THE MONTHLY ESCAPE 

March 2026 Edition 

Spring Is Coming. Somebody Tell My Alarm Clock.

Hey Wild Ones (see what I did there?),

We just lost an hour. Gone. Just like that. You go to sleep on Saturday and wake up on Sunday feeling like the calendar picked your pocket.

Daylight saving time kicked in on March 8, and I know I am not the only one who spent the next few days feeling a little off.

And honestly? 

I keep hearing we were supposed to get rid of this thing. There have been pushes in Congress for years to make daylight saving time permanent and just stop doing this to ourselves. Yet here we are, still losing sleep over it in 2026. (yes, I looked it up here).

The one silver lining? 

When the days get longer, trail season gets closer. So I'll take the groggy mornings if it means later sunsets are on the way.

Now let's talk about what's actually happening this month, because it's a good one.

🏔️ THIS MONTH'S ESCAPE

Road Trip to Utah. First Creator Event. Boss Says No to a Full Week Off.

I am doing something new this month. I am heading to my first creator event.

To be honest, I signed up and then instantly felt a little out of place. A whole event full of content creators, bloggers, and outdoor people is not exactly familiar ground for a former law enforcement officer who writes about camping in a RAV4. 

But maybe that is the point.

Get uncomfortable. Grow a little.

The plan is a quick road trip out to Utah. And yes, I said quick, because my boss, the one who signs the actual paycheck since the blog has not paid the bills in a while, was not exactly excited about approving a full week (or two) off.

And honestly, if you give me a week off with a converted RAV4, there is a good chance I will try to turn it into two. So we are making the most of what we have. Short trip. Big experience.

Utah is one of those places that gets its hooks in you. 

I have been there a bunch of times, and it never disappoints. The red rock, the open sky, the silence out there, it all hits different. Even a quick trip feels worth it.

If you want the full rundown after I get back, reply to this email with “SHARE,” and I will put together more about the trip next month.

For now, just know the RAV4 is getting packed, and I am genuinely excited to get on the road.

And remember this. 

You don't need two weeks to have an adventure. A weekend road trip to somewhere you've never been beats sitting home waiting for the perfect time that never shows up.

🥾 GETTING READY FOR TRAIL SEASON

Time to Wake Everything Back Up

March is the unofficial warm-up month for hikers. The trails are calling, the gear has been sitting untouched since October, and most of us are a little slower than we were last fall. 

Here are a few things to check:

Go through your pack

• Test your water filter
• Check your first aid kit
• Replace anything expired
• Confirm headlamp batteries aren't dead 

Gear has a way of quietly failing while it sits in a closet.

And do not skip the basics! 

If you're new to hiking, or bringing someone along who is, take a few minutes and revisit the Ten Essentials. It feels old school until the day you really need it.

👉 The Ten Essentials (and Why They Still Matter)

And if spring has you thinking about car camping, here is a solid place to start, whether it is your first trip or you just want to tighten things up a bit.

👉 Car Camping Tips for Beginners

Spring prep takes maybe an hour. But it can make your first hike of the season a whole lot better and save you from asking, "Why didn't I check this before I left the house?"

💪 FITNESS YOU CAN TAKE ANYWHERE

Getting Trail Ready Without a Gym

Your legs might be ready, but your lungs and endurance might not be. Winter has a way of doing that.

Here is something that can actually fit into real life. No gym. No equipment. No driving across town for a class. Just a simple way to build real strength and conditioning using your own body.

I wrote about it here, and this is the version worth saving because it gets straight to the point.

👉 What Is Rapid Primal Fitness 

If you want the full breakdown, the full review is linked right there in the post.

Here is the short version. It is simple on purpose, it works, and you can do it from a trailhead, a campground, or your living room.

It is a great fit for anyone who wants to be ready for the mountains without building their whole life around a gym schedule.

And the best part, it is still available at the discounted $10 price!

🏕️ COMMUNITY CAMPFIRE

Got something to share? 

Hit reply and tell me about

• Your first spring hike of the year
• Any gear you're testing as the season kicks off
• Questions you want answered in a future issue
• Adventure photos, too. Seriously, send them. I love seeing your escapes

And also, come hang out on Instagram.

I have been posting more often over there.

Thanks for being part of The Monthly Escape!

March is that weird in-between month where winter is still on the calendar, but most of us have already moved on.

Use that energy. Dust off the pack. Plan the trip.

Spring is not just coming. It is already knocking.

The best escape is the one you actually take. So go take one.

See you on the trail,

-Eric

P.S.

If you are still tired from losing that hour on March 8, good. That means you are normal. It will pass. The longer days are worth it.

📧 Feel free to forward this to a friend who keeps talking about getting outside.