ConserVentures was incorporated by Roseann & Jonathan Hanson in 2011 as a non-profit charitable organization. Roseanne and Jonathan are the creators of those not-to-be-missed gatherings of like-minded overland travelers called Overland Expo. They created ConserVentures “exclusively for charitable purposes primarily by undertaking the creation and implementation of publications, educational opportunities, and conducting missions on behalf of science, conservation, and charitable causes ....” ConserVentures “promote[s] conservation through exploration. Exploration leads to personal connections, personal connections lead toawareness, and awareness leads to action, face-to-face. ConserVentures helps make that happen."
Toyota Cruisers and Trucks Magazine is a big fan of Roseann & Jonathan, and we never miss an Overland Expo. When we saw that Maggie was going to be part of their exciting program, we had to learn more. We recently had the opportunity to interview Maggie.
Maggie describes herself as "relatively new to the overlanding world, having just purchased my dream vehicle three years ago–a diesel Land Cruiser BJ70.... [and] quickly fallen in love with the community and this form of travel. I have traveled primarily in the American Southwest, and predominantly traveling alone. With a can-do and learn-as-you-go attitude, I am learning the ins and outs of overland travel, vehicle maintenance, and off-road skills. I love inspiring others and sparking thoughtful conversation throughout the community. I see overlanding as an opportunity to better connect and understand other cultures, communities, and people."
TCT: Why do you enjoy Overlanding?
MM: I love traveling and experiencing the world. Most people think of traveling as flying, which to me is jumping over places. Seeing it, even the boring stuff, seeing anything and everything you can, is what draws me. I’m happier the more I amon the road.
TCT: How did you get started?
MM: I did many early trips with my family. I started my own trips in 2010 with my best friend Katie. First to Lake Powell and then a winter trip to Great Basin NP in 2011, and then we did more. My first solo trip was in an Acura MDX in February 2014.
TCT: Ok, an Acura I can understand, but how does a 21 year old choose a 1986 right hand drive diesel Land Cruiser that was never even sold in the United States and had to be specially imported?
MM: Beastie is the product of an obsession that grew over long time out of a typical sibling rivalry of“who gets to drive the family car”. In the summer after my Junior year of high school, my brother took the shared car to college so I started looking for a car. I was searching Craigslist on my laptop, sitting in my parent’s den, with this great view out north facing windows. I knew I wanted a four-wheel drive car I could take anywhere. I saw a dune beige (color code 416) FJ40. I fell in love. I started researching Land Cruisers, enamored by diesels. After I went to college I actually wrote a research paper proposal to my parents to loan me the money to buy myself a BJ40. They didn’t. By the summer of 2014 I was working full time, and my brother, who had been traveling across Southeast Asia and China by bicycle, was coming home. I needed a car. I kept looking at 70 series Land Cruisers. I found Steve Jackson and Land Cruisers Direct online and as soon as I saw Beastie I said “that’s mine.”Not just any 70 but that one! I called Steve the week before my 22nd birthday. On my birthday I called Steve to confirm my purchase. Then I flew to Missouri and drove Beastie home. That was 9/9/14.
TCT: What is it like to be on the road alone?
MM: I had this conversation with Travis Walcott –a fellow Change Your World Fund Class of2017 member –the other night –we agreed we are more ourselves on the road. There is an ease of conversation because others understand each other. On the road there is no pressure from the outside to be a certain way. No social pressure to fit in or to maintain a social crowd. No long term social pressure. Relationships feel genuine because they are not a “should be.”My“you want to do what and travel all the time”approach did not fit the norm. I never fit in with the girly girls. I never wanted to party every weekend like the “popular kids.”To that life I was an outsider because I just wanted to hike, spend time with my horse and pup, and drive backcountry roads.
TCT: Everyone asks about safety. It may be cliché, but what about it?
MM: On the road solo I am selective on who I talk to but I talk with people who seem interested because I drive a random car doing random trips and random adventures. I am also by nature a very observant person; I know when things don’t feel quite right. Awareness is key.
TCT: How are you and Beastie getting along?
MM: Beastie is so slow that he forces me to take slower roads. Comfortable top speed is 55 MPH. Beastie forces me to be more observant because I have more time to take in my surroundings. I end up stopping more and staying in more places instead of just hammering it out, though sometimes I have no choice. For Overland Expo EAST, the drive home from Ashville, NC to Boulder, CO was 31 hours straight during which I slept 3. Overall amazing, Beastie has truly shaped my life and the person I’ve become. All I can do to repay him is take care of the mechanics.
TCT: Do you have a vision?
MM: If anything, my plan and vision isto see what happens. Yes I’d like to be successful and be able to afford the hobbies I have come to enjoy. Right now I want to let positive things happen. Expectations often are hard to live up to. I like to boil the essence of my thinking: Do more and try hard! I like to hold myself to an expectation of doing more, but not specifying what that is and with whatever I do, try hard.
TCT: What is the most common thing you hear from people about your lifestyle?
MM: “Do you go to school anymore.” Yes, I’m pursuing a double major in geographyMM:“Do you go to school anymore.” Yes, I’m pursuing a double major in geography and political science. I’ve always been interested in energy policy. That interest expanded when I was a Page to Congress. I started thinking that I wanted to go into policy work. In 2012 I went back to D.C. as a research assistant for the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs and was still enamored.
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TCT: The Change Your World Fund was established though ConserVentures to honor the memory of Alistair “Al”Farland (1990 –2014). According to the website, Al, wanted to inspire his generation to explore their world and impact their society. He died in a motorcycle accident in fall 2014 on a journey. How does Alistair’s story connect with you?
MM: We are similar ages. He was also a solo traveler. The people who knew him tell me his traveling was not just for him. It was for the people he met and the people he connected with. I feel that we have lost human connections in the US and people are feeling alone. People are feeling lost and isolated and alone even though we are more connected than ever. Reconnection with people, not just their “profiles”but themselves. Alistair put forth the idea that you can change the world by changing individual communities. I never set out to inspire but having been told that I do, I want to do it more.
TCT: How did you get involved with The Change Your World Fund?
MM: My first Overland Expo was WEST 2016. I went to a few roundtable presentations and said: I can be on that panel. I can talk about this. So for 2017 I applied to be on a Women’s overlanding roundtable panel about solo female travel. Being a young female traveler in a right-hand-drive import caught their attention. I got to meet Roseanne and Jonathan, Graham, and Nick, and they shared their vision to reinvigorate their non-profit ConserVentures including the Change Your World Fund.
TCT: As part of the Change Your World Fund Class of 2017 you will make a grant proposal. What is yours?
MM: To drive to the Arctic Circle. Along the way stop inas many National Parks as possible, take the Dempster highway to Tuktoyaktuk, CAN, Dalton to Deadhorse/Prudhoe Bay, Alaska. One goal will beto raise $1.00 per mile traveled and donate it to a non-profit supporting mental health issues. I’m considering several non-profits connected to the overlanding community.
TCT: Maggie, thank you for taking the time to share your story with us, we look forward to updates and we look forward to seeing you on the trail and at Overland Expo WEST in May.
Resources:
Keep up with Maggie:
Overland Expo link http://tctmag.us/overlandexpo
ConserVentures link http://tctmag.us/conserventures
Land Cruisers Direct link http://tctmag.us/lcdimport
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