Employee Hobby Rugged Terrain and Gourmet Living Steve Amicarelli, Field Service Technician, Kent
For Steve, camping isn't about crowded RV parks or folding chairs on a gravel pad. It's about pushing further into the wilderness, clearing his own paths, and building a temporary civilization where others only see forest. Recent expeditions have taken him from the Carolina's to the rugged isolation of northern Michigan: • Uwharrie National Forest (NC/SC) - this is Steve's "home turf" for testing limits. Deep in the backcountry, finding a spot is half the battle. He and his friends spend much of the first day clearing fallen trees to make camp before hitting the 4-wheeler trails. While Steve and his friends might be miles from the nearest power line, thanks to Steve's meticulous setup, they aren't exactly "roughing it." His truck can be transformed into a fully self-contained habitat featuring a solar array backed by a generator and a 2000W Pure Sine Wave inverter for sensitive gear. For shelter, there is a rooftop tent for sleeping away from the mud, and a tankless hot water heater providing instant hot water showers after a long day of fun. Just because Steve sleeps in a tent doesn't mean he eats like an animal. Forget the canned beans; his kitchen operates on open flames and seasoned cast iron. Typically, the menu consists of steaks or lamb, roasted potatoes and grilled asparagus. Yum!
• Keweenaw Rocket Range (MI) - a true wilderness experience. Accessible only via technical dirt roads, they have camped at this historic launch site in complete isolation. No cell service, no neighbors – just the rig and the stars. • Cherokee Lake (TN) - this years' flagship expedition. With over 400 miles of shoreline, Steve and his friends are trading the dirt for the water, hauling jet skis to explore the massive reservoir and set up a mobile basecamp.
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