Del and Stacie Albright with Red, the Land Use War Machine Jeep.
About Del Albright
Public Lands. Outdoor Adventure. Sustainable Motorized Recreation.
Welcome to my corner of the great American outdoors! I'm Del Albright — adventurer, outdoorsman, author, photojournalist, and lifelong advocate for responsible motorized recreation and access to public lands.
I'm also a retired Wildland Fire Chief, an Army combat veteran of Vietnam, an internationally published author, and a member of the Outdoor Writers Association of California (OWAC). But more than anything, I'm a guy who believes in getting outdoors, enjoying our public lands, and helping keep those opportunities alive for future generations.
The Adventure
For more than 60 years, I've been exploring the outdoors through four-wheeling, overlanding, camping, fishing, hunting, diving, hiking, and just about anything else that gets me into wild country.
My travels have taken me from the rocks of the Rubicon Trail and the vast reaches of Death Valley to the red rock country of Moab, Utah, and countless backroads, mountain trails, deserts, and campsites in between. Give me a trail map, a camera, and a rig ready for adventure, and I'm a happy camper.
The Advocate
Keeping public lands open and accessible doesn't happen by accident. It takes involvement, cooperation, leadership, and people willing to show up.
For more than 40 years, I've worked to promote sustainable motorized recreation, responsible land use, and meaningful partnerships between recreationists, land managers, and policymakers.
Along the way, I've worked with organizations including the California 4-Wheel Drive Association, RestoreTrails.Org, Friends of the Rubicon, Rubicon Trail Foundation, and the American Sand Association. I've helped organize volunteers, build partnerships, advocate for access, and encourage others to get involved in protecting the places we love.
One lesson has stayed with me through all those years of meetings, trail projects, and land use battles: You cannot expect a seat at the table if you don't show up.
The Road That Brought Me Here
I've worn a lot of hats over the years — usually a cowboy one. My journey has taken me from Army service as a Green Beret in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam to a 26-year career in the wildland fire service, and eventually to decades of public lands advocacy and volunteer leadership.
Along the way, I discovered that many of the lessons learned in the military, on the fireline, and in the backcountry apply equally well to working with people: leadership, teamwork, preparation, perseverance, and a willingness to tackle difficult challenges.
In 2014, I was honored to be inducted into the Off-Road Motorsports Hall of Fame, recognizing a lifetime of work in the off-road recreation community.
Still Exploring. Still Writing. Still Involved.
Today, you'll still find me behind the wheel of a Jeep, exploring a mountain trail, wandering through desert country, or sitting at a keyboard writing about the experiences and issues that matter to me.
Through my writing, photography, books, and public lands advocacy, I hope to share useful lessons, tell a few good stories, inspire others to explore, and encourage people to take an active role in protecting our outdoor heritage.
There's always another trail to explore, another story to tell, and another opportunity to make a difference.
Enjoy the journey. Share the stories. Keep the trails open.
See you on the trail!
Let's Connect!
Have a question, a story to share, or want to talk about public lands, outdoor adventures, writing, or sustainable motorized recreation? I'd enjoy hearing from you.
