Skyblue Overland: the Adventure Begins

BRIAN HAMILTON: Geologist, Adventure Athlete, Photographer, and Overlander

My name is Brian Hamilton and I am an Illinois native who became familiar with backcountry travel during childhood. Some of my earliest memories include riding shotgun in my dad’s 1962 Chevy Impala while crisscrossing the U.S. on family summer trips to Rocky Mountain National Park, the Great Smoky Mountains, Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons. These family camping trips gave me a passion for wilderness exploration in remote destinations.

I grew up backpacking, hiking, canoeing and camping in the outdoors with the Boy Scouts including two epic backpacking expeditions at Philmont Scout Ranch in the Sangre de Cristo range of the Rocky Mountains in northeastern New Mexico. In addition to providing me with unforgettable backpacking adventures across miles of rugged, rocky trails, Philmont Scout Ranch offers programs that feature the best of the Old West—horseback riding, burrow packing, gold panning, chuckwagon dinners, and interpretive history—with exciting challenges such as rock climbing, mountain biking, and sport shooting.

Prior to graduating from high school, I achieved the rank of Eagle Scout. These memories drew me to seek further adventures. I became interested in geology after picking up a U.S. Geological Survey Paper on the geology in and around Philmont. This inspired me to study geology in college to connect with the earth and to pursue a career in the outdoors. I received a BSc in Geology from the University of Illinois in Urbana and an MSc in Geological Engineering from the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology in Rapid City. I am now an Engineering Geologist with more than 30 years of experience in some of the largest and logistically complex civil infrastructure projects in North America.

 

I lead a nomadic life chasing compelling projects throughout North America.  I am a member of the Geological Society of America, the Rocky Mountain Association of Geologists and I am a registered Professional Geologist in Minnesota.  I now work at a large engineering and construction firm that was named by Fortune Magazine in 2017 as one of the companies most likely to change the world.

It wasn’t until May of 2017, when I bought my Jeep JK Wrangler Unlimited Chief Edition, Skyblue Overland, that my focus changed entirely. Exploring around the high Rockies, I re-discovered what fuels my fire most: an adventurous life that inspires me to create and share, striving to capture the beauty of the natural world.  From remote 4WD overlanding expeditions to high-elevation hikes and trail runs, running marathons, mountain bike tours, and backpacking trips. My unforgettable journeys are documented with videos, photos, and blogs that reveal all the tiny details independent adventurers need to put together their own trips.

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