philadelphia and fly home to Anchorage early on the 20th.
This trip serves several purposes at once. First, it is practical travel to a professional gathering. Second, it is field time for the Team and Trail Foundation. We have been building a practice of simple, public coffee meetups in larger towns along routes like this. The format is uncomplicated: post a location and time the evening before, show up, and talk with whoever comes. No stage, no formal program, just conversation about trails, work, leadership, and the habits that keep people moving forward. I will schedule a handful of these stops in places such as Spokane, Billings, Minneapolis, and Pittsburgh.
Third, the drive itself becomes content. I am producing three longer videos for the Sled Dog Jeep channel and a steady stream of shorter pieces, sunrise and sunset sequences, short reflections from the road, and documentation of the meetups. The vehicle is a standard rental, not our own Jeep. That detail matters less than the consistency of showing up and recording what the days actually look like. I prefer independent roadside motels when they are available. The older motor courts and small local places still carry a certain practicality that fits the tone of the work.
Why the Northern Route Across the Country?
The route is the northern one for a reason. and the long stretches across Montana and the Dakotas give room to think. The Midwest and Great Lakes cities add contrast and the chance to meet people who live and work in different conditions. None of it is presented as extraordinary. It is simply the path that connects the starting point to the conference while creating space for the foundation’s quieter work.
I expect the days to be a mix of driving, light logistics, content capture, and the occasional unplanned conversation. Some mornings will be about grabbing content and location. Others will be about making sure the car is fueled and the next motel is confirmed. The coffee meetups will succeed or fail based on whether people decide to stop by. That uncertainty is acceptable. The point is to keep the invitation open.
When I return to Alaska I will have footage, notes, and a clearer sense of how these public stops function across different regions. The Podcast Movement sessions will add another layer of professional exchange. Together they form a useful stretch of work rather than a break from it.
If you are along the northern corridor in mid-September and see a post about a morning coffee stop, feel free to join. No preparation required. Just show up ready to talk about the trails you are on, literal or otherwise.
I leave Seattle on the 5th. The miles start there.
