Welcome to 2026! This is my first post of the new year, and I wanted to take a moment to remind you to get out there and explore. Whether it’s an international overland expedition, an epic road trip, or even taking a turn down a road you were always curious about—don’t wait to find adventure. I just took a quick detour while driving from Wisconsin to Oregon, which was the inspiration for this post. Allow me to explain.
A Quick, Satisfying Off-Highway Excursion
Mercedes and I drove to Wisconsin from Oregon like we do each year for the holidays. This year we took a 2025 Kia Sorento X-Pro SX Prestige on the way out. We did our family visit, and it was great. On the return trip, I drove solo in a 2025 Kia Telluride SX Prestige X-Pro while Mercedes flew overseas for a media event. But I’ve driven this route so many times in the last 20+ years, I could do it in my sleep. As I cruised west on Interstate 84 today, I came upon a familiar but lonely exit in the Columbia River Gorge. I’d always wondered what was down that road. I had some extra time, so—no time like the present!
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The exit was for Blalock Canyon Rd. and I’d always wondered what that was all about. Today I’d find out. The narrow, twisting one-lane road ascends, well, a canyon. There wasn’t much there, but the road was very cool. Toward the top, I pulled over to check a map and saw I should probably bear to the right to eventually rejoin the highway. Before I knew it, the pavement ended, and I was on a gravel road. The Kia Telluride had AWD, all-terrain tires, and hill descent control, so I knew I was in a vehicle that would be OK in back there, plus I had my MAXTRAX and a Factor 55 Kinetic Rope with me, just in case. (Click the links to buy via Amazon and help support us!)
The scenery was hilly, agricultural, and peaceful. Eventually, I rejoined pavement at Quinton Canyon Rd., which descended the Gorge’s side back to I-84 at another exit I was always curious about, Philippi Canyon. This quick little excursion was only about 13 miles long, but it satisfied that curiosity I’d always had, and that was very rewarding.
Research After The Trip Can Be Super Interesting
After discovering a new place, I love researching it. Case in point, it turns out there’s even a Blalock Canyon Wikipedia page. Apparently, there was a town called Blalock, a former Native American settlement, and a post office. As a history buff, I find this kind of info so interesting. No matter where we go, whether domestically or internationally, it’s fun to research some of the places we stumble upon. It can be amazing what’s there (or what was there).
Side Trips Make Old Routes Rewarding
Our annual holiday drive from Oregon to Wisconsin is a pretty long trip; sometimes, little side trips can breathe new life into old familiar routes. And not every new adventure has to be colossal.
So if you’ve always wondered what was at the end of a road or where that remote exit off the highway goes, find out. Even if it’s only a short trip, the satisfaction of seeing what’s on the other side of the hill can be very rewarding.
We hope you make 2026 a great year filled with adventure. And remember, adventure is out there, but you have to make the effort to find it.
Happy New Year.
Andy Lilienthal is an award-winning writer and has written professionally since 1999. He has over 13 years in the automotive aftermarket working at companies including Warn Industries, Bushwacker, and Lund International. Editorial works include writing and photography for off-road print magazines, to new-car reviews online. He’s a photographer with images in multiple magazines, blog sites, and The New York Times.
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