Travelers

Monika & Gary

Monika and Gary Wescott are real pioneers of modern overland travel. They
have truly done it all under their now famous Turtle Expedition banner. For
the past thirty-six years, these two intrepid adventurers and
photojournalists have globe-trotted from the arid deserts of Afghanistan to
the deepest jungles of the Amazon. Much of that time has been spent
exploring the backroads of the Western Hemisphere, (Mexico, Central and
South America), Europe, and parts of Asia.

One of the exciting aspects of all their adventures is the way that Gary and
Monika interact with the local communities. Combining a sense of wonder,
respect, and an ability to build relationships has allowed them to become
personally involved in the most sacred of rituals and local events. Their
travel/adventure stories are published in periodicals around the world.
The Turtle Expedition series has appeared regularly in numerous US
publications including Four Wheeler, Off Road, Power Stroke Registry,
Trailer Life, Motorhome, 8 Lug Diesel, Truck Trend, and Overland Journal.

A list of product sponsors on The Turtle Expedition travel/reseach trucks
reads like a who's-who of the automotive, marine and outdoor equipment
world, enabling them to refine their meticulously prepared expedition
vehicles. They are presently gearing up for their next adventure in The
Turtle V, the Trans-Eurasian Odyssey, driving from Lisbon, Portugal to
Shanghai, China, exploring 26 countries over a three year period and
following the infamous Silk Road.

You can follow their adventures at: www.turtleexpedition.com

Roseann & Jonathan

Roseann and Jonathan Hanson are the consumate example of overland conservationists. Together, they have authored over a dozen natural history and outdoor books, including the Southern Arizona Nature Almanac
and The San Pedro River: A Discovery Guide. Their The Ragged Mountain Press Guide to Outdoor Sports: Skills and Knowledge for the Whole Outdoors
won the 1997 Outdoor Book Award and their 50 Common Reptiles
was cited for Interpretive Excellence by the National Park Service in 1997.

Jonathan is an elected fellow of the Explorers Club and co-founder / executive editor of our favorite publication the Overland Journal.

Roseann is similarly busy as founder of Conserventures, the producers of the Overland Expo. She is also an executive director of The African Conservation Fund.

At any given time one might find Roseann and Jonathan running their enterprises from their remote base outside of Tucson, AZ, or working with the local Masaai communities in the Kenyan rift valley.

You can follow their adventures at: www.jandrhanson.com

Doug & Stephanie

Doug & Stephanie Hackney have certainly "been there and done that". They have traveled to over 40 countries together: "Exploring the world and meeting its people", by car, on the back of a bike, on a sailboat, and most recently inside their Mitsubishi Fuso. They have just completed a tour of South America, and are next headed out to explore the far reaches of South East Asia.

At night, around the campfire, Doug keeps himself from getting bored by writing award winning books including the Silver IPPY awarded How the World Worksand The Next Namean historical fiction based on their visit to the site of one of the longest lived civilizations in the history of humanity, the Atacameños, in what is now the intersection of Chile, Bolivia and Argentina. .

They truly embody our vision of "Do Good As You Go" through (amongst other things) their Giving Pictures project, by which they give people family portraits, often for the very first time ever.

You can follow their adventures at: www.hackneys.com/travel

Jan Alsen

Jan is truly a global citizen. Throughout his career, he has lived and worked in the most exciting and remote regions of the planet - from the jungles of Borneo to the deserts of North Africa, and pretty much everywhere in between including South America, Asia, and the Middle East.  Jan approached each location with a thirst for exploration, driving down dirt roads and across rivers into little known ruins and distant villages, resulting in some amazing campfire stories. 

Not focused just on the destination, Jan believes that getting there in his '90 TLC HZJ73 Land Cruiser is more than half the fun. He has driven most of the 4x4 models Toyota has ever made, in every kind of terrain.

Jan now calls Calgary his off-the-road home and is looking forward to spending significant time on expedition trails in the coming years. This time however, Jan sets off not for work, but for having fun and giving back something to the communities that he visits, leveraging his significant work experience as an engineer and in corporate strategy, consulting and planning.

You can follow Jan's trails and overland activities at www.expeditionportal.com and www.expeditionutah.com as CanuckMariner.

Jay & Alice

When they first met in Singapore 10 years ago, Jay & Alice were already avid travelers. Since then, they've been to 30 more countries, exploring the planet one dirt road at a time.

While traveling around S.E. Asia in their Prado Land Cruiser they came up with the dream of travelling the planet and helping the communities the visit. Five years and two children later, the vehicle and the dream are both bigger now with The EcoRoamer and The Muskoka Foundation.

They will be 'setting sail' for 2+ years in 2009. Follow their travels at www.OnTheRoadLessTraveled.com

Thiscould B. You

Are you planning a trip somewhere, or already out on the road on an extended global adventure? Why not contribute some of your time and energy to a good cause, become one of our Muskoka Travelers. There is no cost, and the only obligation is that you meet and help some really nice people along the way.

We have all sorts of programs to suit various interests and areas of expertise. We will provide you with the materials, introductions and support to have an amazing time while you make a difference in the communities you visit.

Sign up to day by clicking on Get Involved.